Fitness: Get Up and Get Out

Most health-conscious people in Jakarta are members of gyms, not surprising since this is the most convenient way to get a workout and be noticed by the opposite sex. But what is surprising is the lack of awareness about the myriad other ways to break a sweat, drop some pounds and get ripped in this wonderful soot-stain of a city. Here is your go-to guide from Andrew Whitmarsh.

Getting big arm muscles
The best way to build biceps and look cool while doing it is to rock climb. Two hotspots for this are just behind Pasar Festival in Kuningan and at Pondok Indah Mall, both in South Jakarta. The best time to climb is early in the morning to avoid sweaty fingertips.

 
Getting big legs
Throw your bicycle in the back of your car and head south toward Bogor. Forty-five minutes from Jakarta is Sentul, an area popular with mountain bikers as it offers a multitude of roads, paths and single tracks with plenty of elevation gain and brain jarring off-roading.

At JavaLava@groups.msn.com you can discover the joys of climbing Indonesia’s finest volcanoes. With years of experience and very well-planned trips, this group will get you higher than your freshman year at university. You can also go it alone as mountains Gede, Pangrango and Salak are a short drive away.

Although you might not think it, running is alive and well in the Big Durian. Go to www.jakartafreespirit.com to check out everything from zoo runs to fun-runs, 10Ks and half-marathons. For those looking for more of a cross-country style of running mixed with crude humor and a free flow of beer, visit www.geocities.com/hashjakarta.

Getting an all-around body
You’ve tried all the other sports, now try the ultimate one. It’s ultimate Frisbee, played in Senayan on the artificial turf fields across from Taman Ria. With all the information found at www.ultimateindonesia.com, there’s no reason not to be there.

Also at Senayan there is pick-up basketball in Hall C on Mondays and Thursdays at 7 p.m., hockey on the artificial turf Wednesdays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Australian football on Thursdays at 6 p.m. Check out the latter out at www.Bintangs.com.

If it’s time for a cool down, head to Taman Anggrek Mall where the Sky Rink is located. They offer ice skating lessons, hockey tournaments and open skating for those brave enough to show off in front of a crowd of gawking onlookers.

Tired of getting pushed around and bullied? The answer lies in the Pat Jiu Kung Fu Martial Arts School. They specialize in self-defense and breaking people in two. Give them a call at 08129526166 (English) or 08159903958 (Indonesian).

If you find exercise boring, try mixing it with soldiering. At Patriot Paintball Sport you can shoot your friends while running around like crazy. Head out to Alam Sutera in Tangerang or go to www.alam-sutera.com.

For a curious Australian version of basketball, check out netball. It’s a female-dominated sport but guys are welcome to join. It’s at 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday night at the Pavilion Apartments at Midplaza off Jl. Sudirman. Contact Bronwyn at 08111905096.

For those that don’t want to be outside but still want to run around, try futsal, a miniature version of football played indoors. There are venues all over the city, including the top floor of the STC building next to Plaza Senayan, across the street from the Hero building on Jl. Gatot Subroto, at Klub Rasuna on Jl. Rasuna Said, at Kompleks AXC and Planet Futsal in Kelapa Gading, as well as Futsal City in Kalimalang.

 
Getting flexible
While some think that locking themselves into a room heated to 42 degrees Celsius and then having their body twisted into a pretzel sounds like torture, others claim it’s the perfect form of exercise. It’s called Bikram Yoga and is located on Jl. Kemang Raya. Also see it at www.bikramyogajakarta.com/.

 
Getting on big animals
If you ever thought riding a horse while simultaneously trying to hit a small ball with a large wooden mallet sounded like a good idea, then joining the polo club is just for you. Take a look at http://npclub.wordpress.com.

Perhaps just being on a horse is enough. If so, there are a few stables that offer riding lessons such as Arthayasa Stables and Athena Stables, both in Depok. They can be reached at www.arthayasa.com and athena_stb@cbn.net.id.

 
Getting fit for free
If you are low on cash or can’t be bothered to leave your building, try my personal favorite – running stairs. For those of you that live in high-rise apartments, start at the ground floor and either walk, jog, run or hop your way to healthy living on the 40^th floor. I promise you that one set of these will be enough to drop five pounds. If that’s too easy, strap on a backpack full of canned food and try it again.

On Sunday mornings from 6 to 9 a.m., the road from the Monas to Ratu Plaza is closed to traffic. You can walk, jog, run, bicycle, skateboard, roller-skate or just turn cartwheels.

Perhaps you haven’t worn a pair of gym shorts in decades and have no plans to start now. The easiest form of exercise is to walk up escalators rather than just stand there and do nothing. While mall shopping, pick up the pace, move your arms and swing your hips a bit. Wear heavy jewelry for an added challenge.

 
Getting foot fancy
Not all exercise has to happen on a field, it can also take place on a dance floor. Turn men’s heads with some belly dancing lessons at www.bellydancejakarta.com or really bust loose at the Ritz Carlton on Thursday nights with Latin dance lessons. If you don’t know how to dance and don’t care to learn, just go to a club and go crazy on the dance floor.

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