Moorways Sports Village is set to launch women-only gym sessions on Sunday, February 2.
The £42million centre, run by award-winning operator Everyone Active in partnership with Derby City Council, will hold the sessions every Sunday from 6.45pm-8.30pm.
While they will be open to all women to access, particular consideration has been given to how women from the Muslim community can use the facilities.
The sessions will be overseen by a team of all-female colleagues, while the windows overlooking the car park will be blocked out. There will be opportunities for support sessions, personal training and InBody scans.
The purpose of the new activity, which is open to all ages and abilities, is to provide a supportive and inclusive space where women feel empowered to work towards their health and fitness goals.
According to Sport England, there are 300,000 fewer women than men who are regularly active, which is due to a variety of factors including a lack of female-centric spaces.
Cultural practices, past experiences and personal preferences are all reasons why women may feel more comfortable and confident in a female-only space.
Already running at Moorways are women-only swim and water park sessions, as well as women-only group cycling, Pilates and Zumba. These are run in partnership with local organisations and projects, committed to supporting women to access physical activity. Moorways also offers women-only health suite sessions.
Megan Thomas, events coordinator and personal trainer at Everyone Active, said: “Exercise is so important for health and wellness, but we recognise that typical gym environments aren’t always accessible or inclusive for women. That’s why we wanted to launch a women-only gym session.
“The feedback from our other women-only sessions has been overwhelmingly positive, so it made sense to expand it to our gym offering.
“The goal of these sessions is to bring positive change in women’s lives and empower them to engage in physical activity in a space that feels supportive and inclusive.”
Councillor Ndukwe Onuoha, Derby City Council’s Cabinet Member for Streetpride, Public Safety and Leisure, said: “This is a great initiative. The team at Moorways Sports Village excel at creating a safe and inclusive space where everyone in our community, no matter their ability, can feel welcome.”
For more information, speak to Everyone Active colleagues at Moorways, phone 01332 414310 or visit everyoneactive.com/centre/