Health and Fitness in China!

                                           Health and Fitness in China

Having the opportunity to have a break from my Personal Training business in New Zealand and to transform myself to work as a Lecturer in Classics, English Culture and Language at Ocean University from 2017-2019 was a challenge I never really thought about until it became a reality!

Maintaining a good fitness routine while in Qingdao was generally an easy transition. Here are a few observations and thoughts about Health and Fitness in China:

Being based at a University, I was very excited to be looking for the Fitness Centre on my first week at work! After being told by my fellow teachers that there was a 50 metre Swimming Pool, I was also happy to find a basketball court, badminton courts and even snooker tables! I was also looking for the gym but after looking around and asking my students, my lunchtime gym workouts were not to be. Although I was told a lot of the students go to a private gym next to the Campus.

All was not lost as I was able to swim regularly during the Semester which was energising and relaxing at the same time. And the students were enjoying activities such as Soccer, Badminton, Basketball, Running and even Modern Dance!

 

But our family did find some outdoor Fitness Equipment and a Playground at our local beach.  Shilaoren Beach which is a very well-known Beach in Qingdao with soft sand, good water and green algae! Algae is a common site at the beach and it is also normal to see trucks at the beach picking up the algae while you are swimming! During the summer break, a lot of people from outside of the city also visit Qingdao, so the beach can get quite crowded too.

                       

     Can you spot Daniel at the beach?                              A truck ready for algae pick up!

 

The beach had just built a new children’s playground and adult outdoor exercise machines just in time for summer so this was exciting news for us! Of course, Lillie and Daniel had to try out all the new playground and fitness gear on display!

                                         

Daniel trying out the new playground!                           Lillie keeping fit at the beach!

 

There were plenty of alternatives for anyone wanting to keep fit in Qingdao! Our children were given flyers about Martial Arts classes and my son Daniel was busy playing soccer at school and we went swimming at an Indoor Pool once a week. We even had a modern Gym next to our Accommodation Block and an amazing Yoga Centre within 15 minutes walking distance!

Hope Yoga was a two storey Yoga Centre that was the ultimate place for yoga, rest and relaxation!

With 4 Yoga Studios upstairs and downstairs was filled with other treats such as a library with sea views, a tea and coffee area, nail and grooming room for the ladies and spacious changing rooms! The sheer size of the Yoga Centre was mindboggling at first but when you have a lot more people around, bigger things can be achieved!   

                    

            Hope Yoga Library with sea views and a great catalogue of health and wellness books!                     

      

                          

 Hope Yoga Studio with heated floors!                       Hope Yoga directory to Library?

 

With our first ever White Christmas in Qingdao, snow was a great discovery for us! Even the cold couldn’t keep us away from running around outside to scrape snow off our neighbours cars and  also make snowballs to throw at each other!

 

               

Daniel and Lillie checking out the Qingdao snow at Christmas time!

 

There are so many other stories to tell……..but will leave that for another time!