Wellness Circle takes place the last Wednesday of every month at 1pm PT/4pm ET/8pm UTC.

Women's Wellness Circle is a Women's Studies Online educational initiative aimed at prioritizing women's unique biological and social health and wellness needs throughout our life stages. Through educational presentations, guest speakers, resource sharing and virtually-based discussions, we'll learn about health and wellness - broadly defined - within this circle.

Guest Speaker Ash S.

Ash has spent much of her adult life immersed in strength training, exploring what it means for women to claim strength—physically and personally—in a culture that often discourages it.

Image Source: Women's Fitness Sandyford

Why Should Women Lift Heavy Stuff?

There are significant physical, psychological, and social benefits of strength training for women that go far beyond muscle tone or appearance. Weightlifting was once seen as a male domain, while women were cautioned to lift only lightly to avoid “bulking up.” It’s time to shift that narrative — to move the conversation about women’s strength training away from appearance and toward celebrating the beauty of a healthy, capable, and powerful body that is valued for what it can do, not how it looks.

Image Source: HuffPost. Photo of Ernestine Shepherd, who is the world's oldest performing female bodybuilder.

Questions To Consider

  • What messages did you grow up hearing about women and strength or muscle?
  • How does strength training challenge traditional ideas about femininity?
  • How can lifting weights help shift the cultural narrative around women’s bodies from objectification to capability?
  • What barriers (social, emotional, or logistical) might prevent women from lifting weights?
Evolution of resistance training in women: History and mechanisms for health and performance - PMC
Throughout history, cultural norms and stereotypes have discouraged resistance training in women. Today, as awareness and acceptance of resistance training in women has grown, supported by scientific research and advocacy, more women are achieving…
NCBI home page
Strength Training for Women (2025): Benefits, Programs & Myths
Discover strength training for women: gain muscle, burn fat, boost bone health. Science-based tips, programs, nutrition & FAQs inside.
StrengthLogAndreas Abelsson

Code of Participation

If you have questions, please read over and review our Feminist Code Of Participation.