Women In Strength: Doing Things on Purpose
BY SARAH GONSIOROWSKI
Photo by Andrew Glatt
A woman’s never asked me for an elevator pitch. But she has invited me for coffee.
Navigating the training world as a female strength coach can sometimes feel like a coin toss. One day, I’m pulled aside to address someone's earnest curiosities about movement. And the next, my authority’s hanging by a thread because my answers aren’t fast enough. These days, I feel lucky to work with men who respect my opinion. I train with people who see my potential and value my experiences. But every once in a while, I wish they’d take me out for coffee.
I use this analogy because most conversations I have with women about fitness start with an invitation. They usually ask to meet or talk over the phone for an opinion without judgment. If they’re thinking about lifting weights, they want to know what they’re getting themselves into and if it will satisfy their needs. When we talk, I fill in the blanks—and never without addressing the WHY.
Bridget Brennan, author of Why She Buys, believes in the power of women—especially as consumers. 80% of everything is bought by or heavily influenced by women, so if we think of consumers not only as people who buy things, but also as people who seek to obtain information, then this feels important. The Lunge Ladies was born because we believe there’s a universal need for movement education. Women listen, yet when it comes to strength training, they tend to be left out of the conversation.
Research suggests that women prefer working with people rather than things; while this might be a bit of a stretch, I can’t help but consider the layout of a large, traditional gym: an endless sea of equipment with people floating from machine-island to machine-island, headphones in, phones in hand. How do we find purpose here?
The barriers I sometimes face as a woman in fitness got me thinking about femme experiences in heteronormative movement spaces. In 2019, Cara and I agreed that globo gyms and mirrored boutique studios could lend themselves to feeling like claustrophobic fish bowls where women are watched, judged, or even worse, susceptible to the unsolicited man-splain. In 2021, Science Direct published a study on women’s experiences of barriers to access UK gyms and found that gym structures create the impression that one is always ‘on show’, and subject to scrutiny. So it makes sense that women might also avoid even the friendliest of barbell gyms. Bottom line: Strength programs can feel intimidating and send mixed messages about their results.
So we agreed: We have a problem to solve.
Dancers turned strength coaches, we’ve experienced the real-life benefits of our training. Our capabilities have taught us about what’s possible and how we adapt to challenges, both on and off the training floor. Cara trains to be strong for life, and often suggests that, “If we don’t have our health, we can’t live the life we want.” I, on the other hand, need movement to feel relevant; it keeps my brain happy. And in order to have access to these benefits we, first, need to be able to experience them, and second, have the knowledge to describe them.
Photo by Andrew Glatt
Why Women-only?
Women’s brains are different from men’s. When it comes to brain activity, women surpass men, especially in the prefrontal cortex—focus and impulse control—and the limbic or emotional areas of the brain, involving mood and anxiety. While men and women can share interest in the same thing—like Weightlifting, for example—it’s possible they approach it differently.
Training is not a “one-size-fits-all” model. In our CrossFit Level 2 Certification course, Cara and I learned that “the best cue is the one that works.” For us, the quality of an environment affects how people learn. It’s not that women can’t or shouldn’t train with men; but maybe the real question is whether or not they want to.
Our Philosophy: Doing things on purpose.
We believe in understanding what movement can do for women and how it makes them feel. Everything we do is purpose-driven, meaning: We’ll never ask you to try or learn something we can’t explain. Movement should serve the mover. Getting a good sweat does wonders for our bodies and minds, but random, unintentional routines grow old fast. For us, consistency breeds results that last. And the added bonus of sexy muscles and changes in body composition are simply a result of that.
Women deserve a space to feel safe, detach from other stressors, and feel supported by other women who see “She” and “We” as synonyms. Barbells and weights are for everyone, and women should feel welcomed and encouraged to learn their benefits.
Our modes of teaching foster our culture: small group classes, monthly Empower Hours, and personal training allow space for questions, conversation, and the grittiness we feel from a kick-ass workout. Women do hard things every day—and we’re here to remind you how meaningful that is.