By: Dewi Sriwahyuto

MOVE over, guys, women-only gyms are getting bigger and better.

Amore Fitness, which has 16 outlets islandwide, is planning to open a new 1,393 sq m fitness centre at City SquareMall at the end of the year.

Amore's founder and chief executive, Ms Jasmine Teo, says its gyms have 50,000 active members to date, with numbers "constantly growing".

Gyms like Amore not only have fitness regimes and classes tailored for a woman's physique, but also have less bulky fitness equipment and luxurious vanity areas where members can primp and preen after their workouts.

Independent 51/2-year-old outlet Body Temple has also opened a second 1,114 sq m outlet in Lowen Gardens in May.

Director Karine Gauthier, 34, said the rise of women-only gyms stems from the fact that women "appreciate privacy and want to feel less intimidated when they work out".

Body Temple is perhaps the most exclusive gym here - only five people are allowed into its studios at any one time.
Its new outlet has recruited 75 members, with packages costing between $25 and $95 per month.

Dr Ng Koon Hock, 48, a psychiatrist at Thomson Medical Centre, said: "Most women don't like the staring eyes of men so, in these women-only gyms, they can exercise in comfort and accomplish their goals faster."

Ms Cordelia Fernandez, a junior-college teacher in her 30s, dropped 9kg in eight months after she joined women only gym Slender Shapes in 2002.

"The main advantage of women- only gyms is that there are no distractions," she said. "You can concentrate on working out without worrying about how your hair looks or if you have a visible panty line."

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