Friday, Aug. 15, 2008

Options for Women’s Fitness Growing in Colleyville, Southlake, Grapevine, Keller

By Colleen Horan

Contributing Writer

For local women who want to get in shape, the workout scene that caters specifically to them is full of choices, ranging from boot camp to women-only gyms to personal trainers.

DFW Adventure Boot Camp for Women offers classes in Southlake and Colleyville.

It’s a four-week, outdoor boot camp for women of all fitness levels. Classes are an hour long, and attendees can choose to go three, four or five days a week. Boot camp starts at 5:30 a.m. at Carroll High School and Colleyville Middle School so that working women can get their exercise in before their business day begins. Late morning classes are also available in Southlake.

Instructor Anna McKinnon, who teaches the Southlake classes, said it’s not only a fun workout just for women but a great social experience.

"I prefer women-only because they feel more comfortable with each other and it’s truly a bonding situation," McKinnon said.

Cheryl White has been participating in the Southlake camp since January and loves it.

"Boot camp is just wonderful. The camaraderie with the different ladies, friendships that I’ve built up — to me it’s a perfect environment," White said.

She keeps in touch with boot camp classmates with e-mail and often challenges them to "sink push-ups" during the day while at work.

White said women shouldn’t be intimidated by the word "boot camp" and expect someone to be yelling in their face.

"It’s not that way. It is actually fun," she said.

Class size averages about 20 to 30 women and prices range from $199 to $299 depending on the number of days attended per week.

If boot camp isn’t for you, numerous local gyms cater to a women-only clientele, including Lady USA Fitness with locations in North Richland Hills and Bedford, Curves in Colleyville, Keller, Fort Worth and Roanoke, and Butterfly Life in Keller and North Richland Hills.

Butterfly Life area representative Marion Napurano said her company has found what women want from their workout.

"There is a very large majority of women who are not comfortable in a coed setting. We have a very non-intimidating, comfortable atmosphere for women to get together," Napurano said. "Our members have so many different things they can choose from that they’re not going to get bored and they can see results."

Butterfly Life offers a 30-minute circuit training program with equipment that is designed specifically for women’s bodies.

A 65-inch plasma television screen shows a variety of classes including step-aerobics, Pilates, yoga and dance.

Classes on nutrition, health and beauty are offered, as well. Napurano said, "We have at least one function a month where we get together just for doing something fun." She cites movie nights and a recent charity fashion show.

Membership is $29 a month for a two-year contract, $39 a month for a one-year contract and $49 for month to month at Butterfly.

Lady Trainers to Go is a Dallas-based company that matches women with in-home women trainers.

"I think that women are much more comfortable having a female trainer, particularly one that comes into their home," said Sherry Simmons, a trainer with Lady Trainers to Go.

"Women understand women’s fitness needs and health needs a little bit better," she said.

A typical session incorporates stretching, yoga, cardio, combination exercises, strength and flexibility exercises all geared toward the client’s personal needs and expectations.

Prices for a one-hour session are $65 and up depending on the time of day and number of sessions scheduled per week.