San Antonio gym-goers will find only women in the large, open space with mirrored walls, synthetic turf and several strength machines at 7007 Bandera Road.
"Girl Gym" opened with the goal of creating an inclusive and safe fitness center for women to feel comfortable and confident while they get their sweat on. The gym has a big focus on group exercise classes, but it also offers a wide variety of strength machines and functional fitness spaces.
"The vision behind Girl Gym came from years of myself going to the gym being a college athlete and something just always felt off. There's a lot of uncontrollable variables for us women in the gym that you know sometimes it's not the way that we want. So here at Girl Gym, our mission and our goal is to create a safe space for every woman here in San Antonio, no matter your ability level, your age, or race. As soon as you walk in the door, you know, the only thing you have to worry about is your workout class and then you can get on for the rest of your day." Girl Gym founder, Gabrielle Foy, told News4SA.
Women can choose from a variety of options at the gym like personal training, group exercise classes or personalized training plans. The classes are a huge appeal for Girl Gym members, and the gym recently started offering mom-specific classes including the postpartum glute and core class.
In a world where gym-goers have seemingly endless options, this women-only space stands out as a top choice for women in San Antonio. Of course, there will always be chain fitness centers offering endless rows of cardio machines and a diverse group of people, some powerlifting and some simply walking on a treadmill, but the niche fitness center is becoming a popular choice.
According to a study by HealthNews, “six out of ten women report being sexually harassed by men while working out at the gym.”
Girl Gym in San Antonio, and other fitness centers like it, are stepping in to curve that statistic. Instead of intimidation or unwanted attention, Foy says, “Here, you'll find a community built on love, support and genuine connections.”
