Rahma Shandhour

Yemen — Amid the challenges imposed by conflict and deeply rooted social customs, stories of determination and creativity emerge as beacons of hope—especially when it comes to empowering women in vital fields. The women-only club Cardio Gym represents a pioneering initiative in Yemen.

In the Yemeni city of Taiz, exhausted by years of conflict, an exceptional success story stands out. Its heroine is 35-year-old Dina Amin, who launched her project Cardio Gym, the first gym dedicated exclusively to women in the city, to support their right to practice sports.

The project provides a safe space for women to exercise and achieve physical fitness, while enhancing their sense of energy and vitality, in a society dominated by traditions and stereotypical views toward women and their participation in sports.

A Healthy Outlet for Women

The story began from a place of both personal and social need. Dina Amin, who holds a master’s degree in Business Administration, says: “I initially created the idea of the gym out of a personal need. I felt that women in Taiz during the conflict needed a safe space that respects their privacy, where they could care for themselves and their health without clashing with societal customs or values.”

She explains that the idea was not merely a replication of an existing model, but rather, as she describes it, “an out-of-the-box concept.” She adds: “The project was launched with a dual goal: providing a healthy and safe outlet for women, and at the same time spreading a new health culture and opening the door to practices that were not previously familiar.”

She notes that the goal goes beyond physical fitness to breaking prevailing stereotypes and promoting a culture of sports and health among women in line with modern developments.

Challenging Traditions and Stereotypes

The journey was not easy. The biggest challenge was not financial as much as it was cultural. “When we began working on establishing the gym, we faced many challenges. Society resists any new idea. We responded with patience and clarity, explaining the gym’s concept, values, and goals. Gradually, people began to understand that we are serving the community, and women in particular. I bet on the idea that empowering women’s health means empowering the entire family—and this logic proved effective in changing convictions.”

She points out that Cardio Gym represents an unprecedented step in Yemen. “The decisive turning point came when men noticed the positive impact of exercise on their wives and sisters. The voices that initially opposed the idea turned into supportive and encouraging ones.”

The gym offers diverse programs and activities tailored to women’s specific needs, including those suffering from health issues or psychological stress. It is equipped with modern fitness machines and managed by a specialized female staff, earning it wide acceptance and strong engagement among women in the city.

Dina Amin believes the project touches the core of empowerment issues. “Recent transformations have proven that women are capable of efficient and highly effective management. But the real question is: do our culture and traditions allow women to say, ‘I can’?”

She adds: “We are currently working on launching new training programs to suit different women’s needs, and expanding online training to give opportunities to those who cannot attend in person. We expect this plan to come to light at the beginning of next year.”

According to her, the gym has become a real model for women’s sports in Taiz, transforming into an inspirational story that encouraged similar initiatives. “We opened the door for others, and this is an important part of our success—to prove that women’s sports are not alien to society, but a necessity in women’s lives. We want exercise to become a natural, healthy behavior. Sports are not a luxury, as some believe, but a basic need for women.