Would you go to a woman only gym session?

The circuits class I went to literally had one 4kg kettlebell, then a jump to 8kgs.
It was at a council centre.

I went to that class because the time slot tended to work around DH being in and baby's feeds. I was 6m postnatal when I started and there just weren't many other practical options that fitted around the care of a bottle refusing baby. It was before the recent push for the benefits of strength training for women or even instagram influencers.

I'd hope it would be better now, but the culture at the time was quite macho and aimed at people that were already pretty fit and buff. There just wasn't the provision and significant demand for lighter, novice friendly weights and if you got two women wanting the 4kg it was awkward. It also limited progression because of the jump. Once the 4kg felt lighter, it was still a major jump to 8kg.

I stuck it out for a few years and while I bumbled in by circumstance, inadvertantly it was one of the best fitness decisions I made. I have since progressed much further at a private women's class that has a much greater range of weights in smaller increments of difference that make it easier to build up the weights. The range of exercises is similar, but being a private class it's more adaptive to the needs of the clients, plus we're booked in for longer blocks rather than ad hoc each week. The instructor has much more freedom to upgrade equipment as needed.

I'm not the type to give up because I'm lifting a third of the weight of everyone else, but it's very normal to notice what the majority do, and for some it does affect their confidence and engagement which means that you don't develop the market for adaption (and jumping through council procurement procedures)

My gym 20 yrs ago had a women's section which I often used. Quite a few of the classes I used to do were 90% female eg legs, bums & tums, yoga. Some were 100% female eg barre & zumba & some were 40% female eg circuits, body pump. The later the class the more men I would find.

Inadvertently because it was a session available for new Mums, was subbed by the council. Was a fiver for a swim, sauna and exercise class plus gym equipment and a free crèche. It was 23 years ago though.

I'd happily go along to one but I wouldn't specifically seek one out ..there being men in the gym doesn't bother me or put me off.

I've been following the setting up of "The Girl's Gymspot" on Insta - a very brave young woman . It looks like a really good gym, organised around the way women use a gym.

I go to a powerlifters /body builders gym, but there are all sorts of people and at least 40% women. THe guys are lovely and non-harassing, & really inspiring. (I've learnt the bigger they are, the more like pussy cats they are!)

But -- I'd love it if they did a women's only session. Love it! I could play with all the machines without judgement.

I guess I would go, but it’s not something I really crave you know. I don’t really care that there are men at the gym. I actually tend to find teenage girls to be the most annoying gym goers. Most of the men are ok.

No i wouldn't. I'm a powerlifter and the people stronger than me are mostly the men in my gym so I'd miss them pushing me and spotting me etc. Plus I go with DH and other male friends who I'd miss.

I go to a women's only gym now! Much nicer

I go to a women's strength training class 3 mornings a week. Been going 2 years. Love it.

My absolute favourite gym, was the one I attended in my 20's. Males and females had their own floor. I really dislike mixed gyms.

There are quite alot of women's only fitness things near me so it must be popular - women's only gyms, fitness class, swim sessions, walking groups.

I joined the women's only fitness gym for about a year. There was definitely a different vibe to it then the unisex classes I now attend at the leisure centre.

Yes. I used to go to a gym about 20 years ago that had a womens only gym, totally separate to the main one. I used the main one with dh and sometimes on my own but the womens bit just felt a bit less intense maybe? Not really sure but it just had a different feeling.

actually, that's a good point about going with your other half!

It's very easy to feel behind the men in the room and unisex spaces often lack provision for women coming in at entry level making it hard to get started

I would say that is down to poor differentiation by class instructors. All the ones I attend, the instructors offer " levels/options " in pump fir instance there's range of weights from 1.25kg to 10.kg. people are told they can just use body weight. Poses in yoga are also given option those who struggle to do things standing up or who have hip issues or whatever.

And ultimately shouldn't we be focused on what we are doing. And and not comparing ourselves to what a man who's been going years longer is doing.

