Getting into the gym can be a daunting experience. With packed facilities, intimidating machines and the fear of doing something wrong, some may put off the gym or not ever feel comfortable enough to step foot in one. For some women, another layer of discomfort can be added when men are around. Fremont native, Eliza Chau, set out to find a way to change that.
As a fitness trainer at a local sports facility, Chau wanted to find a way to increase her clientele. That’s when she shifted her training classes to be solely for women. However, that was when she noticed a problem.
“It was doing really well, but men would still stare at us and [the women] would still feel uncomfortable,” says Chau. “So it kind of defeats the purpose [of having an all-women class].” That sparked the idea of opening a women-only gym.
In 2024, Chau acquired a space in Newark where her vision for a women-only gym could come together. She only had three weeks to convert the open space into, not only a gym, but a welcoming environment for all women before the grand opening. Friends and family helped her move in equipment, hang TVs and even put art on the walls with a pink mural. The grand opening was a success, but this only marked the beginning of the story for the Pink Lab gym.
Although the gym’s start was slow, Chau had to “trust the process.”
“I would see maybe two people a day,” says Chau. “I could leave, go get lunch and come back and no one would even know.”
However, she continued to build her team of managers, receptionists and trainers, and by December the Pink Lab team was solidified. Now, with a proper staff, they began to prepare for January and the resurgence of women looking to start their New Year’s health goals.
“When January hit we were prepped and we were ready, and we blew up,” says Chau.
The gym saw women of all ages and backgrounds sign up to be members of Pink Lab. One demographic that Chau noticed was Muslim women. With Tri-Cities having a large Muslim population, the Pink Lab gives them the option to take off their headscarves and work out with the confidence that only women are around them. It’s also a plus that the gym’s windows are tinted, so everyone who’s inside feels safe from the possible stares of passersby.
Pink Lab not only offers an open gym, but also has the option for classes and programs including boxing and self-defense classes, strength training, Zumba, Booty Bootcamps and classes for women 50-plus. The Pink Lab team is also working on expanding classes geared toward moms in the community.
“We’re planning on implementing some ‘Mommy and Me’ [classes] soon,” says Chau. “We’re gonna do some prenatal classes for pregnant women and we’re doing pelvic floor workshops, and strength and recovery workshops.”
Chau knows the challenges of starting a new journey in fitness, but she hopes the programs Pink Lab provides can be a solution to that.
“When it’s your first time stepping foot in a gym, machines can be really scary and really intimidating,” she says. “That’s why we offer so many different programs.”
Members who want more support can try the hybrid program. With that option, they can work with a trainer and not only learn exactly how to use each machine, but also walk away with homework they can continue doing on their own time. The program prepares them for the next time they’re in the gym.
“We try to help people grow outside of the gym too,” says Chau.
With much success this past year, the Pink Lab team is expanding to the South Bay. On Jan. 1, 2026, the gym will be opening their second location in San Jose, near St. James Park—only a seven-minute drive from San Jose State University.
“There’s the college over there and there are going to be so many girls that need it,” says Chau. “We wanted to be able to help them.”
Chau continues to grow her vision of creating a comfortable environment for women to feel safe and to reach as many women as possible.
“For anyone who has gym anxiety or [feel] they can’t come in—that is the hardest part,” says Chau. “We will get you through that.”
Pink Lab
37420 Cedar Blvd., Newark
510.673.0714
269 Basset St., San Jose
Opens Jan. 1, 2026
