By John Flood

joe hu/town crier Debbie Brown is owner of the women’s-only exercising facility Fitness Connection on El Camino Real in Los Altos.

Debbie Brown, owner of the women’s-only Fitness Connection in Los Altos, believes that exercise should never be boring. And equally important, it should not be done in a gym filled with smelly, sweaty men.

Instead, women should have a place where they can “exercise and accessorize,” Brown said, referring to the purses, jewelry and cashmere scarves that are for sale and adorn the walls at her fitness center.

“I was an event planner for 16 years, and I love fitness,” Brown said. “I love to shop. I love to set up things and I love to get together with friends.”

Now she gets to do all that and run a successful business at the same time.

Brown, who opened her new fitness center Dec. 15, likens its friendly atmosphere to the theme song from the television-hit series “Cheers” - a place to go “where everybody knows your name.”

“It’s like coming to someone’s house,” Brown said. “Women chat and help each other out. … You come in, ask a question and people (the clients) are here to help you. Everybody shares what they experience.”

The 1,250-square-foot facility is equipped with dumb bells, resistance machines, a recumbent bike and an elliptical trainer. In addition to stretching classes, the facility offers massages, Pilates and yoga. Cardio classes will begin January.

Brown owned the Pace Yourself Fitness Studio in the El Monte shopping center in Mountain View for three years. She moved to Los Altos because she needed more space for cardio equipment and to “up the boutique,” the women’s accessories.

“No one likes to exercise,” Brown said. “Now they can while looking at nice things. We try to make fitness as pleasant as possible.”

Brown adheres to a high aesthetic value. Atmosphere is important.

“There’s a warmth and a beauty to the space,” she said. “It smells great. There is a bouquet of roses in the reception area. Gyms aren’t that worried about the aesthetics. They don’t know your name and there’s no one around to help. It’s a whole different atmosphere here.”

The center has nearly 100 clients ranging in age from 23 to 82.

“You get the one-on-one attention from me,” she said. “Clients see me all the time, rather than a bunch of employees who don’t pay attention to them.”

Brown, with the assistance of a client who is a librarian, offers a small lending library for her customers.

Unlike other gyms, Brown said, clients want to stay at Fitness Connection, where they also do parties, such as Academy Awards parties.

Keeping it fresh is key, Brown said.

“I try to keep it fresh, for example, with different music because that’s what drives the exercise. And I try to keep it in accordance with the age groups. I’ll add new things continually to keep them from getting bored,” Brown said.

Fitness Connection has scheduled a grand opening 10 a.m. Jan. 6. Los Altos Mayor Curtis Cole will attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Champagne and neck massages will be served.

Fitness Connection is located at 4856 El Camino Real. Membership is $49 per month, and the $129 enrollment will be waived through January. Classes can be taken by nonmembers for a fee. For more information, call 938-7223.