Gymming - China style!

Like everything in China, a trip to the gym is a big hassle and effort. Not that dragging my ass to the gym back in Oz is easy at the best of times.

The most annoying thing about the gym is how messy the place is, which is frankly how everything is in China! Equipment is never returned to their original places, and when it comes to dunbells you really feel like you're in a children's playpen where the kids haven't put away their toys. Often the dunbell weight you're after will be hidden amongst the dozens scattered on the floor, and you'll have to spend a good deal of time tracking it down. But once you have your desired dunbells and are between sets hold on tight to them! Placing them down nearby you while resting between sets is no indication that you still want to use them, as I've found out many a time after turning my back for 2 seconds.Theres also a bit of an 'ick' issue as many Chinese don't bring towels to lay down on equipment while using them. Many a time I've been confronted with large reservoirs of sweat on seats :(


The free weights section is definitely a men's only zone. At least in the West you might occasionally see a woman mixing it up amongst the men with a dunbell, but here in China it's a rare thing to see a woman in the free weights area. After a few sessions here, you start to realize that mainland Chinese are a lot more vain than you think. Yes it is a gym, but guys here will unashamedly stare and flex at themselves in the mirrors for a good deal of time, and you're guaranteed to see a shirt or two come off during your visit. Which brings us to the next point of interest, gym attire. As previously mentioned in another blog, some Chinese people don't believe in the concept of sportswear. That, or they consider jeans are sportswear.  Anything goes for footwear as well, and it's not uncommon to see guys wearing slippers. So much for foot safety, especially since every guy drops their dunbells and barbells to the ground after finishing.

No doubt that Chinese guys have smaller builds than other races, but surprisingly you do see a few beekcakes from time to time. However, you get the feeling that some guys are trying to go a little too hard too fast. You can always tell the overzelous ones by the quick outbursts of labour-like grunting and shouting before the weights are promptly dropped to the floor with a slam.
Somehow they think the more noise you make the better you look? Peronally I just find it bloody annoying. Well I guess that's one quick way to throw your back out.

 Most of the gym equipment you find here is pretty much the same as what you'd find in any Western gym, although you'll sometimes find pieces that are not in good working order or plain broken! There is one machine though that I'd never seen before. I can only best describe it as ''the wobbler'', a platform you stand on or rest your feet upon while the it shakes violently in all directions. It's only meant for individual use, but you sometimes see two people snuggle up on the machine together at the same time. You'd hope these people know each other, but either way it just looks disturbing. 

And finally, gym classes. Most of the offered classes are similar to what you'd see in the west, but my gym anyway seems to offer a whole lot of dance classes too, like the type with scarfs and paper fans. Not exactly my idea of an intense workout but maybe when the music is played double time it's a sweat out. It seems appropriate though as a la
rge demographic of the members are middle aged women. In case you're wondering, during the regular aerobics classes they do play western dance music, since most Chinese music is just too slow and not upbeat enough. I did once hear a typical Chinese soft song  being played in a class though, so i can only assume it was a warm down or yoga session. And the instructors funnily enough also use some English during their workouts, like counting to four and shouting out typical things like ''come on'', ''let's go'' etc. Guess English is the universal language of aerobic workout classes too!