Urban Gym Group has announced plans to trial women’s zones in some of its clubs to see if it helps female members to experience better workouts.

In an International Women's Day exclusive, an Urban Gym Group spokesperson told HCM this initiative is in response to industry studies showing that women experience being watched in the gym and appreciate a place in which they can work out without a stare or comments.

“But it’s not only about creating a safe space for women, as we prioritise that in all our gyms,” she said. “It’s making sure the offering tailors the majority of our female members’ needs, such as enough room to do squats, deadlifts and bench presses, with the assistance of female instructors, who have a deep understanding of the power of strength training on our physique and mental health.”

The first zones will be opened before summer in several clubs in and outside Amsterdam. Surveys will be carried out to see whether the women's zones lead to better workouts. If so, it will be rolled out in other clubs with capacity.

HCM is tipping women-only clubs and zones as an upcoming trend. Total Fitness launched its dedicated women’s concept, The Women’s Gym last year and there is growing awareness of how women have different needs from men in the gym. The Gym Group is upskilling 100 instructors so they're equipped to work with women by having a deeper understanding of how training needs to be customised for female anatomy and physiology.

With 40 clubs and studios in major cities across the Netherlands, Urban Gym Groups’ biggest brand is Trainmore. It also owns Clubsportive, a high-end fitness club; Renessence a wellbeing centre that combines science and spirituality to enable self-optimisation. BTY CLB offers follow-the-trainer workouts in club-style atmosphere with light show and catwalk.

Urban Gym Group also runs a number of TRIB3 studios which operate on a three-zone training system: treadmills, resistance and intensity, combined with live heart rate tracking.

With Neil Randall at the helm as CEO, the priorities for the company this year are continued growth through acquisition and building new clubs; optimising vitality and wellbeing offerings and talent development.

The company closed its High Studios locations in May 2023 to focus investment into Trainmore.