I love working out, but I have always avoided traditional gyms. The unfamiliar machinery, fluorescent lighting and unwanted attention common in co-ed spaces made the experience feel more stressful than productive. I stuck to long walks and Pilates instead. But with the increased focus on strength training for women’s long-term bone and overall health that has permeated the fitness community in recent years, I knew it was something I wanted to try. I just didn’t know where to start—until last November, when Peach by Pump joined Naples’ growing workout scene.
The private, women-only, 24-hour gym targets young adults in the area, offering scheduled classes throughout the day. Peach by Pump’s design reflects its intended audience. Plush black turf, arched mirrors edged in flattering lighting and scaled-down machines calibrated to female proportions are paired with playlists that give classes a social, almost celebratory rhythm.
Photography by Christina Bankson
naples peach by pump fitness for women workout
Peach by Pump’s group fitness classes balance strength and support in an environment built for women’s bodies and comfort.
While members can train solo or with one of the gym’s three National Academy of Sports Medicine-certified personal trainers anytime with the swipe of a key card, I opted for a shoulders and glutes class to learn the basics from a pro in an approachable, guided format. General manager, personal trainer and group fitness instructor Valerie Mederos started the session with a brief warm-up before pairing participants and guiding the group through a rotating strength circuit. The workout combined free-weight exercises, including Bulgarian split squats and lateral raises, with targeted machine work on the standing abductor and lat pulldown. Valerie demonstrated each movement, demystified weights and offered modifications—without slowing the pace or flattening the challenge.
Instead of the sink-or-swim dynamic of weight rooms, the emphasis stayed on progression, building confidence alongside strength. The group cheered each other on and chatted. By the time Valerie gathered us for a five-minute cool-down stretch, I felt like I was part of a new friend group.
I left energized and a bit surprised. I’d completed my first strength-training class and didn’t dread the idea of returning. With its welcoming feel and hands-on instruction, Peach by Pump removes the friction of going to a standard gym, helping me to see weight-based workouts as something sustainable rather than aspirational. I’m not giving up Pilates, but Peach by Pump has earned a place in my routine.