Muscles in the Mideast: The growth of fitness

A shrine in its own right

In America, the pursuit of physical fitness is seemingly on the rise. Consequently, gyms seem to be packed these days with dozens of people trying to achieve their physical ideal. As a result, it seems that these days the gym has permeated every facet of our lives. In social media, culture, art, and even food, we as consumers are constantly barraged on all sides. While such is the norm in America, and perhaps much of the western world, how is such a culture, which many view in some ways removed from their own lives, in the Middle East?

An Orientalist view

In a region often mischaracterized and subsequently Orientalized by foreigners, how is such a phenomenon viewed within their own countries? Is there a whole-hearted acceptance, or perhaps a dissonance within the citizens?

Not a conventional exercise

From bodybuilding to casual exercise, how does this often bizarre, mainstream splinter culture viewed in a culture viewed as equally distant from the western world?

A modern day oasis

Surprisingly well, according to dozens of blogs, forums, and interviews online. In an interview with T-nation, Rich Henderson, a pseudonym, reveals that the world of bodybuilding and exercise is wholly accepted within in Dubai. However, this acceptance is a thinly tread line between obtaining physical prowess and violating Islamic law code. This adherence to these laws even extend to the packaging exercise equipment comes with. Should there be an image of a woman exercise on the packaging, it is stripped down and repackaged. Failure to do so results in detainment by religious police and likely jail time.

Susan Turner, CEO of NuYu

While men and women pump irons in the sizzling sands, it is expected that they exercise in separate locations, even to the extent that women-only gyms in flourishing in this area. NuYu, an all-women’s gym chain located in Saudi Arabia has seized this opportunity. Established by the daughter of a Saudi prince, NuYu offers an outlet for Saudi women, where according to study, a majority of Saudi women do little to no exercise and a third are considered overweight. For some, it is the very first time exerting themselves physically. This explosion of growth isn’t limited to franchise openings, but also jobs as well. Foreigners from all around the world flock to Dubai for the zero tax rate and work opportunity.

However, beneath this work opportunity, Henderson explains that Dubai is a region subject to its own problems. For one, foreign workers receive wage discrimination based on race and gender. As Henderson says, “Let's say you're a European, and you work a job that pays 10,000 a month. If you're Filipino and working the same job, you might get 6,000. An employer can even advertise for a job saying, "Wanted: female, white, 35 years old, must be this and that."

On the other end of this gender spectrum though, men thrive in the gym. In fact, during Ramadan, an Islamic holy month, some gyms are open until 3 AM in the morning, where men hone themselves physically despite a hard day of fasting. The sport of bodybuilding has seen an explosive rise as well.

Big Ramy

In Egypt, Mamdouh Elssbiay, better known by his moniker ‘Big Ramy’, has taken the international bodybuilding stage by storm. Standing at over 300 pounds, Elssbiay is seen as a major contender for the Mr. Olympia title in the future. Since his first major debut in 2012 at the Kuwait Golden Cup where he achieved first place, Elssbiay has continued to compete all around the world from Europe to America. However, despite his accomplishment, he is subject to ridicule in the Middle East from critics.

While Elssbiay is a practicing muslim, the nature of bodybuilding, which exposes the entire body in practice, has made him a target from muslim critics. However, Elssbiay, regardless of criticism, continues his efforts. On the other hand, Ahmed Arifi, preaches otherwise.

Muslims pray

He follows his own routine and logs his information with the same steady persistence as a professional, but has never stepped on stage. Arifi loves the sport, but according to his beliefs, the competitive aspect of bodybuilding combined with what he perceives as indecent exposure pits him against the sport. However, he believes that bodybuilding is an endeavor that every muslim should pursue.

Iconic golden arches in a foreign land

Others, like Sarah, a Rutgers student, perceive the situation differently. As someone who exercises four to six times a week, she sees exercise as extremely important. Additionally, as someone who visits Lebanon every summer, she has personally witnessed the slow awakening of fitness in Lebanon. As she has seen, more gyms have slowly opened and more people are leading active lives. However, she believes this might be as a result from the slow creep of the western diet in Lebanese culture. Major fast food chains like McDonald's have quickly taken root in the country, driving the same obesity pandemic that has plagued the western world.

Slowly gaining traction

Ryan, a Rutgers student, thinks that otherwise, fitness is an extremely personal matter. Regardless of culture, he believes that fitness goals, be they bodybuilding, casual exercise, or training for a sport are individualistic resolutions. Likewise, while he thinks that this gym culture around the world differs place to place, that all men and women are fueled by the same desire - to improve the quality of their lives and achieve their goals.

INTERVIEWS (both these links redirect to soundcloud):

Sources Cited:

Nereim, V. (2015, November 3). In Saudi Arabia, women’s fitness boom defies norms. Bloomberg. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-03/in-saudi-arabia-women-s-fitness-boom-defies-norms

Krahn, B., & Nation, T. (2016). Steroids in the sand | T nation. Retrieved December 19, 2016, from T-Nation, https://www.t-nation.com/pharma/steroids-in-the-sand

Mamdouh Elssbiay (2016). . In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamdouh_Elssbiay

Abdul-Nasir, A., Shukry, A. A., Galloway, P., Baig, M. Y., Syed, J., Ibrahim, U. Y., & Hasan, A. (2015, March 14). Muscle matters: Does bodybuilding have A place in Islam? Retrieved December 19, 2016, from #Life, http://muslimmatters.org/2015/03/14/muscle-matters-does-bodybuilding-have-a-place-in-islam/

Edmund Lee is a student studying Chinese and Economics at Rutgers University. In his spare time, he enjoys fitness and reading. He continually strives to meet goals in academics and the gym.
contact: ekl30@scarletmail.rutgers.edu