Meet Alice: Bodied by Alice founder, Hashtag Gym fitness trainer

The gym has often been perceived as a man’s place.

This perception is, however, fading; more women are actively participating in the gym—and are taking up leading roles.

Meet Alice Chipanda, a certified fitness trainer at Hashtag Fitness Gym, and founder of Bodied by Alice, where she focuses on helping women build strength, confidence, and long-term healthy habits through holistic and organised coaching.

Based in Blantyre, Alice is also a licenced physiotherapist.

In an interview with Every Woman on Tuesday, Alice said her passion has always been helping people move optimally through the management, prevention and rehabilitation of movement conditions.

“Becoming a fitness trainer allowed me to extend that passion beyond the clinic and help people use exercise as a tool, to build strength, improve function and enhance their overall quality of life,” she said.

“I enjoy seeing people become stronger, healthier and more confident in themselves. Watching someone achieve something they once thought was impossible is one of the most rewarding parts of my work.”

Gym as a man’s place belief

Alice has been working as a fitness trainer for close to six years, and she described her journey as ‘incredibly fulfilling’.

She believes that the perception that the gym is a man’s place is archaic. Alice recalled how when she first started training being one of the only women in gym spaces.

“However, it has been beautiful to witness the change over the years. Seeing more women of different ages, from young to older generations, confidently occupying the gym spaces has always been something I dreamed of,” she said.

“It is inspiring to see women embracing different forms of exercise, whether it is strength training, yoga, pilates or cardiovascular training.”

Alice emphasised that exercise has no gender.

She whether lifting weights, improving mobility, building endurance or simply moving the body, the benefits are for everyone; men and women alike, further adding that both men and women need to feel confident taking up space in fitness environments and prioritising their health.

Challenges

The gym has its own challenges that women face.

According to Alice, one of the biggest challenges is intimidation and lack of confidence.

She said many women do not know where to start and that they are afraid to ask questions, as such, they do not feel like the gym is a space where they belong.

“I see this often with women who are new to training. They worry that people are watching them, judging their technique or laughing at them when they make mistakes,” she said.

“Some women become so intimidated that they limit themselves to one area of the gym because they are afraid of feeling embarrassed. This can happen even when they have guidance from a coach, and it shows how much fear and self-consciousness can affect their confidence.”

Another challenge Alice outlined is misinformation and misconceptions around women being in the gym. She said women still face judgment because of the belief that they should not be in certain spaces or that they may be there for the wrong reasons.

However, Alice stated that the reality is that most women, citing those she work with, are simply there because they want to improve their health, become stronger and feel better in their bodies.

She said: “They come in focused, complete their workouts and leave.”

Further, Alice said another common misconception is the fear that strength from the training will make women look masculine.

As a result, this prevents women from experiencing the benefits of building strength, improving their confidence and supporting their overall health.

Beyond the gym, Alice said many women also have responsibilities outside the gym such as work and family commitments which can make it challenging to prioritise for themselves. But she said recognising these challenges and creating supportive environments can help more women feel confident and empowered to take part in fitness.

Gym as a space for everyone

The challenges Alice pointed out can best be addressed through education, support and creating more welcoming fitness environments.

Alice said while women can access information through social media and other platforms, gyms also have an important role to play in making women feel like they belong.

She said a gym should be for everyone regardless of gender, and that the feeling should start from the moment someone walks through the door.

The staff, coaches and members already in the gym all contribute to creating an environment where people feel welcomed, respected and confident enough to be themselves, Alice said.

“We also need more education around the true benefits of exercise. The conversation should go beyond appearance and focus on what regular training does for the body, from improving strength and function to supporting overall health,” she said.

“Exercise is not only about building a certain physique; it plays an important role in preventing and managing many health conditions. For women especially, considering the many hormonal changes they experience throughout life, exercise should be viewed as an essential part of health and wellness.”

Alice said having qualified coaches who provide proper guidance, teach correct technique and create a non-judgmental environment is also an important factor.

She said a coach should help people feel safe, confident and capable in their fitness journey, and not the other way around.

Ultimately, Alice said there is need to change the conversation around women and fitness, adding that exercise should not only be associated with how someone looks, but with how someone feels, functions and lives.

She added: “When we create supportive spaces and provide the right education, more women will feel confident embracing fitness as part of their lifestyle.”

Impact on mental health

Alice said one of the most powerful things consistent exercise teaches is a sense of achievement.

“Every time you complete a challenging workout, you remind yourself that you are capable of doing difficult things and that you are able to show up for yourself. That sense of achievement carries over into other areas of your life,” she said.

“Exercise also has many biological benefits that positively influence mental health. The hormonal responses that happen during physical activity help with stress relief, mood improvement and better sleep quality. When your sleep improves, you are better able to manage daily stress.”

Beyond physical changes, Alice said exercise teaches discipline.

She said: “It teaches you how to tacke action even on days when you do not feel motivated, and that builds a stronger mind, stronger willpower and resilience,” added Alice.

Alice said fitness is not just about changing one’s physique, but rather, about taking a holistic approach to wellness—building a healthier body, a stronger mindset and improving the overall quality of life.

Gym as way of life

Alice said it would be imperative that people should see exercise as something they do for themselves.

“Sometimes doing something for yourself can be the hardest thing because it requires you to acknowledge that you are worthy of care and that your health matters,” she said.

“We often find it easier to make time for other people than to make time for ourselves. We will keep appointments with others, even for something as simple as a coffee date, but we often postpone the commitments we make to ourselves. Your workout is an appointment with yourself, and it is a commitment worth keeping.”

Alice further stressed that fitness does not have to be perfect, and it does not have to be complicated, but it is about showing up consistently, taking it one day at a time and falling in love with the process.

“On the days when you do not feel your best, showing up for even 30 minutes is still a win,” she said. “Consistency is not perfection. You do not need to be fit before you start exercising. You do not need to lose weight before you enter a gym. The gym is a place where you go to improve your health, build your strength and work towards your goal.”

Balancing gym, personal life

In striking a balance between her personal life and work, Alice said she is very intentional with her time.

“Time with my family and time for rest are non-negotiable. When it is time for work, I give my clients my full attention, and when it is time to be with loved ones, I make sure I am fully present with them,” she said.

Final words

“I know many people have heard the phrase that health is one of the greatest investments you can make in yourself, but my take-home message is this; remember that you are doing something for you,” Alice said.