Sisterhood shown to be powerful incentive at women’s gyms

By Dorene Internicola NEW YORK (Reuters) – Women-only gyms, once seen as the exercise alternative for out of shape women of a certain age, are actively shedding that reputation, fitness experts say. Young, professional women are discovering that female-only fitness zones can be what a morning of golf or shooting the hoops is to their male counterparts: a chance to network, negotiate and bond while working out. “Men have been combining fitness and a social aspect for ages, doing business and creating relationships at the same time,” said Leanne Shear, trainer and founder of Uplift Studios, a boutique women-only venue in Manhattan. “Women have not, to their detriment.” Shear said her studio, which opened in 2012, attracts professional women in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s, and aims to provide a social atmosphere where they can come together as a community.