All-girl fitness - XX or X-why?

When looking for gyms, I specifically avoided anything with a meat market mentality. I can’t deal with men working out in ripped jean shorts and construction boots, or with bar-scene atmospheres that promote more talking that power-walking. I go to the gym to workout, not get hit on by married men or ogled by frat boys. And, as we’ve learned from my past blogs, I am oblivious to the point where I can wander around for over an hour with a soaking-wet, see-through white sports bra on. Wouldn’t that go over well at a gym like Crunch, where they actually have built peepshow silhouette showers so you can soap up while others look on? (Although I do think their classes are way innovative).

That said, my gym is coed. I haven’t gone Spinning to the other end of the spectrum - the no-boys-allowed gym - yet. Much as they may groan unnecessarily and, like one man at my gym who I hope is reading this, SMELL LIKE TACOS!, I do enjoy having both genders present. When doing crunches or pushups, I like to try and match the guy (or girl, of course) next to me. I’m a talkative gal and, on the occasion where I’m not soaking through four towels, I may engage in a quick casual conversation. And sure, I’ll admit, we all like a little eye candy now and then. I just don’t need the amount supplied by Bally’s.

But recently, I’m been reading a lot about girl-only gyms. A place here in Chicago called Flirty Girl Fitness was opened by two sisters from Canada and, while I haven’t been to Flirty Girl Fitness personally, to hear my colleague, Chicago Tribune REDEYE Reporter Kyra Kyles, describe it in a story on all-female gyms recently, it sounds like a lil’ slice of heaven. A chocolate-colored reception desk that could double for a giant confection. I-am-woman-friendly music like “Suddenly I See” by KT Tunstall’s and “Deja Vu” by Beyonce. And…yes - it’s true!…an upcoming martini-and-manicure space.

Also, pretty much everything is pink - bistro chairs, chandeliers, plush velvet walls, even the boxing gloves and yoga mats! (Exclamation point included for emphasis, not necessarily enthusiasm...see **below.)

One woman Kyles interviewed, who has previously belonged to both Bally and Curves (also all-female), said she likes Flirty Girl because she doesn’t get that feeling like she has to be in shape just to go work out. I so know what she’s saying - it’s like when I was little and my mom would say, “OK, kids, clean up! The cleaning lady is coming today.” What? Or, more on point, when women I know out on makeup to be “seen” at the gym. I don’t want to worry if I have a zit in the middle of my forehead (or if I‘m super-bloated from PMS, or if my t-shirt has pit stains) - and maybe if I was surrounded by just women, those concerns would melt away. I also think it’d be nice to not have to worry if, while doing this awesome new ab exercise I learned which involves climbing on top of a stability ball (PS I’m still using mine as a chair), my butt was hanging out of my shorts. Or if my cleavage - there is some - was peeking out.

Do any of you belong to all-female gyms? Do you love it? Miss the guys at all? Dish!

**I'm going to interject something here - I pride myself on being, well, a flirty type of girl and normally I love pink. My laptop is pink. My current thong is pink. But I wonder, do I want my gym to be called "Flirty Girl," complete with butterflies everywhere, boas and pink chairs? Is it kind of like working out at Claire's Boutique? I never thought there was such a thing as too much pink but I wonder why this seems a little wussy to me? I may need to go and investigate! I bet now that I've said this, the classes would probably kick my ass!

PS I’ll blog more in a bit about all of theses pole workouts popping up - S Factor started them, now they're everywhere, including Flirty Girl. And on Saturday, I’m trying Pilates for my first time so if I don’t end up in traction, I’ll have something on that for ya!

Comments

i thought your post said, "chocolate-covered reception desk." lol.

I used to work out in the women-only section of my coed gym. I loved it. I felt a lot more comfortable. The gym was a meat market, pretty much. When I went into the other section, it was safe and comfortable.

When I join a gym next (currently I use a military gym, I'm and AF wife), I'll be choosing either an all female gym or one with a women-only section

I've gone to a women's only gym for 7 years. I like that I don't have the pick-up scene, and that I can just wear a sports bra and shorts without worrying if my butt or boobs are showing. There are plenty of very fit women there who run, do weights, crunches, etc to show how slacking I am. Plus high impact classes in addition to more mellow ones, including yoga. My main complaint is their limited hours. I have a young toddler, so if I don't go run around the neighborhood at 5am before work, I don't run. It's hard to coordinate someone watching her for me to get to the gym, I do get there on the weekend sometimes. I'd like the option to go there early mornings.

