If you are one of those who don't like to exercise, then maybe an exercise machine made of gold may encourage you to head for the gym.
Made by the official suppliers of fitness equipment to the Olympic Games, and priced at around Dh63,000, the Kinesis Personal Gold is a limited edition machine – only 100 of these will be made.
Nerio Alessandri, president and founder of Technogym, the makers of the machine, told Emirates Business: "Kinesis is the icon of Technogym design for training at home. It is available in a limited edition because the gold leaf application process, which has been inspired by ancient Florentine craftsmanship, takes more than 60 hours per machine."
The machine has been designed by Antonio Citterio, and allows more than 200 types of exercises while occupying less than one square metre of space. It is 210 cm high, 170 cm wide and 115 cm deep, so you don't have to worry about where you will place it in your overcrowded gym.
According to the company, the machine helps you improve your stamina, strength, flexibility and balance. But unlike other gyms it does not stop at exercising your body: it stimulates your mind as well, because it has been designed in such a way that exercising on it requires control and co-ordination.
"Inspired by nature and science, Kinesis places the human first and technology second. Our patented Fullgravity, three-dimensional movement, is the technology that makes the Kinesis unique in terms of functionality. The cable system offers a free movement feeling allowing [one] to perform more than 200 movements, from very simple exercises to more sophisticated ones, Alessandri said.
Alessandri believes the machine represents a "return to the origins" of man's movements by taking what the body does naturally and adding resistance, putting the person back in control.
"The complete freedom of movement lets you rediscover your body and its functions, creating an entirely unique experience. Workouts become more enjoyable as well as more effective, allowing you to re-establish the perfect mind-body balance," he said.
Alessandri should know what he is talking about because his company has been providing equipment for the past four Olympic games.
It all started when driven by an entrepreneurial ambition and a passion for mechanics, Alessandri created Technogym, The Wellness Company, 20 years ago at the age of 22 in a garage in a small town in Italy. Driven by his vision and hard work, Technogym aimed for the highest reaches.
It was the exclusive official suppliers to the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000, Athens in 2004, and the winter Olympic games in Torino in Italy in 2006.
And last February Technogym was appointed as the exclusive offical fitness equipment supplier to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games to be held in August.
It is no wonder that international sports teams such as Ferrari Formula One, professional football clubs in Europe and the most prestigious sailing America's Cup teams Alinghi and Prada and celebrities such as Giorgio Armani, Kakà and Madonna use their equipment.
Talking about how they managed to make a machine that allows 200 exercises while taking up just one metre of space Alessandri said: "We were able to achieve this feat because we invest a lot in research and development. Our R&D centre has about 150 members, more than 10 per cent of the total company staff. Technogym is recognised as the most innovative company within the wellness sector." And he has gold standard of Olympic endorsements to prove this.