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.