Kathleen recently started going to a yoga class at a new health club nearby in SIP. Some months ago, I wrote a blog entry that whined about my current gym, the Powerhouse, which allows me to workout in the early morning (6:00 AM) but refuses to turn on the lights or the air conditioning. After visiting this new place, called the "iClub", Kathleen suggested that I check it out.
It is indeed much nicer and cleaner than the Powerhouse and even has a pool. But China is a different place and there seems to be no demand for a gym to open early in the morning before work. Both the Powerhouse and the iClub had their opening time set at 7:00 AM. People in China do not by any means subscribe to the "early to bed, early to rise" philosophy of the great Benjamin Franklin.
I made an appointment with the club manager and asked him if he would be willing to open the club at 6:00 rather than 7:00 to win mine and Kathleen's buisiness and probably a few more clients who want to work out and still go to work on time. He refused a couple of times, but after prodding from me, Kathleen, and Kathleen's yoga instructor, he agreed to open the doors at 6:15AM.
I have been going to the iClub now for several weeks and it is quite a superior workout experience. I would certainly recommend it strongly over the smelly, hot, dark, and dirty Powerhouse Suzhou. Nonetheless, since I started going about a month ago, I have yet to see another patron besides myself at the gym during the early morning shift. Strange place this China.
It is indeed much nicer and cleaner than the Powerhouse and even has a pool. But China is a different place and there seems to be no demand for a gym to open early in the morning before work. Both the Powerhouse and the iClub had their opening time set at 7:00 AM. People in China do not by any means subscribe to the "early to bed, early to rise" philosophy of the great Benjamin Franklin.
I made an appointment with the club manager and asked him if he would be willing to open the club at 6:00 rather than 7:00 to win mine and Kathleen's buisiness and probably a few more clients who want to work out and still go to work on time. He refused a couple of times, but after prodding from me, Kathleen, and Kathleen's yoga instructor, he agreed to open the doors at 6:15AM.
I have been going to the iClub now for several weeks and it is quite a superior workout experience. I would certainly recommend it strongly over the smelly, hot, dark, and dirty Powerhouse Suzhou. Nonetheless, since I started going about a month ago, I have yet to see another patron besides myself at the gym during the early morning shift. Strange place this China.
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