With female-only gyms and exercise regimes becoming commonplace in recent years, the practice of bodybuilding has also become more feminised. Though the reasons for this trend are various, some gyms have seen the female percentage of their clientele rise to over 50%.
Historically associated with muscular men, the quest for a strong physique is by no means exclusive in this day and age. Whether for the perfect body, female empowerment or plain enjoyment, many women are swapping cardio regimes for heavy lifting, and often feel a boost to physical and general wellbeing.
While the obvious benefits of bodybuilding are sculpting and strengthening muscles, the sport also releases a cocktail of hormones – from endorphins to dopamine – which gives pleasure and kills pain. Proponents say it promotes relaxation and is an effective anxiolytic and anti-depressant. Practitioners say they feel relaxed and focused.
Room for all
The rise in popularity may be driving itself, with the confidence and benefits gained from bodybuilding helping to remove some of the main obstacles that women face when pursuing a fitness regime: "gymtimidation." Increasingly gender-diverse weights rooms make the spaces far more welcoming.
Providing safe, secure and comfortable places for women to start their bodybuilding journey has also contributed to the number of female practitioners continuing their training in traditional gyms.
"Gymtimidation" is a self-explanatory term that many might feel due to a lack of fitness or a lack of knowledge about how to use the equipment. It's difficult enough to psychologically prepare oneself to go to the gym in the first place, let alone be concerned about what others may think.
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When it comes to reaching your fitness objectives, being intimidated by large muscular men at the gym might hinder initial progress. This has been central in the thinking behind female-only gyms, which typically provide a more intimate space, often with female staff to provide personal training.
They also provide more holistic options when it comes to fitness, with coaches to provide nutrition and psychological support. And while some female bodybuilders may stay at their women-only gym to pursue their goals, others see them as a stepping-stone into a more competitive environment.
