See you at the gym!

See you at the gym!

By Ade Rai

JAKARTA (JP): A good health is the most important thing in
life, but maintaining it can be expensive. Many people spend lots
of money to be healthy and one way they do it is by exercising.

With more people wanting to lead healthy lives, fitness
centers have been mushrooming, especially in big cities in
Indonesia.

However, not all people can enroll for exercise programs at
fitness centers as they are expensive, especially at centers that
are well-equipped. Fitness centers that offer reasonably priced
programs usually lack the necessary exercise equipment.

Currently, the public's demand for good and affordable fitness
centers is greater than the supply. The people's demand for good
sporting and fitness facilities has increased with the
dissemination of information on health and the importance of
exercise through the media.

To attract new members and give added value to the fitness
centers, many centers offer, among others aerobic classes (high
impact, low impact, tae bo and body language), health and
nutrition consultations and personal trainer programs.

Some centers also offer health food cafes, massage spas, and
pro-shops selling sports equipment and food supplements.

Most members of fitness centers are women, men above 35,
teenagers, athletes and university students.

Most women join fitness programs to improve their physical
appearance. Usually, working women work out after work in the
evenings or during lunchtime, while homemakers usually work out
in the mornings.

Athletes, teenagers and university students usually do their
workouts in the afternoons if they do not have classes. Fitness
centers are usually quiet in the afternoons, making them more
conducive for exercising.

Athletes train to keep fit for competitions, while students
and teenagers exercise to improve their physique to boost their
self-esteem and attract the attention of the opposite sex. Action
movies featuring muscular actors also influence teenagers into
joining fitness programs. Some of them are only following the
current exercise trend but some become "addicted" to exercise as
they feel fitter, and notice that their physical appearance is
improving.

Men over 35 years of age usually enroll for fitness programs
because they begin to feel less fit. They may be overweight, not
as agile as before or easily fatigued. Younger men have yet to
experience these conditions.

Basically every person wants to be healthy and have an
attractive body. However, many have yet to realize the importance
of exercise, diet and rest in attaining these goals. These three
important factors are offered by bodybuilding.

Bodybuilding is a combination of weight training, aerobics,
cardiovascular exercises and stretching. A balanced diet and
adequate sleep are a must too. Bodybuilding helps improve our
health and physique.

However, every person has a different need. They may want to
become slim, muscular, reduce fat in certain parts of the body or
gain weight. They may also want to control or alleviate ailments
such as diabetes, hypertension or indigestion. Athletes such as
volleyball and badminton players may want to be able to hit
harder, basketball players to jump higher, sprinters to run
faster and swimmers to swim faster. They come to fitness centers
to achieve these goals.

Here are some tips before you begin a bodybuilding program at
a fitness center:
Consult your doctor before starting exercises.
Choose a fitness center located close to your residence or work
place
Choose a fitness center that you can afford. In big cities, the
monthly fees ranges from Rp 50,000 (US$5) to Rp 200,000. Some may
charge less than Rp 50,000 but its facilities and equipment would
be limited. The monthly fee of well-appointed fitness centers
located in offices and hotels may be over Rp 200,000. Membership
fees here are between two times and five times the monthly fees.
Fitness centers need not be posh but should be well-equipped.
They must have machines and free weights for each body part and
major muscles, and cardiovascular equipment, including
treadmills, stationary bikes and steppers. They should also have
aerobic programs, have good and experienced instructors, offer
health and nutrition consultations, and serve healthy food and
beverage.
Choose fitness centers which have a clean, healthy and
comfortable environment to exercise.

Compared to other countries, fitness centers in Indonesia are
less developed. Fitness centers require a huge investment and may
not be profitable if the people lack spending power or do not
realize the importance of exercise because of a lack knowledge on
health.

Hopefully with the help of the media in enlightening the
society on the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle,
sporting facilities and fitness centers would continue to grow.

The writer is a world-class bodybuilder, who also runs a
fitness center.