(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Rae Reichlin says at Ladies Who Lift, women and non-binary people are the majority.

“Ladies who lift is a strength training gym and online training platform for female identifying and non-binary folks,” Reichlin said.

Reichlin founded Ladies Who Lift in 2017 as an online strength training platform, following her experience as a personal trainer.

“Through training, I really learned that this was something that a lot of women wanted and that they really weren’t able to find anywhere. So I really wanted to make that accessible to women.”

Then she opened the physical Ladies Who Lift gym at 4747 N Ashland Ave. in April. She says it’s a welcoming space for people who may not feel comfortable at a traditional gym.

“I think a lot of women feel very intimidated in a gym space. I think that they feel unsafe, whether it be that the men in there are making them feel unsafe or uncomfortable, they certainly feel outnumbered. And lifting can be intimidating.”

Reichlin says Ladies Who Lift joins a growing movement of other women-only and queer-only gyms, as people begin to realize they want, and deserve, their own spaces.

“I think that people are really noticing how the culture of toxic masculinity makes them feel and that they want to find a way to remove themselves from that. They understand now that it doesn’t need to be that way, that there are places that are purposefully rejecting that patriarchy and they don’t want to be a part of it anymore.”

Reichlin says something else that makes Ladies Who Lift unique is its small workout class size. Classes have a maximum of six people so participants can get one-on-one attention from trainers.

“It’s very important to us that people are legitimately learning, that people are receiving the one on one attention that they, you know, want, need and deserve.”

Members can also work with a personal trainer or use the equipment independently.

The ultimate goal, Reichlin says, is to help participants develop autonomy in their fitness journey.

“I really want this to be something that they can take with them forever. And I want to ultimately change their lives through feeling stronger.”

You can request a Ladies Who Lift Membership here: https://www.ladies-who-lift.com/ladies-who-lift-studios/limited-memberships

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