I'm not sure I'd go to Flirty Girl if we had one, but I do like the variety of classes they offer. They're expensive though! My gym includes prices in their membership fees.

I've gone to an all women's gym (Healthworks, in Boston) for the last 3 years, and I love it. I just feel so much more comfortable there than I have at other gyms in the past; they aren't terribly girl themed (nothing is pink), but there's almost no pickup scene, and there's a lot more classes to appeal specifically to women (ballet, hip hop, bellydance, etc) than I've found in gyms I've gone to in the past. Also, I've found I'm willing to go to classes there which I might have been too intimidated to go to at a coed gym (I'm taking boxing recently, I don't think I'd do that in a class that was 80% male)

I love this subject because I have soo much to say! First of all, in spite of my much reknowned adoration for all things pink, I am not what one consider a "girly girl". I was a tomboy as a kid and have always felt more comfortable around the dudes than the bitchy chicks. HOWEVER - one of the gyms that I happen to teach Spinning at is called Total Woman, and I LOVE IT! In fact, this is the gym that I've chosen to work out at, even though I have free memberships at two other gyms where I teach. Why do I choose the chick gym? First of all, I love the fact that it smells like potpourri and candles when I walk in. I love the fact that the equipment and the locker rooms are PRISTINE and the members actually USE their towels. Also, as much as I enjoy a good, strong male grunt when appropriate, I do not miss it while I'm lifting my free weights, nor do I miss the sound of weights crashing to the floor. And yeah, it's nice to just focus on myself and my workout without the whole male distraction thing.

Like Steph, I also belonged to Healthworks in Boston - an all women's gym - when I lived there for 3 years. To date, I haven't found a gym that I like so much. In fact, I no longer have a gym membership! I loved working out among women where nobody was there to be seen - we were all there to sweat and, in many subtle ways, support and encourage each other. It probably sounds like I am romanticizing my experience, but I truly LOVED it!

The other thing that I liked about it was its very subtlety - it wasn't pink or chocolate; it wasn't particularly flirty or sexy. It just "was." Another thing: the gym was always clean and the environment was always professional. I was so comfortable there - I really miss it! It's the only place I have ever whipped off my shirt while running and felt comfortable running in a sports bra :)

Hey Leslie, I'm one of the sisters that owns Flirty Girl Fitness. I just read your article and had to invite you to come in as my guest and try any one of our classes. I can promise you a "kick your ass" workout but that you'll also have a blast at the same time.
You may also like to know that while we love our all-girls club we do love to mingle with the boys from time to time so we throw a big Pink Carpet Party ever few months and we invite the boys in and show off what we do. ;)

I'm working out in a coed gym, but has a separate only-female section, and absolutely love it! Reception is PINK, girls-rooms yellow-orange, and these colors always make me happy, ha-ha!
Sometimes guys have to come make some exercise in our part, and they ALWAYS want to stay...good company, good music (not that pumpin'iron techno...), and just different ambience. The last is the most important, apart from de facto working out.There are little things that i hate more when barbies come down for a walk on the treadmill to chit-chat :)

Hi Leslie, we'd LOVE to get you into S Factor for a complimentary class! The media craze spawned a slew of imitators, but only S Factor truly caters to the body and mind, focusing on empowerment over kitsch. No mirrors, no alcohol, no wild parties, tanning beds, nail salons or Coyote Ugly-esque brashness – just real women unleashing their sensual power in a private, comfortable atmosphere. Interested? ;)

Kim
312 267 0944
kim@k101Agency.com

Hi Leslie, we'd LOVE to get you into S Factor for a complimentary class! The media craze spawned a slew of imitators, but only S Factor truly caters to the body and mind, focusing on empowerment over kitsch. No mirrors, no alcohol, no wild parties, tanning beds, nail salons or Coyote Ugly-esque brashness...just real women unleashing their sensual power in a private, comfortable atmosphere. Interested? ;)

