My first introduction to Curves was the cheerful answering machine: “it’s great to have Curves!” Did I really just hear that? No, upon a second listening, it became clear. “It’s great to be at Curves, home of the thirty-minute workout.” I pulled myself together just in time to leave a fairly coherent message about my coupon for a free week’s trial.

Curves, founded in 1992 by Texas native Gary Heavin, is marketed toward the female extreme. I find it hard to believe that a man, whose experience with several fitness ventures ended in failure, could create a booming program for women that legitimately improved their health. Indeed, the fitness world is a strange place. Today, Curves is the largest fitness franchise in the United States, with over 8,000 locations.

Armed with vast arsenals of disbelief, I went to Curves to experience the craze firsthand. As a modern, jazz and ballet dancer, body strength and endurance are crucial. I dance almost daily, take pilates class, train occasionally in martial arts and spend hours lifting and doing cardio at Philips Gym on a regular basis. Keep this in mind.

Stepping into Curves for the first time I smelled the nail studio next door. The manager greeted me in a friendly manner and asked me to fill out medical paperwork, to verify my relative health/ability to work out without dying. After that an employee took me through the Curves workout.

There are 11 machines in a circle with cardio stations in between. A workout consists of two rotations around the circle, 30 seconds at each station, and a series of stretches afterward. It takes exactly 30 minutes, as advertised. I received a guest pass good for a week of workouts, as well as “a free tour and figure analysis.” I’d already gotten the tour. The figure analysis seemed to enter in when one actually paid money and joined Curves. Members get key cards, similar to credit cards, that scan upon entry and list a page of stats, including number of workouts that month and latest weight and inch measurements.

What makes Curves the place to be these days? The atmosphere is welcoming, relaxed and conversational. The workout is quick and thorough, letting each individual set her pace and subsequent difficulty level. The hydraulics on the machines provide resistance at all times during a motion, which further shortens the circuit. Because of the rotational nature, as long as there are 22 or fewer women, no one waits. Curves is a sanctuary for women who want increased tone and cardiac fitness without the intimidation of a gym filled with mysterious weight machines and huge men.

I went back once in the whole week, making my grand experience at Curves two sessions. It must be mentioned that I kept up my regular schedule of lifting/dancing/cardio/ pilates. Why could I not get myself to go to Curves?

I’ll say it again: Curves is marketed toward the female extreme through female empowerment. However, there is still the mentality that one must get smaller through the program or one has not been successful. Is this because most women who use Curves are older and have not traditionally been athletic, thus creating the need to have a weight-loss component? Or is it part of our nation’s mentality to perpetuate female fitness and good health as shrinking numbers on scales and measuring tapes? Fitness and strength are stereotypically a man’s domain, and it is commendable that Curves has established such a comfortable workout environment for women who would not otherwise want to/enjoy working out. I think women need to be careful not to fall into Barbie-crafting traps as they search for personal power in fitness. Losing weight/inches is fine if one needs to, but our society seems to encourage toothpicks to feel fat.

In conclusion, Curves is not for me. I enjoy lifting heavy weights and building muscle that helps me in feats of dance. Curves is for the woman who wants to stay toned and in shape and does not care about building large muscles and the college student who is always in a rush. Curves is for the older woman who needs to move and provide her body with low-impact weight-bearing activity. Curves is for the working woman, who needs to get out from behind her desk and release tension for 30 minutes every other day.