Deer Lake -
Pure Energy fitness centre is adding a little testosterone to the day-to-day routine.
The facility has been women-only up until recently, and now its doors have opened a little wider, offering the facility and classes to men for a portion of the day.
Jodi Easton has attended the gym since it opened. She said opening up the gym to everyone will allow men to experience something different.
"I really don't mind," Easton said. "It's a great gym and it gives everybody the opportunity to experience it, instead of just women ... You've got power hour here and the guys can get to experience that. I think you'll probably have to force them to come at first but once they come they'll enjoy it."
The gym opened in July 2007 after another women-only gym run out of the same facility shut down. Shelley Butler and co-owner Sonya Barrett both worked there at the time and decided to open another facility for just women.
"We had so much encouragement from the ladies in town to continue on with some kind of facility they could go to ... which is why it was women-only in the beginning," said Butler.
The gym is not plunging into the change 100 per cent, allowing men to workout from 2 p.m. until close daily while, from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. is still set aside for women.
Butler said the idea of incorporating men was put off at first because she didn't want it to create problems for the current members, making them feel uncomfortable somewhere they were used to.
"We decided now, after talking with the majority of the members, and everybody seems to be onboard," she said. "There have been very few reservations actually."
In St. John's last month, three women-only Curves gyms closed. There is no indication as to the reason why they ceased operation.
