Girl Gains is working on uplifting UCLA’s female gymgoers.

Girl Gains is a national women’s health and fitness organization with chapters at multiple campuses including UCLA. Events intern Samina Ginwalla, a second-year psychobiology student, said the club’s mission is to provide a safe and welcoming space for women to get involved with fitness. Ginwalla said the club hosts a variety of events from kickboxing classes and deadlift clinics to guest speakers on nutrition and food at general meetings.

“When you’re starting fitness, it can be very daunting,” Ginwalla said. “But I think with Girl Gains, you learn that it’s not about perfection. It’s just about getting started and things will then fall into a rhythm, and you figure out what works for you.”

After playing sports throughout high school, Ginwalla said she wanted to explore ways to stay active in college as well. Finding Girl Gains expanded her view on fitness, she said, even inspiring her to sign up for UCLA Recreation classes after she tried out Muay Thai at a Girl Gains event. Ginwalla said one of the unique aspects of Girl Gains is the flexibility of the club – because of how frequently the club hosts events, members can pick and choose what events they attend based on their interests.

In addition to all their internal events, Girl Gains frequently partners with local organizations outside of the UCLA campus, Ginwalla said. As a part of the events team, Ginwalla said one of her favorite Girl Gains events has been a kickboxing series that she was able to kickstart. Ginwalla coordinated classes with two local studios, and said she greatly enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere of these studios that were able to open up a male-dominated field like martial arts to her.

Fourth-year neuroscience student Harleen Kaur, Girl Gains’ president, said the UCLA chapter goes beyond the organization’s mission statement by taking a more holistic approach to fitness overall. Kaur added that the club also offers a buddy system that encourages members to pair up and work out together, so they can achieve their fitness goals.

“You don’t even have to step in the gym at all to come to one of our events,” Kaur said. “We really like to keep in mind that people might not have the prior experience, so one of the things we try to build is that knowledge around gym and different techniques.”

Beyond their physical fitness events, Kaur said the club also focuses on mental health, nutrition education and building community in the gym. Kaur said the club has hosted talks with experts such as Nona Bayat – who shared meal plans and recovery tips – and insight from professionals, which allows their members to gain a more extensive view of fitness, Kaur said.

Fourth-year English student Rachel Gima, the vice president of UCLA’s Girl Gains chapter, said the club’s focus on nutrition was especially helpful for her.

“The confidence that I got from trusting myself and knowing that I belong in the gym, and I belong in these spaces – that really did translate into the confidence that I felt when making nutritional choices,” Gima said. “Knowing actually how to fuel my body is super helpful, especially when I’m trying to get stronger.”

Kaur said the club is more than just a way to stay active though. For her, it is a true community for women who are passionate about fitness. The friendships she has formed within the club have challenged her to push herself both physically and mentally, Kaur said. Ginwalla also said she is motivated to go to events because of the community she has built through the club.

Similarly, Gima said the girls she has met in the club have taught and pushed her to try new things. Although her friends would come with her to the gym on occasion, Gima said Girl Gains allowed her to find more consistent gym partners that could help her navigate the gym overall. Her positive experiences with the club pushed her to apply for a board position, Gima added.

“Over time, I’ve gotten to meet so many more people in the club, and I think everyone … is very like-minded in that we all just want to improve ourselves and put our wellness first,” Gima said.

As they look towards the new school year, Kaur said a main priority for her tenure as president is to build upon the community that she has experienced thus far by hosting events that challenge members both physically and mentally. Kaur said she also hopes to strengthen Girl Gains’s partnerships with other clubs at UCLA, as well as with other organizations beyond Westwood. Kaur added that her vision for members is to walk away from the club with fun memories, lasting friendships and increased confidence in themselves.

“It’s not just about working out together. It’s about uplifting one another in all aspects of our life,” Kaur said. “It’s the blend of fitness, empowerment and community that really makes Girl Gains stand out.”