Visiting the gym in the past was more of a reserve for people actively involved in sports so it was very common to see athletes, boxers, footballers and other sportsmen busily working out in well-fitted as well as backyard gyms in order to stay fit.
Aside sportsmen, young men who also wanted to be “macho” (tough) also spent time building their bodies at home and in gyms for the looks they wanted.
These days, however, working out in the gym seems to have evolved from the fitness reason into a craze which has caught on with many people, especially the young.
And with more women jumping on the bandwagon, trust them to make it stylish and chic.
Gym fashion
Workout clothes in the past were not as colourful and fashionable as they are today; all one needed was a pair of comfortable shorts or tracksuit pants, sneakers and a simple top.
“The most important thing about signing up with a gym is to stay healthy but I am also cautious about how I look as more people join the different classes,” Sika Nutakor, a member of the Pulse Fitness Ghana, a popular gym facility in the nation’s capital, told The Mirror.
She said gym sessions had become more of relaxation periods where people met to socialise, interact and sometimes established business contacts.
“On every last Friday of the month, we have ‘gymsco’ which is a combination of gym and disco. The atmosphere is similar to partying in a club only that this time, there’s an instructor who directs us on what to do.
“For such events, you can’t just show up in any ordinary workout clothes; you must look chic.”
Miss Nutakor said her regular gym backpack contained a pair of colourful sneakers and socks, a gym bra, a tracksuit or sports leggings, a top to match, a towel and gloves.
Staying healthy
The Marketing and Media Manager of Pulse Fitness Ghana, Frank Owusu-Ofori, explained that with people becoming health conscious, there was the need to make exercising fun and interactive.
He said aside the traditional gym routines which included body building and cardiovascular exercises, the facility also provided services such as aerobics, weight management, physiotherapy and a smoothie bar that stocks healthy fruit drinks for clients.
Mr Owusu-Ofori said before being signed unto any programme, the person was taken through a thorough check to ascertain his or her health background and Body Mass Index (BMI).
“We believe there are different people with different health needs so our instructors take you through a short exercise and also give you directions on what to do and what not to do.
“We see exercising as a lifestyle and we tailor it to meet everyone’s needs,” he stated.
Lucrative business
Owners of gym facilities are cashing in on the business as the people they target are ready to pay huge sums of money to keep fit.
The amounts paid usually depend on where the gym is located, the facilities available, what the customer wants to do and the duration of the exercise.
For a plush gym, the amount ranges between GH¢250 and GH¢400 a month while others charge between GH¢70 and GH¢150 monthly.
Aside the gyms, owners also make money from complementary services such as massage parlours, bars, sale of gym equipment.
They also have sports shops that stock gym clothing and supplements that help in body building which their clients purchase.
Eating healthy
Though going to the gym or exercising can help keep one fit, health experts advise that it is very important to eat well.
They argue that exercise, combined with fat-free or low-fat dairy products and other foods rich in calcium, is necessary to build strong, healthy bones.
