TrainMore Launches Women-only Strength Zones

Urban Gym Group is upping its female-friendly options.

What’s happening: The Dutch fitness operator is piloting dedicated women’s zones, called Gaia, in three of Amsterdam’s TrainMore clubs.

Launching on 25 June at Utrecht Stationsplein, Amsterdam Oost and The Hague, it provides a space for squats, deadlifts and bench presses, plus female-focused trainer guidance.

Lifting spirits. With women-led group concept BTY CLB already bolstering TrainMore’s Oost club and coming to The Hague this September, UGG CEO Neil Randall, CEO will meet growing demand for safe, inclusive spaces.

“It’s become evident from recent studies that women appreciate having a supportive environment where they can exercise together without feeling judged or receiving unwarranted comments.”

Girl Power

Beyond the need for female-tailored performance training, surveys show 42% of females experience sexual harassment at the gym, rising to 83% of 16–24 year olds, with 39% of incidents in strength areas.

As searches for women-only gyms rise 69% YoY, the industry is evolving:

• In France, RSG Group opened private wellness club HEIMAT by Waris Dirie, while Gigafit is bringing a luxury version of its Lady brand Stateside.
• Along with its women-only gym spaces, Total Fitness introduced The Women’s Gym standalone concept this year.
• On a smaller scale, StrongHer offers female-attuned strength & conditioning, and Lift Studio LDN promises “antidote to gym anxiety”.

Of note, ladies-only stalwart Curves, founded 25 years ago, has become a global franchise,  counting 3.5K sites in 50 countries.

Punchline: In the absence of a long-overdue culture change, operators have the opportunity to create safe spaces that shrink the gender fitness gap and help women find strength in numbers.