Curves gym has a new location in Federal Way for local women to exercise and improve their quality of life.

The gym moved recently from their former site at 32020 1st Ave. S., Suite 100 in Federal Way to the Commons Mall in Federal Way at 1900 S. Commons.

The new location also means that the Federal Way Curves is only the second location in the continental U.S. and Canada to feature a rebrand.

Inside the gym, workout machines form a ring that faces inward, and coaches stop by to encourage the women working out or to share feedback to make their workout more effective.

Women move from station to station to complete the 30-minute circuit before heading out the door. On their way in and out, coaches and other gym-goers greet them by name.

One of these coaches is franchise owner Sharon Gentry, who has owned the Curves in Federal Way for over 10 years.

“I did what a lot of women do, raise children, didn’t think about myself. Then somewhere in my mid-40s, I started trying to get healthy,” Gentry said. After her first year working out at Curves, she had lost weight, and more importantly, had more strength and self-confidence. When she saw the gym was up for sale, she decided to take the leap and purchase it.

A membership there includes unlimited 30-minute workouts each week, personal coaching, access to programs like a bootcamp that starts soon, and more.

One feature they offer is a 3D body scan machine that tracks exactly how Curves members’ bodies are changing.

Instead of using outdated measurements like body mass index (BMI), the body scan allows them to help people track body composition.

“BMI only uses two measurements. It uses your height and again, your weight. So as a snapshot, it’s better than nothing. But if you’re very muscular, muscle weighs more than fat … so oftentimes, if you are muscular and healthy, your BMI will show you as overweight or obese,” Gentry explained.

Their scanner instead can identify exactly how much fat has been lost and muscle gained, as well as other measurements like inches lost in different areas of the body.

While weight loss results can be impressive, these more useful measurements can help members see their progress in more ways than the incomplete picture painted by those numbers on the scale.

For many, the goal is not about numbers at all at the end of the day, but about the life that better health can give them.

“Most of our women want to be strong, want to be healthier,” Gentry said.

When she first started her fitness journey, she said her “aha moment” was when she realized “wait a minute, 30 minutes three or four times a week is giving me more life,” she said.

For her, this meant being able enjoy long days at Disney World, dance for longer than a single song on the dance floor, and be able to carry her sleepy kids at the end of full days of fun.

Recently, Gentry said she’s heard similar stories of tangible wins for women at Curves.

One woman shared that she knows she’s gotten stronger because her own grandchildren were telling her to slow down on a hike she took at Mount Rainier. Another woman said she was able to dance all night at a wedding, and another told Gentry she was able to help carry some heavy items after a winch that was meant to lift them had malfunctioned. The goal of the gym is to create a safe, comfortable and community-focused environment for women to work out.

This shows up through the coaching and support and setup, but also through partnerships, including a current clothing swap to raise money for the Olivia Newton-John foundation and being a dropoff spot for Fill the Canoe donations.

Creating that all-women workout space also provides access to working out for those who wouldn’t feel comfortable at a typical gym.

For some, “they would not be able to work out if there were men … whether that’s religious or past abuse or just preferences, you know, there’s that segment of women that just need an all women’s gym,” Gentry said.

As members, there are also opportunities to win prizes and participate in programs. As one example, a Federal Way member recently won a gift basket out of 2,000 entrants across the country.

Community member Jan Barber drops off clothing donations for a fundraiser at Curves, proceeds of which will go toward the Olivia Newton-John foundation. Photos by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Sharon Gentry is an owner but also a coach at Curves in Federal Way, which focuses on creating a supportive and encouraging workout environment. Photos by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Sharon Gentry shows photos of herself when she first started her fitness journey at Curves, before she became the local franchise owner. Photos by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Curves in Federal Way is a drop off location for the annual Fill the Canoe fundraiser and school supply drive hosted by Red Canoe. Photos by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror