Privileged few pump iron in privacy of home

JAKARTA: The fitness revolution has had Indonesians devotedly heading off to gyms to build muscles and get in shape since the 1980s.

In the past decade, improvements in distribution of fitness equipment and its availability enhanced the facilities at health centers and public gyms, and led to soaring membership numbers.

Attention to keeping a healthy body -- or reacquiring one after letting oneself go -- is probably the desire of all of us as we tackle the stresses and strains of daily life. The goal grows as saving graces of youth slip away, and the onslaught of aging marches inexorably on.

"What if I fainted at my age when visiting a project?" says 38-year-old rock singer-cum-businessman Ikang Fawzi. "Why should I be shown up by a supervisor?"

Crowded fitness centers, with long waits for preferred equipment, and lack of privacy has pushed those with extra cash to invest in gyms in the privacy of their own homes.

"I'm loathe to go to fitness centers because I have to drive my car myself, and I hate traffic jams," says Ukie Jalal, director of a film and TV program production company.

"For instance, the ride to the fitness center at the Hilton should only take 15 minutes, but can end up being more than half an hour if traffic is bad. I can use that time for other things."

Race car driver and business executive Chandra Alim set up a home gym because he disliked the fact that other fitness center patrons seemed more intent on gossiping.

"In my opinion, many people who go to fitness centers are really more interested in socializing than working out. That is why I chose to put equipment in my home."

Professor in the School of Sports Education at the Jakarta Teachers Training Institute, Fahmy Fachrezzy, agrees with Chandra that some people are more focused on catching up with the latest news at a center than working out.

"They should be trying to burn fat, but instead they spend their time shooting the breeze."

For those serious about buffing their body, Fahmy says the home may be the best place to exercise. But he adds that while a home workout does not depend on the purchase of expensive fitness equipment, people should understand what is really effective in getting them in shape.

"It is wrong to just do sit-ups or push-ups first thing in the morning," he says, pointing out that these exercises are meant for shaping muscles.

"After all, what is the use of trying to build up your muscles when you haven't burned off the fat covering it?"

Public figures, many of whom have concerns about looking good as well as staying healthy, have jumped on the home gym bandwagon.

As well as Ukie, Chandra and Ikang, others with home gyms include businessman Bambang N. Rachmadi, former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin and executive Yusuf Jemat.

Ikang purchased his first set of barbells in 1983, but his treadmill and stationary bike are new additions from this year.

His wife, actress and film producer Marissa Haque, also makes use of the equipment. She was underweight in high school, but has built up her body through lifting weights, jumping rope and doing 100 repetitions each of sit-ups and push-ups.

Chandra began purchasing fitness equipment for his home five years ago. "I wanted to make it more of a routine. I bought my multitrainer expressly so I would not have to go to the fitness center."

Privacy is the major advantage of home gyms, he says.

"I'm much happier working out at home. I can concentrate better than when I'm at the fitness center. There is more privacy because I don't feel like other people are watching me."

He says he has no set routine, but works out a minimum of 15 minutes a day.

"Usually it is in the morning, before I go to work. I always try to do push-ups, stretching, running on the spot, lifting weights and sit-ups. Two times a week, I do martial arts."

Isn't this a sure formula for boredom?

"I already know what I have to do for my fitness program, so stimulus from outside is really not important for me."

He tells of sometimes coming home late at night, changing into fitness clothes and going for a run on a nearby track.

"It makes us ashamed if we look weak, right? This activity is meant so that we don't look frail."

Ikang staves off feelings of boredom by participating in a wide range of sports, including judo, karate, pencak silat and breathing exercises. He claims to know nearly everything about use of fitness equipment as an elder sibling owns the Total chain of fitness centers.

As well as wife Marissa, Ikang sometimes includes his servants in on the fitness act.

"They can use the equipment, I give them permission. They use the barbells and dumbbells. After all, many of them are men."

The rich and famous are not the only ones working out at home. A Tiara survey of 141 young executives found 46.8 percent owning dumbbells, barbells, treadmills, or other fitness equipment, and 31.9 percent -- the largest percentage -- said they preferred working out at home to attending a sports or fitness club.

Unfortunately, not all those with home gyms seem to know how to use their equipment properly.

Representative of fitness equipment distributor PT Shaga Swasta, Pius Tarung, says disgruntled customers sometimes come to their office complaining that fat bellies have not slimmed down despite use of the equipment.

"This is definitely because they didn't get the right information on proper use when they purchased the equipment," he said.

The above is a translated excerpt from the forthcoming edition of Tiara lifestyle biweekly. The complete article and sidebars will be printed in the magazine, which goes on sale this Wednesday. It is printed here courtesy of Tiara.