"The gym industry does not exist in the Philippines," says George Saab, chief operating officer of the soon-to-open Gold’s Gym in Makati. "It will open in January next year in Glorietta. Right here in Makati," he proudly declares.
For those of us who have been working out for a few years now, there is one thing that we have noticed about today’s gym situation – there’s a lack of gyms that offer real, good cardio and aerobic group exercises.
And this is the gap that Gold’s gym hopes to fill. "We offer fitness for everybody– we are going to be in an environment like no one here has seen. But most important is the fact that we are going to provide a workout for the heart," Saab enthuses.
After all, the heart is the strongest muscle and it must be constantly worked out, Saab opines. "This is why cardiovascular fitness is where our emphasis is."
But why the mall?
"Basically, I believe in all that the mall represents. It is a convenient and good place for free advertising. Of course, it does help that it can be the place where the other family members can walk around as those who want to burn fat work out," says Victor Siazon, partner of Global Fit, the group which runs Gold’s Gym in Manila.
The best cardiovascular and strength training equipment on the market today are what Gold’s promises to make available to its clientele.
"It is a healthy lifestyle that we hope to bring to the Philippines. But we want to make sure that we make it as convenient for clients as we can. This is why we chose Glorietta, where everything is convenient – from parking to shopping and eating after that," Saab adds.
Gold’s Gym is one of the top gyms in the United States with a membership of over two-and-a-half million worldwide. Its celebrity list of members goes on and on – to name a few, there are Muhammad Ali, Billy Crystal, Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson, Mel Gibson, Matthew Broderick, Pierce Brosnan, Keanu Reeves, Brooke Shields.
One of the privileges that come with going to Gold’s is you can work out at any of their locations worldwide. And hey, if any of these celebrity clients decide to make a stopover here, you could find yourself pumping iron or spinning beside Keanu Reeves. Not a bad idea, right?
"Gold’s Gym will not just be a place where people can come to build their bodies. It will also be place where one can meet interesting people," Michael Sadak, chairman of Global Fit.
In the last few years, the Makati central business district has seen the building up of so many fitness centers for all sorts of people. Some people look for a touch of wellness in their workouts. Others prefer the hardcore places where they do nothing but build their muscles while still others opt for a place where the trainers are friendly and the atmosphere is relaxing.
So many needs for so many people, which has beefed up the fitness industry in the last five years. With this seeming variety, the needs of the members of the existing gyms have also been changing.
So another gym, especially if it turns out to be a good one, is welcome news. One thing’s for sure, come January there will be a gold mine of a gym in the Glorietta Mall.