12.06.08
Chinese Old Man Exercises
Looking to join a gym? Don’t have the money to pay for a high-tech super-sophisticated 24-hour fitness megaplex? Why not go to China where public exercise equipment is free and abundant in parks and squares across the nation? I call it the 老头锻炼公园 or “Old Man Exercise Park.” When I stayed in Beijing 3 months this past summer, there was one right next to my building. Sure, it isn’t a bona fide full facility gym, and sure you aren’t going to become the next Arnold Schwarzenegger simply by pumping iron with Chinese retirees, but why not fit in a quick workout on your way back from the grocery store…or before you grab your late night shao kao…or while your shoes are being repaired? Let’s try it out!
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| All of the machines work by using one’s own body weight for resistance. Therefore each machine tailors to an individual’s size, and thus presumably his strength. The main drawback is that the resistance weight cannot be adjusted.Let’s start off simple by working the shoulders. |
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| 加油！ |
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| That wasn’t so bad now, was it? |
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| Now for pull ups |
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| As you pull down with your arms, the machine pushes your legs upward |
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| nice…and easy…nice…and easy |
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| Not all of the Old Man Exercise Gear is quite so intuitive… |
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| …as Shumin demonstrates here. Neither of us could figure out the proper use for either of these two. |
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| Now time to work those triceps |
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| 加油！ |
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| Unfortunately, at 28 years old, I am well past my prime as a gymnast. But that doesn’t mean I can’t strut my stuff with other fogies. |
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| …just don’t break a hip. |
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| Here’s another confusing one. |
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| Maybe if I raise the bars over my head… |
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| little help anybody? |
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| There we go…This machine doesn’t seem to have been designed for people in excess of 5′ 7.” |
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| And finally the Hip Gyrator, as we practice that all-important act of rapidly thrusting one’s pelvis in a forward motion. |
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| 加油！ |
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| So there you have it. The Chinese “Old Man Exercise Park.” They can be found in almost any public area or residential development in any province, city, or county in the Middle Kingdom. Nothing beats a quick, easy workout, which doesn’t require a membership, gym clothes, or even much athletic ability on your own part. Makes me wonder why we don’t have these back home in the Corpulent States of America…oh yeah, because some idiot would probably injure himself and sue the city…nevermind. |
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| Also, thanks to Shumin for modeling (and taking most of the pics). |
GAC
said,
December 6, 2008 at 10:10 pm
I think I’ve actually seen something similar right here in Morgantown, West Virginia (USA
). Maybe I’ll go get some pics of it.
Maxiewawa
said,
December 6, 2008 at 10:10 pm
I”ve seen old guys doing chin-ups and showing off their kungfu skills on those things. I saw one old guy pull himself up in a chinup so far that he flipped himself over! Some old guys are really fit.
drewsky
said,
December 7, 2008 at 11:48 am
This was great, it is sad that we couldn’t handle this type of thing in the U.S.
Gustavo Bechtold
said,
December 7, 2008 at 1:16 pm
There was also one right next to the building I was living at while in Beijing and after getting used to the scene of seeing old people exercising together every day of the week at 6AM sharp (even during the winter) I started realizing how incredibly healthy it’s for seniors to live in a Middle-Kingdom-state-of-mind.
northerner
said,
December 8, 2008 at 3:08 pm
You probably haven’t seen senior northerners doing their favorite sport – winter swim (in ice water!)
http://baike.baidu.com/view/384660.htm
simply crazy
Kate.Shen
said,
December 12, 2008 at 7:09 am
哈哈，厦门这里每个小区都有。It seems every Chinese city, even the small county has this kind of stuff, its popular.
Jet So
said,
December 17, 2008 at 4:58 am
It’s spread across borders too. Bangkok’s Lumpini Park has a set of those contraptions.
Egeko
said,
January 15, 2009 at 8:22 am
Well,these parks are so popular in China that everyone can enjoy it a lot.You cansee these kinds of 老年健身公园 in any parts of this country.Most of them are in public park(large ones),some of them even are next to our house.So that made trainning become easy,arent they?
Although they are popuar ,most of the users are the olds.(Eh,maybe not?I guess so.)They are really very(so!…)hardworking!!Many old people have their own club .they meet so often that they almost meet everyday in the mornings.(Even in winter.Dear me!….)
So,you must understand ,why do Chinese call themselves hardworking and amazing people……
Lynton Smith
said,
February 28, 2010 at 10:39 am
We noticed a similar part on our trip to China, Several in fact. They fit in small places and were used by all ages. We saw similar equipment as pictured. But there was also a small cluster of metal pipes 8″ or so in diameter about 6″ tall. You used them by “walking” from one pipe to another. This was a balance and stretching type of activity. Did you see and/or get any information on the pipes. I would like to build them in our yard. I think these parks are an excellent idea, but the liability would definitely be an issue.