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Jun 2024
Female only gym to open in Harrogate
A new gym is set to open in Harrogate next month.
The Big Strong Girls Club is set to open on July 1 and is a female only, inclusive sized gym.
The studio will open in Unit 3 at Clint Bank, Burnt Yates and will be a one-woman operation run by founder and owner, Amy Massey, 29.
Ms Massey is originally from Bradford and began her journey as a personal trainer in Harrogate at Coach gym on Hornbeam Park.
She soon gained a contract to bring The Big Strong Girls Club to Brimham’s Active in Harrogate and Knaresborough.
She now plans to take the leap and open her own gym after building her client base in the area.
Ms Massey said the “stars aligned at the right time” to allow her to create the space. She said:
I was working weekly in three separate areas, which was great for building a brand but not great for my personal energy. I think it is important to have a base at one place so that likeminded women can get together.
I am now known as a plus sized women’s health and fitness coach. Not many places cater to plus size, so I offer a place of acceptance and inclusivity, we accept all body types.
We want plus sized people to not be judged by their BMI or clothes size, they are so much more than that, we often get told we are lesser just because we are bigger.
Big Strong Girls Club owner Amy Massey
She added that she was motivated to launch her business after personally feeling this judgement within the fitness scene.
Ms Massey said:
When I first started in fitness I was judged and met with shame. I got asked why I was coaching people when I was plus sized myself. People don’t give you a chance unless you look a certain way.
I have always been plus sized, even from a young age and struggled with my relationship with food for many years. When I was younger, I couldn’t find the space that I needed so I decided to create that space. I decided to do this for my younger self.
The unit began as a warehouse and has been renovated into a gym with over £15,000 worth of equipment.
The gym is set to offer one-to-one training as well as smaller sessions of up to six people. Ms Massey said her bookings are almost at maximum capacity already.
The Big Strong Girls Club offers three membership deals beginning at £40 for four sessions a month to £100 for unlimited sessions per month.
The gym is set to open 5 days a week offering sessions throughout the day from 6.30am to 7.30pm from July 1.
Subscription is coming on July 1. To find out what to expect click here.
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