Get to know the best women-only gyms in Townsville

Townsville women-only gyms are doing the heavy lifting in client empowerment with fun, supportive and challenging workouts. 

Female gyms are giving women a chance to train comfortably.

Nutrition, well-being and hormone cycles are at the forefront of Townsville’s best women-only gyms, and the ladies behind them are working to help their clients achieve their fitness goals.

Women-only gyms work to create a safe and supportive environment where women can begin their fitness journeys with exercise programs tailored specifically to their body.

Townsville’s women-only gyms cater for every woman no matter their background, lifestyle or fitness level.

Maxinne Cochrane, the owner of The Shift Sweat Studio characterises her gym as “personal training in a group”, where every woman has a personalised program and experience conducted in a group setting.

“The environment at the studio is really beautiful, it’s so encouraging and motivating,” Ms Cochrane said.

“Everyone just wants everyone to get strong and feel good about themselves, so it’s a very empowering supportive environment.”

Maxinne Cochrane owner of The Shift Sweat Studio working out at her Townsville gym.

Her strong focus on nutrition allows her customers to get the best results possible while breaking down common misconceptions.

“I think a lot of women tend to still under-eat thinking that’s the way forward and it’s just not,” she said.

“If you want to build muscle, if you want to thrive and feel good and recover, you have to eat.”

The customisation of strength training for the female body that takes into account bone density, hormone cycles and muscle mass allows for women from all walks of life to be catered to and reach their best fitness potential.

“We have chicks in there lifting more than the men,” Ms Cochrane said.

“We do focus on the strength training elements, which is better for women because the more muscle mass they have, the better it is for body composition and the better they are going to feel.”

Another gym widening the horizons of women’s fitness is First Base, which is about to begin their new Teen Fit program.

Brianna Morgan and Natalia Holmes, owners of First Base Gym

Co-owned by sisters Natalia Holmes and Brianna Morgan, the new program is aimed to introduce young women aged 13-17 to the benefits of exercise for performance and recovery.

The program incorporates strength training, pilates, cardio partner boxing and circuit training, in a fun and supportive environment.

Co-owner Brianna Morgan said the inspiration for the program came from her own experiences as a teenager.

“When I was in high school I was still playing a lot of sports, which was very physically demanding, but we never did the strength side of it, which is really important for injury prevention,” Mrs Morgan said.

“The Teen Fit program is taking into account the massive hormone shifts that younger girls are going through, but also the fact that their joints aren’t fully developed yet.”

Fitness with Zoe is another women-only gym in Townsville that has been running for nearly a decade.

Zoe Huni Founder of Fitness With Zoe, with Ashleigh Stocker, Kristie Matthews, Kristen Pearce and Natalie Robb.

The founder Zoe Huni recalls that “there weren’t many options for women back then,” when she began dance fitness classes in a hired out hall nine years ago.

Mrs Huni has worked hard to create a comfortable atmosphere that is open to women from any background, age and fitness level.

“There’ll be an 18-year-old working out next to a 50-year-old and it doesn’t matter if you’re wearing Kmart clothes or brand name clothes,” Mrs Huni said.

“No one is judging you, you should feel safe and just come and have a good time and enjoy it.”

Not only is it a great place to get your daily workout in, but also to form new friendships.

“I’ve definitely seen some beautiful relationships built,” Mrs Huni said.

“You’re not on your phone, you’re not timing yourself.

“You get that little bit of time to connect with others.”

The gym now offers group fitness classes seven days a week ranging from HIIT, weight, dance and circuit training as well as child minding services and an onsite coffee van for those early morning workout sessions.

Originally published as Get to know the best women-only gyms in Townsville