In celebration of Women’s History Month, Blink Fitness is offering free weight training across the city, and membership is not required.
Each Wednesday evening in March, the gym chain is offering a free “Empower Hour,” which will educate participants on using weight room equipment. The sessions, led by Blink personal trainers, are designed to empower women to feel comfortable trying weight lifting, though everyone is welcome, regardless of their gender.
“Watching women in my class go from slightly intimidated or unsure to confident in the weight room has been one of the most inspiring things to see as a trainer,” Blink trainer Ellen Thompson said in a statement. “We really mean it when we say that weight lifting is for every body. It’s not just about physical strength, but mental too. We all deserve to feel strong and good in our bodies and at the gym.”
The training is aimed at both newbies and experienced gym-goers who want to work on their technique.
The sessions will take place at all Blink locations in the Bronx and across NYC on Wednesdays from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. Registration is available on a first come, first serve basis, for up to 15 people per session. Signing up on this form guarantees a spot, according to Blink spokesperson Stephanie Driscoll, and prospective trainees will be notified if the sessions are full. Signing up by the Monday of the session week is recommended.
According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), women historically shied away from weight training because of stigmas, yet weight lifting has gained popularity among women in the past decades.
Weight training can help people develop good movement patterns and pain reduction, improve self-confidence, increase their resting metabolic rate, improve bone health and decrease the risk of diabetes and heart disease, according to NASM.
The first Empower Hour session, on March 8, offered instruction on back and bicep workouts. This week, on March 15, instruction will be…
Read the full article here