With popularity soaring for their business, Chris Winkler and Tasha Duncan hope to add new members to their growing clientele.
Chris Winkler, Jim Winkler and Duncan own "X-Fit Womens," a California-based gym that caters exclusively to females. The business is located at 1021 W. Buchanan, Suite 8, inside the Village Green Shopping Center.
Chris Winkler and his father, Jim Winkler, opened "X-Treme Fitness" four years ago, but wanted to start a new gym for women. X-Treme Fitness, also located at Village Green Shopping Center, is open to men and women.
"We discovered that some women weren't comfortable working out around guys," Chris Winkler said. "There was a need for women to have their own gym. We weren't throwing something out there and hoping it stuck to the wall. We had requests."
Wanting to provide a valuable service, the Winklers and Duncan opened X-Fit Womens on Jan. 1. The business operates daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., with aerobics classes every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Duncan also teaches a free class for members on circuit strength training each Tuesday from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Despite opening its doors a short time ago, Duncan said X-Fit Womens has 36 new members, plus additional members who also belong to X-Treme Fitness.
"If we outgrow this space, we'll go bigger," said Duncan, who is pursuing a physical therapy degree in college. "This was the closest building to X-Treme Fitness that was available, and we wanted to be in the same plaza."
Chris Winkler and Duncan, who are engaged to be married, have been pleased with the community support for X-Fit Womens.
"It's circuit strength training and caters to women of all ages," Duncan said. "Sometimes, it's hard to spend two hours working out, but over here, you're able to complete our circuit in 30 to 45 minutes. ... It's a total body workout. You start in one position, go to the recovery board in between each station, and stop where you started."
Like Chris Winkler, Duncan saw a need for women to have their own gym separate from men.
"Not everybody is comfortable being in the same environment," Duncan said. "Everybody comes from their own background, so this caters to their needs. Women want to talk, want to know everybody. They don't want to feel awkward when they're working out."
Along with circuit strength training and aerobics, X-Fit Womens will hold classes for yoga and tumbling in February. To learn more, Duncan can be reached at 573-338-6694.