179. Glimpse of a Perfect World – LifeTime Gym | 在健身房裡，看見理想社會的一隅
Musings of Dr. Jamie C. Hsu, 1.10.2026
I have been going to a local gym called LifeTime to take care of my aging body and improve my mobility. During those visits, many things about the place and its people have made an interesting impression on me. I feel like I have a glimpse of a perfect world.
The gym offers a variety of equipment, facilities, and activities for people of all ages and interests. There are swimming pools, saunas, and whirlpools. There are classes in yoga, aerobics, and Pilates. There are courts for pickleball, basketball, and racquetball. Kids can do rock climbing or dodgeball. There are all sorts of weight-training equipment and agility tools. It is hard to believe there are so many ways we can train, torment, or nurture our body.
Several characteristics about the place that impress me:
Inclusiveness of people, ethnicities, and backgrounds –
People of all ages, shapes, and conditions are in the gym: teens, seniors, skinny people, fat people, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and people from different religious backgrounds wearing face veils, head covering, and various outfits. Everyone seems comfortable being oneself without trying to fit in.
Accommodation of diverse purposes –
People come here to exercise, to increase endurance, to build better bodies, to improve strength, to learn new skills, to recuperate from surgery, or just to socialize. No one dictates what is the right or wrong reason to be there. Freedom of choice is at play here.
Embrace both individualism and camaraderie –
Many people, like me, will go through their own exercise routines. Others will take the opportunity to meet new people and build camaraderie through challenging classes. Even in the locker room, people may chat comfortably in the nude.
Professionalism at every level of service –
Trainers, cleaning crew, repairpersons, greeters, and food servers are all courteous and caring. They make you feel welcome and important, and they are good at whatever they do.
I hope you have a similar experience of glimpsing a perfect world.
在健身房裡，看見理想社會的一隅(2026/01/10)
–作者 許俊宸博士
–中譯 薛乃綺
我最近開始去一間叫 LifeTime 的在地健身房，目的很簡單，就是想要照顧自己越來越”資深”的身體，讓行動可以更靈活一點。沒想到，多次造訪下來，這個地方和這裡的人，卻給了我很多有趣又溫暖的感受，讓我彷彿看見了近乎完美的理想社會縮影。
這間健身房提供的設備、空間和活動，多到讓人眼花撩亂，而且適合各種年齡、各種興趣的人。有游泳池、三溫暖、按摩池；有瑜伽、有氧、皮拉提斯課程；有匹克球、籃球、壁球場；小孩可以攀岩、打躲避球；還有各式各樣的重訓器材和敏捷訓練工具。老實說，看到這麼多”訓練、打磨，甚至有點折騰身體”的方法，真的會讓人懷疑：原來我們的身體可以被這樣玩，哈！這個地方有幾個特點，讓我印象特別深刻：
- 包容多元的氛圍
健身房裡什麼樣的人都有：青少年、銀髮族，瘦的、胖的、孕婦、行動不便的人，還有來自不同宗教背景、戴著面紗或頭巾、穿著各式服裝的人。在這裡，大家都很自在地做自己，不需要擔心自己是否顯得格格不入。
- 尊重各種來這裡的理由
有人是來運動、增強體力；有人想練出好看的身材；有人想學新技能；有人是術後復健；也有人只是來走走、聊天、交朋友。沒有人會告訴你理由對不對，來這裡，本來就是你個人的選擇。
- 同時擁抱個人與群體
有人像我一樣，喜歡照自己的節奏完成一整套訓練；也有人透過團體課程，結交新朋友、培養默契。甚至在更衣室裡，大家坦誠相見時也能自在聊天，毫不尷尬。
- 每個環節都很專業
不管是教練、清潔人員、維修師傅、櫃檯接待，還是餐飲服務人員，每個人都親切、細心，讓你感覺被重視、被歡迎，而且做事俐落到位。能夠這樣近距離地看到一個運作良好、又讓人安心的地方，我真的覺得很幸福。
我希望你也有机会体验到一個理想社會的縮影。
