Some fitness clubs
cater to preferences of female exercisers
Lori Aratani / Knight Ridder Newspapers
(KRT)
Today's harried woman must deal with so many of
life's little annoyances. The last thing she wants is to
be gawked at in the gym.
Not surprisingly, women are seeking fitness centers where
they can work out among their own – where they can
bond, sweat and grunt without being judged, ogled or eyed by
men.
Gyms that cater exclusively to female patrons aren't a
new concept, but these days they are enjoying a renaissance.
A recent report by the Mintel International Group, a
Chicago-based marketing research company, found that clubs
are experiencing a revival not seen since the 1980s, and
women-only establishments are becoming a "significant
player."
These days, gyms are putting a new spin on the
female-friendly workout. Chains like Curves and Slender Lady
appeal to overextended women through 30-minute, machine-based
workouts and nutrition programs. Others, like Every Woman
Health Club in Redwood City, Calif., feature more-traditional
offerings and emphasize overall health rather than weight
loss. Joiners tend to be older women or working moms.
But all embrace a similar philosophy: offering women a place
where they feel comfortable, where they can work out without
being checked out, and where the emphasis isn't on being
Cindy Crawford but rather on being themselves.
"The difference with us is that we don't look to
change you,'' says Stephanie Dressing, president of
Every Woman Health Club, which recently celebrated its
six-month anniversary. "There are no scales or tape
measures here. We look at movement as a part of a healthy
lifestyle.''
That attitude permeates the club, where Dressing has hung
what she calls the "anti-Barbie'' poster:
"There are 3 billion women who don't look like super
models and only eight who do.''
Sharon Kipp, 31, floated around different gyms after her
previous all-women's club closed down a few years ago,
but nothing appealed to her. None had the right feel until
she found Every Woman.
"Some of the other places, it's like if you
don't have that Barbie look, some people look at you like
'What are you doing here?''' Kipp says.
Texas-based Curves, which began franchising in 1995 and has
more than 5,000 locations nationwide, is among the fastest
growing of the female-focused clubs. The idea is to provide a
quick workout in a casual, supportive environment. The
centers contain no frills: There are no showers or locker
rooms, just a few simple dressing stalls and a wall of
cubbies where purses and briefcases can be stored.
Recently at a Curves in San Jose, Calif., about a half-dozen
women arrived for their lunch-hour workout. The equipment is
arranged in a circle. Each hydraulic-resistance machine works
out a specific muscle group, alternating between upper and
lower body. Club manager Tina Vigil says Curves uses
hydraulic machines rather than ones with weight stacks
because this offers a workout that builds muscle, rather than
bulk. Some experts may dispute this approach, though, saying
the type of machine makes no difference – that
repetitions and the weight amount are what create muscle
mass.
It's a regimented session: Clients work on each piece of
equipment for 30 seconds, take a 30-second cardio break,
where they bounce or jog on a mini-step, then move to the
next station. A recording tells them when to move, as well as
when to take a break to measure their heart rate. After 2
1⁄2 rounds, they've completed their 30 minutes.
They cool down with some stretches and then they're out
the door.
"We try to make working out fun,'' Vigil said.
Mondays, for example, are Trivial Pursuit days: An instructor
will shout out trivia questions and participants win raffle
tickets for every correct answer.
Jody Bell, 54, says she always felt a bit inhibited when she
worked out at her previous coed gym. Now, as a member of
Curves – which, by the way, men aren't prohibited
from joining – she feels free to be herself.
"This is such a safe harbor,'' she says after
finishing a session, toweling off and heading back to work.
"There are women of all shapes and sizes here. You
don't feel judged. It's just a really supportive
atmosphere.''
So what happens in a 30-minute circuit workout? Imagine a
regular workout, but with faster pacing – each activity
lasts 30 seconds. A dozen or so machines and other equipment
focus on the upper or lower body, and you use all of them. In
between you keep moving by jogging in place. Here's what
you would do in a typical half-hour (including a warm-up
stretch):
–Work upper body
–Run in place
–Work lower body
–Run in place
–Work upper body (different machines)
–Run in place
–Work lower body (different machines)
–Repeat sequences every 30 seconds, pausing
occasionally to check your heart rate.
–Complete workout, cool down, stretch
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© 2004, San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.).
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