Gyms and health clubs that cater to women have sprung up over the years because these places can be daunting for those people who are not used to exercise. Most women never quite feel comfortable working out because they are worried about wearing the right clothes and they feel intimidated to venture into the free-weight room, especially if there are men around. Solution came in the form of health clubs and gyms run by women, for women. There are several reasons why women join this type of clubs. It may be because of their religious beliefs which forbid them to show skin in front of the opposite sex while others have suffered abuse from men and they feel threatened to work out in their presence. Some women are also concerned about their looks and how others perceived them. However, the most prevalent reason is that they feel uncomfortable and self-conscious exercising in a coed environment. This is especially true for women with weight problems, and they are the ones who need to go to the gym the most.
While there are a handful of lawsuits claiming that these clubs discriminate against men, ultimately, state legislature passed a bill that allowed gender discrimination in fitness clubs. This is because the state is trying to get more people to exercise and if some women are so uncomfortable exercising in front of men and if that is their only choice, then there is no reason why health clubs for women should be banned. Women who frequent health clubs are primarily looking for three important things which include a clean environment to exercise, good equipment and classes running at schedules that suit them, and social networking with like-minded people. Friendly staff and quality personal training are plus factors too. Privacy is not only the issue why women prefer single sex health clubs. These health and fitness clubs offer a line of Nautilus machines which were downsized for women’s bodies such as weight stacks that are increased by 3-pound increments instead of the usual 10. This goes for dumbbells too which is increase by 1- or 2-pound increments. While some may say that a single-sex environment health clubs is not always better than a coed club, most women prefer them because they need not worry about their looks whenever they need to go to the gym. Health clubs for women offer group fitness and exercise that will leave them feeling energized with an overall sense of well being, minus the men.