SBMA Chair Amy Eisma: In the HIIT of the moment

To say that SBMA chairman and administrator Amy Eisma led Subic into many firsts coul be an understatement. However, since this is not a political column at all, let us focus on how she is the chief fitness officer of the popular freeport. 

In fitness, she leads by example as she herself shuns any excuse not to sweat it out. She encourages her staff to engage in sports, organizes workouts for them and has spearheaded a formal health and wellness program for SBMA’s 1,500 workforce. Since fitness is close to her heart, she indulged us with an interview despite her busy schedule.

Philippine Star: Despite your hectic schedule and multiple commitments, how many times do you work out every week?

Amy Eisma: As chairman and administrator of SBMA, my day is never long enough, but I make sure I put equal importance to exercise the way I do with any other meeting or commitment. I’m an early riser, so if I could do it by 6 a.m. and finish by 8 a.m. then I’m good for that day. But if push comes to shove, then I’d work out at 6 or 7 p.m. What’s important is that I get my daily dose of workout because my day won’t be complete without it.

What is your favorite workout routine?

I’m in love now with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and I’m proud to say that I can work out side by side with a fit person half my age. I’ve actually tried other forms of exercise — cardio and some weight training, but it’s HIIT that really hit me. I like the short bursts of very intense workout that incorporates rest periods. It’s not so strenuous as the others, but I heard you burn about 25 percent more calories here than with other forms of exercise.

Does your physical conditioning help improve your golf?

Physical conditioning is more of a stress reliever for me. It’s the time I have for myself. There is Zen in golf — as in everything else  ­— and conditioning actually helps maintain brain health, good mood and energy levels. So yes, better flexibility in my swings is a welcome consequence of the improvement in my overall health.

SBMA chief fitness officer Amy Eisma (third from left) joins a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) at Subic Bay Freeport.

What benefits do you derive from golf and your regular workouts that directly impact your job?

The way I see it, the physical is the flipside of the mental. So, physical activity actually has significant effects in the makeup of an individual. It’s supposed to make the person healthier, stronger, more relaxed, happier and more intelligent. In my experience, exercise makes me think better, I become more focused and it makes the stress of the job more manageable.

How do you influence your staff to be active and exercise?

Under the physical fitness program of the SBMA, we actually have workout sessions during Fridays where employees do Zumba and other cardio stuff. But since I cannot be content with just one day of strenuous physical activity in one week, I encouraged my staff, as well as the other interested employees, to train alongside me and I try to provide them with what I could, from the use of my personal gym equipment to getting them gym outfits. I’ve also set up a once-a-week program for members of the SBMA Law Enforcement and Fire Departments just to make sure that they are in tip-top shape, and the program is catching on with some staff from the other departments joining us in the weekly ritual. Of course, a lot of them would not have volunteered for the program. But seeing the boss in front, leading them in exercises, is surely a great motivator for the employees.

How much sleep do you get per day?

To tell you frankly, I’m lucky if I get six hours sleep a day. Maybe that’s the price I had to pay for being in this position to oversee the development of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, which is a huge job. But, I believe that may be enough because I get good quality sleep at night. Again, my physical conditioning program actually helps me get the relaxed sleep I need.

How did the importance you give to fitness and sports impact the award Subic received as the “Best Sports Destination of Asia”?

When you really love what you do, you give off that unmistakable aura that attracts others to your cause. I want to believe that that is what happened here. I am just a recent convert to sports and fitness, but it has long been a part of the culture in the Subic Bay Freeport to have fun and to seek adventure and sports is a natural outlet for this. Subic became the best sports destination of Asia last year mainly because of its natural features that made it the best venue for triathlons and similar sports events. But it was also because we in the SBMA have recognized this potential, and have therefore raised the bar for Subic in terms of sports and recreation facilities so that it became a foregone conclusion to consider Subic as the best sports destination. The best simply gets the best.

What is your current fitness goal and how are you trying to achieve it?

I don’t really have a fitness goal, but it’s been a running joke in my office for my staff to challenge me to either join a bikini run or the Spartan Sprint. And they know their chairman seldom backs out of a challenge, so younever know. 

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Subic is the home of the first Musclecontest in the Philippines, which will award IFBB Pro Cards on Sept. 8 for the first time in local bodybuilding history.

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Post me a note at mylene@goldsgym.com.ph or mylenedayrit@gmail.com.