First women-only gym opens in Bashiqa, offering fitness and physiotherapy services

BASHIQA – After multiple attempts to start her own business, Marlin Hassan Al-Sheikh has successfully opened the first women’s fitness center in Bashiqa, Nineveh Governorate. The gym, which includes a childcare center and a physiotherapy section, marks a significant milestone for the community. Al-Sheikh says she was able to establish the center after securing a loan from the Directorate of Labor and Vocational Training and plans to expand the project in the future.

“The opening of the center comes after encouragement and demands from the women of Bashiqa because I was previously a trainer at other sports clubs,” Al-Sheikh told 964media. “I started working on the idea and spent a long time applying to various organizations for support, but I always faced rejection.”

Al-Sheikh explained that the breakthrough came when someone suggested she apply for a loan from the Directorate of Labor and Vocational Training during a training session. “I received the loan three years ago, which allowed me to open the project,” she said.

The center is not just a gym, as it also offers physiotherapy services and a dedicated childcare space.

Trainer Riyam Saeed highlighted the center’s inclusive environment, stating, “The center welcomes women of almost all ages, and we have trainees who have stayed with us since the opening due to the positive results they’ve seen.” Saeed mentioned that participation tends to increase during the summer months, as school holidays allow more women to attend. The center currently serves 70 members from Bashiqa and surrounding areas, offering fitness and bodybuilding courses tailored to individual needs.

Across Iraq, there has been a notable increase in women’s involvement in small and medium-sized enterprises. In Basra, for example, women have started a variety of businesses, including cafés, beauty salons, art galleries, gyms, flower shops, and fashion shows. A recent example is “Benoz,” a women-only café and restaurant launched by entrepreneur Banin al-Boudahi in the Artista building, located in the Hakimiyah neighborhood.

In early July, longtime friends Maryam and Noor opened Basra’s first female-owned florist in Abu Al-Khasib, turning their high school friendship into a successful business venture.