Fitness Center Notes
I think we should add some notes since I have not been writing.
In order to make Javed's working life more "true to life" I should be studying things that go on in the fitness club. Notes are re: things that happen in my Fitness Club in Taipei:
- Elderly Man Dies in Jacuzzi: Trainer (Jimmy) was working late when he got a call from training desk. Seems one of the cleaning cleaning staff, on trying to rouse elderly man who spent a little toop long in the jacuzzi, was shocked to find him dead. Jimmy (along with other trainers on duty) needed to go and try to remove him. He was too heavy for cleaning staff to remove.
- Electrical Fire: Left waiting outside in my gym gear (luckily NOT the teeny bikini like tops with matching aerobics bottoms favored by many TAiwanese women... not the towels of those caught in the shower) while fireman put out fire. Passer-byers happy to stop and gawk. After fire was out, we were allowed to go through the aftermath in groups of 5/6 to retreive out stuff from out lockers. It took only 2 days for club to be up and running again. Not eally sure as to cause of fire... Suntanning area?
- Weight Loss Methods Given by Korean Gym Goers: Water equals weight! Do not drink any water during or after exercise or you won't lose anything. Youshould wear workout clothes in windbreaker materials that will make you sweat. The more you sweat, the more you will lose! (Even better, wrap your arms, legs, middle or any fat areas in saran wrap before getting dressed as that will spot reduce those areas). Stay in the sauna for as long as possible. You can/should aromatherapy weight loss inducing oils before going into the sauna. These methods are not really practiced as much in TAIwan... In TAiwan, it is a more radical dieting approach that is taken... Chinese medicine, Western medicine (zenical is available over the counter!), massage therapy, skipped meals, liposuction, etc.
- Sex in the Suntanning booth: This is only speculation. I saw a couple going into the suntanning booth together. The girl on duty expalined that men are less flexible; therefore, the guy needed his girlfriend to go in with him to apply the suntanning lotion.
- Best Yoga Instructor left Gym to start her own Ashram: The instructor who walks on tiptoes, speaks in a hushed voice, and can bend herself into all sorts of pretzel-like positions (amazing to think she has given birth to twins) left to study her craft more seriously in the US. Anyway, after her return, it was only a matter of weeks before she enlisted the help of another instructor and opened her own ashram. Gone are the sounds of Buddhist chanting and gonging from the third floor aerobics room.
- New Computerized System For Tracking Clients: All clients with trainers will have records kept in centralized computers. Reeive card which with they must clock in before and after sessions. (Before, only record was kept by trainer... most using thier own PDAs/Palm Pilots.)
Well, that is all I can think of for now. I am not sure which scenes will be set here... but I guess I should appoint a manager that will constantly be bothering Javed on his cell phone re: inconsequential goings on in the gym. IE... one of the cleanings staff is late, the vending machine is out of Pokari Sweat, a client wants a discount on training, someone's gym locker broken into.... etc. I guess I will have to find out about how to license a business in a foreign country. Who can own a business etc...(Can foreign people own land/property/businesses?) Does Javed have an untrustworthy business partner in Taipei?
posted by Zanmei at 8:16 PM
2 Comments:
Glad you approve... I really appreciate any feedback.
as to your question: Yes, my gym IS California Fitness... and yes, it is associated with LA and 24 Hour Fitness. In Asia, I think the first one was in HK.
Actually, David went to the HK one when I was still in Korea and doing aerobics with the middle-aged women in their tight sparkly leotards. David used to brag about how luxurious it was... You leave your street shoes at the front desk and when you leave the gym, the staff have them polished and waiting for you. Ha ha! But when he visited me in Taipei and said that mine was the best he'd ever been to, I realized then that I had been exceedingly gullible before!
Anyway, it is not so easy to come up with interesting stories re: goings on in the gym, so if you think of any...
The only other things I can think of are the special promotions the gym puts on...
1. The monthly draws... Fill your membership number and phone number on slips of paper and you can win a free trip to... (Well, in the novel's case, Barbados) Thailand etc.
2. The contests... Get your picture taken, have it dated with your current weight on it. 2 weeks later, another photo and weight recorded. S/he who loses most, wins most: $50,000!
3. Events for trainers (many of them compete in triathlons, marathons etc... one aboriginal trainer holds TAiwan's record for hurdles. He is quite good-looking as he is taller, bigger and more distinctive looking than average).
4. New branches... as in the massive one opened in Apkujongdong (now the nicest), or the addition of gyms that have been taken over. California took over 2 gyms (named Holleywood) in Tienmou (northern Taipei).
So for the novel, I think it might be good for Barbados to be approached by a potential buyer... but have Javed out of the country when that happens. While away, the potential buyer does his/her best to sabotage Barbados' business.
I wish I could have some female Brittany Spear's type too-rich teenage hearthrob singer lose her million dollar Victoria Secret's diamond-encrusted bra in the lady's locker room while doing a quicky work-out before a date (It gives you that nice "glow")... but I think that would be taking it too far.
Yes, well... those people will definately have to make appearances (minus the Amazon woman). Why minus the Amazon woman? Because we should save this idea for Korea and the Korean scene... YOu see Tara feels like SHE IS the only Amazon woman in the country.
As for dumbell breaking... Angel( top female fitness trainer at Barbados... did we mention she is pretty, tiny and prenant?)
Cussing old lady... DEFINATELY! SHe can be one of those ladies who goes early in the morning for yoga. Cussing is the opbvious reaction to having to deal with Eminem playing loudly in the main area first thing in the morning.
Smelly guy who grunts loudy when lifting... yes... there is also a guy in Taipei who actually lifts his feet body from the floor/seat and uses his body weight as leverage to pull the weights down. What's the point of that?
Post a Comment
<< Home