Even Confucius was buff? How ancient China prized strength and fitness
The gentle philosopher was said to possess extraordinary strength, while Chinese military officers long had to pass tough physical tests
Against my better judgment, I took out a gym membership in Prague. It turns out that my usual exercise regime – brisk walking for up to an hour every day – is not as practical in the city as I had imagined, at least not in my part of Prague.
Cobblestone pavements are pretty to look at, but they are made for leisurely strolls, not aerobic walks, unless spraining an ankle or two is your intention. There are parks and green spaces near my flat, but they are either too small or they reek of marijuana, alcohol or urine, sometimes all three at once. The only smooth, level footpaths nearby run alongside busy roads, and car fumes do not make for healthy lungs.
Not so a few of the men at my gym. Their enormous muscles, together with the telltale signs of back acne and an oddly aggressive swagger, suggest chemical assistance. For them, exercising at the gym seems to be less about health and fitness than about achieving a particular physical aesthetic.