When a group of local women realized traditional gyms weren’t fully meeting their needs, they decided to build their own.
Raise the Bar Initiative is opening its first gym this month, offering programs designed to help women and girls develop physical strength, confidence and community.
Raise the Bar Initiative is a nonprofit organization that provides weight training for girls and women to develop physical, mental and emotional strength. The initiative started in 2018 as the Women’s Barbell Classic. It was renamed in 2020 when Women’s Barbell Classic became the name of its main fundraiser.
“We knew what strength training did for us, and we just wanted more women to have that experience, and, maybe selfishly, make some more friends along the way,” said Abbie Mork, executive director and co-founder. “The mission became that we wanted to educate and provide girls and women on how to develop strength.”
The gym has been holding programs since August, but has not been open to the general public. It will open to the public in mid-November and is designed for general strength training. The gym, located on 1430 Locust St. in Des Moines, will be open 24 hours.
The need for a dedicated gym what born out of its programs, particularly the Heroic Program, which partners with local nonprofits serving girls and women from vulnerable populations, including those affected by addiction or incarceration, Mork said. She explained that using someone else’s gym often proved disruptive, and having their own space allows participants to train in a safe, supportive environment.
“We want to provide a place where people feel safe, welcome and comfortable,” Mork said.
Mork, who also runs a chiropractic practice in West Des Moines, said many women avoid weightlifting because of misconceptions, including the belief that it will make them bigger.
“The biggest barriers as to why women don’t strength train are because they don’t feel comfortable in that space, they don’t know what to do, and they don’t know how to do it and they’re just afraid of getting injured,” Mork said.
The gym is equipped with dumbbells, kettlebells, barbells, benches, a treadmill, a reverse hyper, and a crossover cable machine. At about 1,800 square feet, the space is modest, but Mork said it was important to start at a size the organization could manage and grow into a larger facility over time.
Memberships cost $50 a month. Those interested about a membership can fill out a form on the company’s website.
Mork said the organization is exploring a reduced rate membership to accommodate people of all means in the future. For the launch, a founding membership rate with a limited quantity will be available.
“We hope to really bust at the seams here and create something good so that we can make something bigger here,” Mork said.
Raise the Bar Initiative offers several programs, including the Barbell Club, a six-week strength training course for high school girls that teaches barbell techniques and accessory exercises. The Women’s Barbell Classic is a women-only push and pull powerlifting meet where participants ages 8 to 60 showcase their strength, determination and camaraderie. The organization also created the Raise the Bar Initiative Coaching Certification to expand the Barbell Club program to more schools.
“In the gym, we teach women what they need to know to strength train safely and confidently so they know what is right for their body, where they are at in their fitness journey and for their goals,” the organization’s website reads. “When the session is over, it’s our goal that they walk out proud of themselves for taking the first step to learning more about how strength training can positively impact their life, and they know if they took this step one time, they can do it again.”
Thai Theodoro is a reporter at The Des Moines Register. Reach her at ttheodoro@gannett.com. Follow her on X, previously Twitter, at @thaiiswriting.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Raise the Bar Initiative opens first gym in Des Moines to empower women and girls
Reporting by Thai Theodoro, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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