Gyms and weight rooms haven鈥檛 always been the most welcoming, comfortable place for women.
But over the last 30 years, health clubs worldwide introduced women鈥檚-only section to cater to their expanding clientele and induce new members to adopt a healthier lifestyle that included weights and treadmills.听
But now a West End Fitness World is eliminating the section used exclusively by women to accommodate the neighbourhood鈥檚 gay, male demographic and because clients have complained the gym should be completely co-ed.
The company, which along with 12 other Fitness World locations in the Lower Mainland is owned by Steve Nash, could not provide the percentage of male and female clientele at the West End gym.
Nevertheless, one female member is irate with this change. Karen Tankard signed up at the Howe and Davie Fitness World 27 years ago to exercise in a place designed to spare her any muscle-bound machismo.
In an on her blog Tank鈥檚 Travels, Tankard said Fitness World was deceiving the female members who鈥檇 bought passes in order to use the women鈥檚-only section.
鈥淪hame on Steve Nash Fitness World for selling memberships based on women鈥檚 only sections then quietly eliminating them,鈥� she wrote.
鈥淭his company doesn鈥檛 understand women have unique needs and wants. [鈥 Fitness World doesn鈥檛 deserve to keep its women members.鈥�
Tankard, a former CBC reporter, noticed the smaller equipment in the section she used was replaced over a year ago with new, larger weight machines. She got mixed messages from staff but eventually confirmed the women鈥檚 section was being eliminated.
In the meantime, she wrote that signs had come down and the area was effectively co-ed, which caused discomfort for women like her who thought the space was only theirs to use.
鈥淟ots of women don鈥檛 want to work out in the company of men, their sweat and their grunting,鈥� she wrote. 鈥淪orry guys, you鈥檙e not always the best workout partners.鈥�
Colleen Kirk, a spokeswoman for Fitness World, said the gym is responding to requests from what it considers the changing needs of its clients.
鈥淭hat part of the women鈥檚-only location is not used a lot and our members have come to us and said, 鈥榃e want more space that is gender-neutral.鈥欌��
She said the dozen other Fitness World locations, including Kitsilano, have dedicated women鈥檚 sections and there are no plans to eliminate them.
鈥淭he thing to remember is that fitness in general is always evolving,鈥� said Kirk.
Kirk said the gym asked members for input, a claim Tankard disputes.
In Britain, a reporter who covers men鈥檚 issues that allows a public gym to open only to women for several hours a week.听
In 2005, a Burnaby man took the private gym Just Ladies Fitness to the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal after staff refused to sell him a membership.听
He lost his case. Not only was he not prevented from working out at other affordable fitness centres near his home, but the ruling also determined women should have the option to exercise 鈥渇ree of the male gaze鈥� or otherwise might not exercise at all.
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