I go with DH to his gym which is a bit muscle-heavy. To be fair, the blokes are friendly and it's a get-on-with-it vibe. I'm mainly in the unisex areas because of working out with DH, and would substantially use them anyway. The downside is having to strip down heavy bar bells and shifting 20kg plates is a workout for me in itself.

I'll go in the women's only zone if the machines are busy. The decor is softer and more modern (wood ambient strips rather than grey painted brick work) but more importantly the machines tend to be in better nick because they don't get piled up and slammed around so heavily. The range of free-weights and plates is lighter in there. If I wasn't with DH, I'd spend more time in there and default to that where the machines exist in both zones.

I go to a women's circuits class somewhere else and prefer that to the male dominated crcuits class that I once did. There's chatter about women's health and family life. The weights are ranged to what we need (no squabbling for the 4kg kettlebell or have to struggle with the 8kgs) and over time the instructor's had to add heavier weights as we've got stronger. There's no going all-out and rushing out of the exit to vomit

Women's only options in fitness are useful because too many women have low confidence in body image and negative experiences of physical activity/sport. It's very easy to feel behind the men in the room and unisex spaces often lack provision for women coming in at entry level making it hard to get started.
Unisex spaces easily become dominated and default to more masculine. A couple of women in a masculine environment tend to change the tone less than a couple of men in a more female environment.

Choice is useful.

I wouldn’t ‘not’ go but I like a variety of people
in the gym.

I actually like a busy gym as it motivates me.
if it was women only I couldn’t go with my husband so I guess that’s a negative me me.

I would love women only gym sessions!

There is a local women only gym near me that does small group PT sessions and it’s thriving. I’d love to join but it’s expensive, so I stick to classes at my chain gym, which tend to be 90% women and led by women instructors.

I wouldn't not go. Depends what the class was. My combat class is usually predominantly women. I actually think for any men who are newbies it could potentially be a bit daunting even though everyone is really friendly and welcoming.

I feel really fortunate with my gym. I like the fact its mixed and there are people of all ages and abilities and back grounds. It instantly makes you feel like you belong there and you dont stand out being a woman or middle aged or should stick to the cardio section or what ever.

I understand this isn't the case for everyone though and I expect for many a womens only session would be extremely popular. What kind of class would you be talking about though? I would say that if anything maybe a womens only weights class would probably be a good idea. Things like yoga , pilates, body pump etc seem to be very heavily female dominant anyway at my gym. I would say the focus of this class should be to steer woman away from the stereotypical cardio stuff and encourage more confidence and interest in weights.

And hopefully they too will then realise the weight section isn't as scary as they think.

to be honest I go to my nearest gym and it does mixed weight classes. The. Men tend to be on the heavier weight side of the room but there are 2 or 3 blokes who aren’t who pair up with whoever is free and it all works. There is a woman only gym which gets rave reviews but it’s too far for mr to be arsed to drive.

I do yoga and Pilates and I really like when men come along as it’s so few and far between. Especially doing things that are grounding and work towards balancing yourself mentally.

i like when different sexes buck the norm it reminds people that they can do other things and exploration and being our your comfort zone can encourage growth.

so many men are intimidated by classes and never go.

I was about to say ‘no’, but then remembered that I used to belong to a women only gym. It is closed now, if that’s any indication of the market preference.

All the classes I do - sprint, grit, circuits, yoga - have about a 50/50 split and I like it that way. The men sweat more but chatter over the instructor far less.

This is really interesting. I belong to a nice gym with health club and I've never thought about this!

It's never occurred to me that the gym and the classes I attend might be more pleasant if they were women only.

I'm on the fence actually. I do yoga, pilates and HIIT classes and it doesn't bother me at all that there are men there. Yoga and pilates is 90% women anyway.

I go to the gym, & even when there is just women’s gym classes going on there is always men in the same room , it’s just the women’s classes are going on the same time if that makes sense ..
I much prefer working out with just women there being honest aswel OP 😊

Why not? I don't understand what the issue might be.