Would you go to a woman only gym session?

[GentleOliveFatball]

Just a light hearted post! 🫶

My local leisure centre does woman only nights in the health suite once a week and there is talk of doing a women's only gym session as well.
I used to go to the gym with a friend on occasion, I really enjoyed going, however we both became busy and were unable to find a time to go together anymore. I tried going on my own however I felt a bit uncomfortable and quite insecure (I know it's all in my head, but still)
I would love to go to a women's only gym session as I think I would feel more comfortable wearing my gym clothes and working out if I was just surrounded by other women, I also think it may be a good opportunity to make new friends.
What do you think? Would you be interested in women's only gym sessions? Have you ever tried them and were they good?

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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 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.

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'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'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.

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.

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.

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)