The Indian market is being targeted by two international women-only fitness franchises: US-based Curves and Portuguese operation Vivafit.

Owned by Q-Mart Retail Ventures, which holds the franchise for the state of Andhra Pradesh, the Curves site opened in Hyderabad at the end of January. The 256sq m club offers the full Curves-manufactured circuit, including stretch stations, with women aged 25 to 55 the main target market.

There are now two Curves clubs in India - one in Hyderabad and one in Mumbai. Plans are for several hundred new clubs to be rolled out over the next couple of years.

Meanwhile Vivafit last month opened 250sq m club in the Mega Mall shopping centre in Gurgaon, 20km from Delhi.

The new club - Vivafit's first in India - offers a hydraulic circuit gym using Vivafit equipment imported from Portugal. There's also a group exercise studio for Body Vive, Body Balance and pilates classes, changing rooms and showers.

Membership of the club costs 1,800 rupees a month (£26).

The Mega Mall facility is owned by master franchisee Manisha Ahlawat. Vivafit now plans to open 100 clubs in the Delhi region, starting at the end of 2011, and then aims to expand to other regions from 2013.