Comments on: Chinese public exercise spaces and the elderly http://smarterfitter.com/blog/2008/08/13/chinese-public-exercise-spaces-and-the-elderly/ Less diet, more brain Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:04:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Cam http://smarterfitter.com/blog/2008/08/13/chinese-public-exercise-spaces-and-the-elderly/#comment-1063 Cam Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:06:10 +0000 http://smarterfitter.com/blog/2008/08/13/chinese-public-exercise-spaces-and-the-elderly/#comment-1063 This article brought back some very happy memories for me. I used to go to Ditan park on Saturday mornings in 1981, and I remember seeing just what was described, as well as some of the most amazing demonstrations of martial arts I've ever seen, performed by young people under the tutelage of a stereotypical 'master'. Then I'd go over to a different corner of the park and watch/listen to amateur musicians, mostly retired workers, perform excerpts from Chinese operas. This article brought back some very happy memories for me. I used to go to Ditan park on Saturday mornings in 1981, and I remember seeing just what was described, as well as some of the most amazing demonstrations of martial arts I’ve ever seen, performed by young people under the tutelage of a stereotypical ‘master’. Then I’d go over to a different corner of the park and watch/listen to amateur musicians, mostly retired workers, perform excerpts from Chinese operas.

]]> By: WeightingGame http://smarterfitter.com/blog/2008/08/13/chinese-public-exercise-spaces-and-the-elderly/#comment-1060 WeightingGame Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:44:59 +0000 http://smarterfitter.com/blog/2008/08/13/chinese-public-exercise-spaces-and-the-elderly/#comment-1060 watching them do those slow tai chi moves is totally mesmerizing...I could watch for hours! I would love to try it. My mom has MS and her PT has her incorporating some moves now for balance! watching them do those slow tai chi moves is totally mesmerizing…I could watch for hours! I would love to try it. My mom has MS and her PT has her incorporating some moves now for balance!

]]> By: monica http://smarterfitter.com/blog/2008/08/13/chinese-public-exercise-spaces-and-the-elderly/#comment-1058 monica Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:31:32 +0000 http://smarterfitter.com/blog/2008/08/13/chinese-public-exercise-spaces-and-the-elderly/#comment-1058 The picture of the guy hanging onto a bar with one hand and holding his knees up to his chest with the others was inspiring. I don't think I could do that now with the same kind of grace. The picture of the guy hanging onto a bar with one hand and holding his knees up to his chest with the others was inspiring. I don’t think I could do that now with the same kind of grace.

]]> By: Sue http://smarterfitter.com/blog/2008/08/13/chinese-public-exercise-spaces-and-the-elderly/#comment-1056 Sue Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:40:46 +0000 http://smarterfitter.com/blog/2008/08/13/chinese-public-exercise-spaces-and-the-elderly/#comment-1056 That slide show is amazing. I have a lot of complaints about China but you've got to give it to them - they are incredible. Did you see how even the older ladies seem to have incredibly strong abs? (there I go again... being western...) Very inspirational. Thanks for pointing it out. That slide show is amazing. I have a lot of complaints about China but you’ve got to give it to them - they are incredible. Did you see how even the older ladies seem to have incredibly strong abs? (there I go again… being western…)
Very inspirational. Thanks for pointing it out.

]]> By: Body Builders Board http://smarterfitter.com/blog/2008/08/13/chinese-public-exercise-spaces-and-the-elderly/#comment-1055 Body Builders Board Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:38:08 +0000 http://smarterfitter.com/blog/2008/08/13/chinese-public-exercise-spaces-and-the-elderly/#comment-1055 <strong>Fitness for The People in China....</strong> This is from the Guardian via Smarter Fitter Every morning, shortly after sunrise, this former factory worker and up to two thousand mostly retired Chinese descend on Ditan Park in the city’s Dongcheng district, where they spend between one a... Fitness for The People in China….

This is from the Guardian via Smarter Fitter

Every morning, shortly after sunrise, this former factory worker and up to two thousand mostly retired Chinese descend on Ditan Park in the city’s Dongcheng district, where they spend between one a…

]]> By: Evita http://smarterfitter.com/blog/2008/08/13/chinese-public-exercise-spaces-and-the-elderly/#comment-1052 Evita Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:40:31 +0000 http://smarterfitter.com/blog/2008/08/13/chinese-public-exercise-spaces-and-the-elderly/#comment-1052 Fantastic article - thanks for bringing it here! Yes, yes our Western culture and its pitfalls... It is so inspiring to see what these people are doing and how they are living. What I noticed too though is that when the Western world tries to imitate something "good" from other cultures they somehow always mess it up by putting their own spin on it. This normally would be good but not in this case as the Western spin is all about "more", "big", "speed", etc... and other such attributes as the author says. What an inspiriation! Fantastic article - thanks for bringing it here!

Yes, yes our Western culture and its pitfalls… It is so inspiring to see what these people are doing and how they are living.

What I noticed too though is that when the Western world tries to imitate something “good” from other cultures they somehow always mess it up by putting their own spin on it. This normally would be good but not in this case as the Western spin is all about “more”, “big”, “speed”, etc… and other such attributes as the author says.

What an inspiriation!

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