Lately, my good friend and roommate, Amber, and I have been going to a gym. But it's not an ordinary gym.

Just down the street, we have found a gym called "At the Beach," and it's only for women. I've heard of women's gyms before, like Curves, but I never gave them much thought until now. Before, Chris and I have competed in some vigorous games of racquetball, but I think I'm willing to put those competitive moments in the past for this new place. Though playing and participating in sports together is fine and healthy,

Chris and I are two competitive souls, and there were times when a bitter sense of defeat followed us home. Maybe sometime Chris and I can rekindle our gym adventures, but for now, I enjoy working out in this new environment.
When I first walked in, my first thoughts were positive since the place was clean, filled with athletic tunes and plenty of machines. As Amber and I worked ourselves silly on the ellipticals, I was thinking to myself, “why would someone want to workout in a same-sex center?”
After the ellipticals and some other machines that resembled torture devices from the Renaissance period, I considered some ideas why women want to workout without guys around..

It’s a two-way street in saying there’s less distractions. And distractions count whether you’re looking for pleasure or disgust. With other women in the room, and you know there’s only women, you realize you can focus on yourself without feeling judged, or "checked-out."

Then there’s the “girl power” mentality. It’s empowering to see some women come to the gym by themselves, because in a way, they’re not alone in a women’s gym. You don’t have to know their names, what they do or what’s going on in their minds, they’re there in the same place you are. To women, or at least me, exercising is a terrific outlet to relieve stress. And all the women at the gym share this bond whether they realize it or not. As your adrenaline pumps, you start to develop a sweat, you get a thrill of catching a second wind, and the rest of your problems outside that gym cease to exist.

I strongly encourage workout buddies. Without Amber, I don’t know if I would be able to be as active. We don’t just go to the gym, we run, walk and do other agilities outside. What’s even more fun, which we did just the other evening, is throwing a Frisbee around with Amber’s 4-year-old daughter. Teaching this girl how to throw, sometimes learning to share and take turns has been so much fun. I don’t know what’s more fun, catching a second wind or enjoying a good laugh with the girls.

This whole experience has been a real life-changing thing for me. For those who know me this is no surprise, but I tend to have more guy friends than girl friends. It’s never personal, it’s just that I feel more relaxed and sometimes I feel like I have more in common with guys. So to enjoy an environment that’s women-based is different and great for me. I encourage others to try something different, you might like it.