When women want to exercise in a gym, typically, they must go to one where they are working out next to men as well. For some religious Jewish women, that won’t work. And for other women, they’d prefer an environment where they aren’t among the opposite sex and feel more comfortable.
Brenda Andrade, a personal trainer, noticed that there was a gap in the LA marketplace for women to come together and work out in a nonjudgmental environment.
“I wanted to uplift and empower women through fitness,” she said.
Andrade had an idea: she was going to open a women’s fitness club in Pico-Robertson. Now, her gym, Body Blvd., located at 930 South Robertson Boulevard, features classes including boxing, cardio, Latin dance, Zumba and Pilates, along with activities such as meditation, sound healing gatherings and affirmation circles.
It’s a community club where we bring women together to celebrate through sisterhood, fitness, soul and elegance.
“Body Blvd. is so much more than a gym,” Andrade said. “It’s a community club where we bring women together to celebrate through sisterhood, fitness, soul and elegance.”
Body Blvd. is located at the corner of Robertson and Olympic, in the heart of the Jewish community. It has an all-pink décor, with pink yoga mats, weights, kettlebells, resistance bands and lighting. The mural inside says, “I am woman,” and social media posts from the gym show women doing push-ups and squats and throwing punches to the tune of upbeat pop music. It’s all part of the positive feminist message of the space.
“Women are such an important part of our society and community,” said Andrade. “They help run the world. It’s important that we come together to share in common fitness, personal, professional, and familial goals so that we feel like we have the support of one another to empower us to keep moving forward. At Body Blvd, we aim to give every woman the space to do just that.”
The gym’s founder worked as a personal trainer at other fitness studios and for private clients for years before deciding to open her own business. She took a leap of faith, starting it at a time when other fitness centers are struggling. During the pandemic, Curves, the women-only national chain of gyms, shut down a number of locations across the U.S., including in Los Angeles. Additionally, many people are exercising from home, finding free workouts on YouTube and using their own treadmills and Pelotons.
However, Andrade is hopeful that women will invest in their health and wellness. Memberships start at $30 for one class and go up to $250 for 10 activities during a three-month period.
Classes are only 45 minutes long, which is ideal for busy women, especially those with kids. Memberships include access to nutritional classes, beauty workshops and spa treatments as well. It’s all about creating community, which Andrade wants to do on a wider scale in the future.
“My goal is to grow Body Blvd. to other states, cities and all over the world,” she said. “Body Blvd. is such a special space, and I can’t wait to share it with the world.”