Kim
312 267 0944
kim@k101Agency.com

I used to go to an all-womens' gym in San Diego, and I LOVED it! The members came to work out without distraction, and I definitely tried things there that I wouldn't have tried at a co-ed gym. The strangest part was the reaction I got from men when I told them I worked out there. The two questions they always asked were "What is it like in there?" and "Is it just for lesbians?" ?!?!?!?! Now, I'm sure a number of the women WERE gay, but I didn't take a poll. Who cares? We were there to work out!
When we moved to L.A. I joined a gym that was used mostly by gay men, which is cool because they don't try to pick you up AND they are some nice eye candy,lol! (This was, after all, West Hollywood.) When I got pregnant the first time, I stayed there for a bit ( and everyone was REALLY sweet to me!), but the drive was too long and I joined a Y. Now I have 2 kids, live near San Francisco, and go to a Jewish Community Center. Nice atmosphere, no meat market, and I'm training to be a pilates instructor.

I know a few people who are members of Flirty Girl here in Toronto. It seems a little whack to me, all the pole dancing and chair dancing and bar dancing. Kind of sleazy. I've heard of and seen pics from the parties, men and women allowed and the girls basically just do their bar and pole dances for the crowds, mingle etc. Maybe if that's your kind of thing but to me, I love the idea of all women's gyms, but strictly for getting fit and socializing in a comfortable enviroment -- not sure why it has to be sexual (but I know the Flirty Girls would argue this point)... the post from the S-Factor person seems to be a little more appealing. I know a lot of girls who roll their eyes when talking about other girls who are Flirty Girl members...

Perhaps these girl only gyms allow us to concentrate on what we are there for! It is also great when you just start out and are perhaps a bit low on the self-confidence side.

I'd never go to a womens only gym. I don't like the "meat markets", infact, I've been a member of several gyms and the Y is my favorite. I like free weights and benches, mirrors and rock music when I work out. I prefer to have men spot for me (sorry ladies) and without mirros, how do you keep proper form? I'm no body builder, but I lifted with the guys in high school and college and don't see a reason to change. Not all women are that easily distracted by men.

Wow...lots of different views about Flirty Girl!! I am one of the instructors at Flirty Girl in Chicago and I can tell you that my classes are anything but Flirty. I train with a fight team in Mixed Martial Arts, a personal trainer full time and a tomboy. The reason I wanted to be a part of Flirty Girl was because of what it representd to me. Strong women who were not afraid to tap into that sensual side. I invite you to come try one of my classes, I don't give you a good cardio workout. I teach you how to take care of yourself physically and mentally and you get a kick ass workout in the process. So for anyone that is hesitant or thinks it is all full of sh$%#, come to Flirty and ask for one of Salma's classes. I promise I will change your mind and you will come back for more ;-) Peace

Kerry and Salma - I contacted Chicago's Flirty Girl because, believe me, I want to get my ass kicked by you now! But no one called me back :-( What shall I do?

Flirty Girl sounds like a great place to work out, I'm definitely a girly girl I've had a membership at Crunch though i enjoyed it I think Flirty Girl has something else to offer *empowering women* just because the classes are mainly pole dancing and strip tease doesn't make it slezzy personally I think it makes it more interesting, that being said I registered for Salma's class Hottie Body Boxing tonight, I let you know how that turns out =)

Flirty Girl Fitness has some of the best instructors in the Chicagoland -hands down. I've worked at 7 gyms in Chicago and have never seen so many smiles in a classroom. I teach Yogalatease and Salsalicious at Flirty Girl Fitness. The atmosphere is playful and positive. You meet other women with similar goals, and you get your workout in without feeling like it's work. The facility is beautiful, the location is prime, and the classes are unique. I've taken kickboxing and toning classes for years, and they're boring. The class formats at Flirty Girl Fitness are creative and challenging. Before making up you mind about this gym, I encourage you to take a class. If you like dance, come to Haley's Salsalicious class to work up a sweat. If you like stretching and toning, come to Haley's Flirty Yogalatease class. If you like your butt kicked, take Salma's Hottie Body Boxing. Give it a try, there's nothing to lose...except maybe a few pounds:)

Hey Leslie...I just saw that you tried to contact us but did not get thru!! :( I am very sorry about that! Please call us again...anytime after 10 am and before 10 pm someone will be there to answer any questions you may have and get you regestered!! (312) 666-2266

Peace

Salma - no worries - I have talked with Kerry and I'm coming in on Monday the 17th to take a boxing class!!! I can't wait to get the crap kicked out of me :-) PS I heard you are a fabulous instructor!!! Thanks for writing and checking in - very thoughtful.