Nelson gym just for girls

Weds 19 July

'Exercising with blokes is not everyone's cup of tea!' according to Louise Devine from Devine Fitness. She and husband Geoff Devine are counting down to the opening of their latest venture, Devinewoman, a gym 'just for girls'.

Louise Devine says they were pretty sure that Nelson women would be in line with the international trend to women-only gyms. She says the response they had with a stand at the recent Women's Lifestyle Expo confirmed women are looking for a clean, quick, no-fuss exercise alternative.

"A lot of women are too scared to set foot in traditional mixed gyms because they don't want to work out on a piece of equipment next to a bloke, or because they don't know what to wear," she said. "We're offering a small friendly exercise studio, designed by women for women only - in fact the exercise stations will be facing inwards so women can chat and we'll be screening the Living and Food channels on our TV in the studio."

Devinewoman has its own access and is upstairs from Devine Fitness in Vanguard Street, with the location near the supermarket meaning women can come in anytime for a quick thirty-minute circuit.

"Many women are self conscious about the way they look and we want Devinewoman clients to feel totally at ease at the gym, so they can turn up in track pants and a T shirt if they want, all they need is their drink bottle," says Louise. "We realise taking the step to enrol in the gym is a big one for many women and we are planning to have a support person available at all times to talk through confidence issues and help with ongoing commitment."

The imported American weights machines at Devinewoman is hydraulically operated and specifically designed for women's circuits. The studio will have seven stations with jogging in between, and for a work out with more cardio there'll also be a treadmill, two stationary cycles and a cross-trainer.

Devinewoman will donate $5 from every gym membership to the Nelson Cancer Society. Louise says that the gym chose to support the Cancer Society as the most appropriate local group involved with women's health: "Most women have been touched by cancer in some way, whether it is a sister, mother or friend or relative."

Devinewoman will be holding open days on the 4th and 5th of August and will be officially open on August 7th.

ENDS

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