by Julie Sung
Booming music, cold air, sweat, huffing and puffing – where is this? It’s California. But wait, where are the beaches, the palm trees, and the bathing suits? In case you didn’t know already, California is THE place to work out now. It’s the new, trendy fitness center located on Chung-hsiao East Road. I must admit I did not foresee the success of California. After all, Chinese people don’t work out, working out is what Westerners do. Muscles and strong physiques are admired and coveted in the West, not here in Taiwan where the sight of muscles is usually followed with eews and giggles. Nevertheless, the popularity of California is undeniable, with its second store opening in the bustling Shi-men-ting and still a third store in Tien-mu. Apparently, people have become more health-conscious and muscle friendly and are forking over big bucks in exchange for better bodies. Big bucks indeed, but better bodies? It is common knowledge that adequate exercise is good for you. It helps prevent osteoporosis, reduces heart risk, and is also effective at balancing mood swings and lifting depression, or so California’s website tells me. But I doubt this is what the majority of people who go to the gym have in mind. The people who walk into California probably have notions of being fashionable and stylish rather than being healthy and fit. The chic design and five-star facilities create an atmosphere unlike that of a coffee house or a bar, where the hip and happenin’ people go. If you are disgusted by such pursuit of materialism and shake your head at such a costly craze, you are a better man (or woman) than I, for I jumped at the chance to become a temporary member, though I tried to convince myself and others that I had suddenly become keen on my physical well being. My first visit to California was a Saturday night. I was amazed at how packed the place was. And it confirmed my suspicions that this was a place of social gathering. Most of the equipment was occupied, but often by people who were using them as benches for gossiping rather than bench pressing. I saw girls giggling in pairs and big guys walking around aimlessly smiling here and there. Everyone looked exquisitely athletic in their brand name outfits and towels casually slung across one shoulder. But the members weren’t the only ones that looked good. I spotted a few cute instructors too. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were part of the rage of California. I don’t believe I saw anyone over 35, except for my aunt whom I dragged along just so that I could get in. However, when I returned to the gym at other times of day I observed quite a different scene. If you go there at six in the morning you will see some serious bodybuilders working on their muscles. I guess this is when they put in the work so that they can strut around on Saturdays. There is also a large population of elderly ladies who have decided to replace their morning hikes with something more modern. And then there are the office workers who do a quick jog to start their day. Your guess is as good as mine as to who these people are who show up in the afternoons, but people they are and there are quite a good number of them too. The ambience is very different at these times. People don’t talk as much and concentrate on their exercise. At times when the place was full, I noticed something peculiar about the distribution of people among treadmills and bikes. The equipment in the area with a clear view of the TV sets tuned to HBO were packed, while machines facing the news were left deserted. The most interesting things usually happen in the locker room, where it didn’t take long for me to get used to the assortment of naked bodies. But rest assured that I am warned against what I might look like if I don’t do something now to fight gravity as I grow older! I was once in the steam room with a woman who slathered milk all over herself and the lucky few who were sitting next to her. Yet you get used to such things and they don’t seem so outrageous after a couple of trips. So after two weeks and numerous visits to California, I must say I was a little harsh labeling it as a place where people flock simply to conform to a current fad. For people of all ages and all motives go there. True, some may be there to be fashionable, but there are also people who are there for the genuine purpose of working out. In fact, California may have ultimately done a good thing – bringing exercise into fashion. As for me, I was sad to leave the posh fitness center after my two weeks membership had expired. I was tempted to join, but reflecting on the many times I went, not to exercise, but just to dress up in my Nike outfit and enjoy the glamorous feeling of being in California, I had to say a painful no to the saleslady. a
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The Taida Student Journal has been active since 1995 with an ever-changing roster of student journalists at NTU. Click the above link to read about the authors Archives
May 2024
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