Why more and more women are choosing a women-only gym

More and more women are choosing a women-only gym. Not because they don’t want to work out around men, but because they’re looking for an environment that better supports their bodies, energy, hormones and overall wellbeing. Research shows that women not only feel safer in a female-only environment, but also experience higher motivation, more enjoyment and better training outcomes.

At bbb health boutique, we combine these insights with heat training, personalised coaching and women-specific workouts. This article explains why this approach works so well — and what the research says.

1. A safe, calm place to work out

Many women feel watched or judged in a traditional gym environment. A well-known study (Öztürk & Koca, 2017) shows that women in mixed-gender gyms more often experience self-consciousness, the feeling of being watched, fear of making mistakes and pressure to perform. This leads many women to work out less often or stop altogether.

In a women-only environment, women report more calm, more autonomy, more fun and far less fear of judgment.

At bbb health boutique, we intentionally create a safe, warm and nurturing space with small studios, personal support and a soothing atmosphere.

2. Training that aligns with the female body

The female body works differently — and we honour that.

Women experience different hormonal cycles, a different stress response, different injury patterns and unique energy fluctuations. Studies show that women respond better to accessible strength training, women-specific programming and heat training.

Research in women-only training environments also shows that women feel physically and emotionally better supported when a programme is designed for their needs. This leads to higher motivation and better long-term consistency.

At bbb, we work from this evidence: hormone-friendly movement, rest, recovery and warmth are central to our approach.

3. Less pressure, more joy

Research on women’s motivation in sport (Vasudevan et al., 2021) shows that female exercisers thrive in environments where joy is central, competition is absent, coaching is warm and empathetic, and the atmosphere is calm and safe.

Women-only gyms score significantly higher on all of these factors.

You can feel this at bbb health boutique: soft colours, gentle music, small groups, personal coaching and a setting where you can simply be yourself.

4. Heat: a powerful tool for women

bbb is known for its heat cabins — and for good reason. Heat offers important benefits for women, supported by scientific research.

Physically, heat supports recovery, circulation, fat metabolism and cellular health.
Mentally, it brings calm, focus and emotional release.
Hormonally, heat can support balance, ease tension and reduce PMS and stress-related discomfort.

5. A supportive community of women

Research on exercise behaviour (Öztürk & Koca, 2017) shows that women stay more motivated when they’re part of a community that understands them. In women-only environments, women report more support, recognition, less shame, more joy and higher motivation.

That’s exactly what you feel at bbb health boutique: a warm community of women who motivate, support and uplift one another.