18 LIFESTYLE lite MARCH 2011

After 15 years, gym giant California Fitness fi nally moves from its landmark Orchard location. WONG MUN WAI reports on the club he works out at.

FITNESS MovesPushing his body to the limit required hours of dedication, technique learning, following the correct diet and investing money in club membership, supplements and personal instructors. We’re not talking about the army, navy or air-force. This fi tness regime belongs to teacher Joseph Chong, 35.

At 75kg, Joseph is an impressive sight. His wide frame, muscular arms and build make most people’s eyes widen with admiration or apprehension. He didn’t get to this size overnight, of course. It is the result of 10 to 11 years of hard work at the California Fitness gym. “It became my lifestyle,” he says.

GYM MADNESSIt is a lifestyle passionately followed by an increasing number of people. The latest 2005 National Sports Participation Survey showed 5.53% of Singaporeans hit the gym – up from 2.89% in 2001 – but looking at the crowds at peak times the numbers could be more.

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So much so the multi-fl oor building housing thousands of gym members’ precious sweat-fi lled memories is no longer suitable. The club moved only a few hundred meters away to Ngee Ann City but the shift represents more than a change of home. “It’s quite an icon, that place,” Joseph points out sadly.

Other members are quite glad to move to the new gym citing newer premises, better changing facilities and the convenience of the gym being on one fl oor instead of three at the old building.

Business-wise, the move is likely to strengthen California Fitness’ position in the country’s fragmented gym scene. When the club arrived in Singapore in 1996, it made an impact as “consumers were largely unaware of the concept of a fi tness club”. Market-wise, the company falls into the mass market segment. Other gyms such as Fitness First can also be categorised as mass market whereas niche gyms like Amore Fitness are tailored to women.

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ROAD TESTPersonally, I have been working out at a gym for the past seven to eight years and have been a California Fitness member for about four. Apart from everything being spanking new, I agree with other members who like having everything on one fl oor.Almost all the machines are new. On my fi rst two visits, my workouts focused on leg presses, calf extensions, hamstring curls and the adductor inner thigh exercise. Because it’s been months since I last worked my lower body, this new regime, coupled with the new machines exacted their toll on my inner thighs the most. I walked like a duck with tight, inner thigh muscles in the following days. It was not until two to three days later with continued workouts that the tightness dissipated. So from a

little chilly). For your info, there is no water bucket to tip into the hot stove. I also had to wait a while for the two lifts from and to the eighth fl oor. Having said that, I am still impressed with my new playground!

LIFESTYLE LITE OFFERTest-drive the California Fitness gym at Ngee Ann City. The fi rst 200 NTUC readers who fl ash their copy of this article (Lifestyle Lite March) will be entitled to a 14 day pass to California Fitness worth $200! lite

gym veteran’s standpoint, the new equipment (and new regime) is clearly making a difference.

Although at 28,500 square feet it is slightly smaller than the old premises, the changing rooms are bright and clean and the showers have good water pressure. I’m a fan of saunas and steam rooms and so after a more recent visit I was glad to see the steam adjusted to a more suitable strength as it was too hot before. Ironically, the sauna seems to have been turned up a notch (which is good as it was a

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