New club specializing in sexual fitness opens

JAKARTA (JP): Set aside Rp 3 million (US$1,275) for a three- month program to develop your inner strength and confidence towards sexual happiness!

This is an offer from a new club, the "Alexandria" clinic in Kuningan, South Jakarta, where instructors and medical staff including noted medical sexologist J. Alex Pangkahila aim to improve the sexual potential of husbands and wives.

The three-month, or 36-session program covers consultations, a thorough check up, followed by fitness sessions and specific exercises for sexual fitness.

These include exercising the pelvic muscles, the importance of which many are ignorant of, according to Alex. Regular evaluation is also included.

"We cannot guarantee success," director Witjahyakarta said.

Slightly lower fees are charged if both the husband and wife join the program.

Public relations officer Debby A.J. Siadari said the club, located in the Graha Irama building on Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, has received many phone calls since it opened last week.

"But many of the people just requested a consultation with Professor Alex," Debby said.

Gym sessions

Employees on other floors of the building have also asked whether they can attend only the gym sessions.

"Changing attitudes and habits (related to sex) is a long process," said Alex, who has a similar group of 200 members in Denpasar, Bali, where he is based.

Consultation on the non-physical aspects of sexual relations alone can take three months, he said, which is why the package is offered instead of only consultation or exercise.

The club expects members to be at least 40 years old, although younger people are welcome.

Witjahyakarta said this age group have generally gone beyond priorities of raising children, and should think more about their welfare.

Sexual problems are suffered by up to 80 percent of women and 90 percent of men, Alex said, without going into details.

"A woman who says she is satisfied without ever having reached orgasm because she doesn't know what it is, must be pitied," he said.

In his Denpasar club most members are women "because men think they are heroes until their spouses demand satisfaction," Alex said.

Should singles wish to join, "their motivation is checked first," Witjahyakarta said, as the club targets married couples.

In the long run the club will also extend facilities to the less well-off, he said. (anr)