Kerala's First 'Islam-Friendly' Gym Sparks Debate — What It Actually Offers, And Why
Kerala's First 'Islam-Friendly' Gym Sparks Debate — What It Actually Offers, And Why Published By, Edited By Last Updated: June 04, 2026, 12:01 IST The
Kerala's First 'Islam-Friendly' Gym Sparks Debate — What It Actually Offers, And Why Published By, Edited By Last Updated: June 04, 2026, 12:01 IST The PFI once ran arms training inside Kerala gyms — NIA has six such sites attached. That history looms over Palakkad's new Islam-friendly fitness venture. Rapid Read Owner Nawaz Muthu T announced that his fitness centre, which has been operating for around 15 years, would be relaunched as Kerala's first 'Islam-friendly' gym. A gym in Palakkad’s Puthunagaram locality is at the centre of a nationwide conversation — not for its equipment, but for the rules it has chosen to live by. Owner Nawaz Muthu T announced that his fitness centre, which has been operating for around 15 years, would be relaunched as Kerala’s first “Islam-friendly" gym. The announcement, carried in a promotional video that went viral, triggered praise, parody, and political commentary in equal measure. But strip away the noise, and what’s actually on offer is a fairly specific set of operational choices catering to a demographic that has, until now, largely stayed away from gyms altogether. What Does ‘Islam-Friendly’ Actually Mean Here? After the original video drew backlash and was taken down, Nawaz posted a clarification. The gym is not a Muslim-only space, he insisted — anyone is welcome, provided they follow the facility’s rules.
Those rules, per the owner’s own statements, are Islam-Friendly Gym Features Gym at a Glance Feature Details Music No loud music; headphones permitted Gender Mixing Men and women in separate time slots Trainers Male trainers for male members; female trainers for female members Dress Code Women expected to dress modestly; hijab required Membership Open to all faiths Nawaz’s rationale is practical: many observant Muslims — including, he said, members of his own family — avoid gyms because of mixed workout spaces and background music. “There is no gym for them," he said in his clarification video. “When you go to a gym, it is not possible to switch off the music." His facility aims to fix that gap. Not Without Precedent — Globally Or In India The concept is far from novel abroad. In the UK, women-only health clubs such as Health Club for Her in Batley and WOH Gym in Newport have been quietly changing gym culture, prioritising inclusivity for Muslim women who want to train without worrying about how they’re dressed. In the US, a growing number of fitness clubs in cities like Minneapolis are catering to Muslim women by offering women-only spaces where they can work out without having to maintain a hijab. A 2020 UK study found that 86% of British Muslim women said they would prefer to attend women-only gyms, fitness classes, or swimming pools.
The global modest fitness apparel market reflects this: the global modest fashion market is projected to reach $360 billion by 2025, with Islamic gym wear for women emerging as a key growth segment. The PFI Shadow: A Context Worth Noting Some commentary online has attempted to link faith-based gyms in Kerala with the activities of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI). That concern has a factual basis — though it applies to a very different kind of facility. The NIA has attached multiple PFI arms and physical training centres in Kerala, including the Green Valley Academy in Manjeri, which was used to impart arms training, physical training, and explosives training to cadres of the Development Front and subsequently the PFI. NIA investigations revealed that the PFI ran many such training centres under the guise of charitable and educational trusts. There is, however, no established link between those covert facilities and legitimately registered, commercially operating fitness centres such as Nawaz’s gym. The Bigger Debate The reactions online have ranged from support — “there would be more women joining a gym if they knew they wouldn’t have to parade in front of strange men," one user posted — to scepticism about whether faith-coded branding belongs in public commercial spaces. The gym’s broader significance may lie less in religion and more in what it reveals about an unaddressed gap in India’s fitness industry: that for millions of women, access to safe, comfortable workout spaces remains the first hurdle, long before they even think about a treadmill.
(With inputs from Neethu Reghukumar in Thiruvananthapuram) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers,... Read More Location: Palakkad, India, India First Published: June 04, 2026, 11:59 IST News cities kochi Kerala's First 'Islam-Friendly' Gym Sparks Debate — What It Actually Offers, And Why Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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