For the Love of the Bike

The Siberian cold is on it's way, I just know it. It's cold and rainy here today, high of 62. Time to dig into my archives from the past couple of weeks and write briefly on a random subject that I've been holding back on for days just like today. I have started my self-taught Korean lessons via a pirated version of the Rosetta Stone language computer program and later on today I plan on starting a book on the history of the Korean War, but until I'm a little further along with those two cultural endeavors and have some incredible facts to share, I thought I'd bring to light the Koreans love for the bike.

From what I can tell, Koreans are totally into biking, maybe even more than Austinites were during Lance's heyday. The difference I've noticed is that Koreans ride bikes of all kinds; from road bikes to mountain bikes to very funny small bikes that somehow fit a grown-up. I've only seen a few bikers braving the traffic and liberal drivers on the streets. I think most head down to the Han River to cruise along the bike-only paths.

As for cycling gear? C'mon! We all know the best part about getting into a sport is all the new clothes you get to buy for it! Koreans, as you would suspect, are completely decked out, as if they're all of expert level. I've noticed if they're on a mountain bike then they're donning very outdoorsy/hiking looking attire -- hiking pants, hiking shoes, vest, backpack, etc. If they're on a road bike then they have on typical cycling gear. The one thing they all have in common, but that I have never seen before, are full face masks (I'm assuming to protect against pollution). Sometimes these are in the form of bandanas covering the bottom half of the face and others are more reminiscent of Darth Vader (probably with some sort of air filtration system). There are lots of solo cyclists, but quite a few tend to ride in groups of five to six. A group of masked cyclists is quite a sight to behold.

(I'll try to capture more closeups of the masked bikers and just bikers in general, but that will require me to carry my camera while running. However, the pics below capture the wonderful biking area along the river.)

 On Hannam Bridge, on the south side of the river.

 Don't have a bike yet, so I stay to the right.

Bike rental. $3.00 a day.

Lots of people bike together in groups and rest in the shade of the bridges.

Rest stop under Hannam Bridge.

View from one bridge to another. You can bike over any bridge.

It's very peaceful (and when it's hot, cool) under the bridges and perfect for napping.

They're also very clean, free of homeless people, and often have on-sight lockers for your bike.

Some Seoul Cycle Style

In some brief research on the subject I came across an event that adequately describes Seoul's love for the bike: The Seoul Cycle Design Competition. This is from the webpage for design entries:

Once considered a 'hard' city, Seoul is making strides toward becoming a 'soft' city.
Seoul is about to be reborn as a soft city by embracing design concepts that will redefine its urban environment with an emphasis on themes centering on green, blue, history and human.

The Seoul Cycle Design Competition will be held under the theme, 'cycling with design: seoul style', and is part of Seoul's city-wide effort at improving its design brand and image. The primary goal of the competition is to help build a design oriented city that focuses on its people. The competition is divided into three categories: cycle design, cycle fashion & accessories design, and cycling infrastructure. All three categories emphasize environment-friendly ideas, with the hope that the contest will contribute to establishing a healthier cycling culture. Cycles have become an icon of 'eco-friendliness' and 'healthiness,' and are part of a major urban lifestyle trend. Nearly everyone can enjoy riding cycles; therefore, just about everyone will be able to enter the competition. Through this competition we hope that all citizens will have the chance to share their own personal visions for a new Seoul, a city that has embraced change through design. We invite everyone who is interested in cycling and design to take part in the Seoul Cycle Design Competition.

And some people enter things likes this:

Image from Designboom

In the designer, Eungi Kim's own words:

'Horsey' is an attachable bicycle ornament/accessory which makes one's bicycle look horsey!
The 'horsey' package includes wooden ornaments (horsey shape body), metal parts, and screws.
The manual is very simple so that anyone can easily arrange it according to one’s needs. Through this 'horsey' project. I wanted to give a special look to bicycles so that people would care about cycling not only as transportation but also as a lovely pet.

Image from Designboom

 

 

 

A Runner Slows Down

As predicted by Monday's post, I found myself inspired; inspired to take my first ever Bikram Yoga class. Let's make that my first ever yoga class of any kind. Yes, I was inspired to be locked in a 105 degree room with 50 percent humidity for 90 minutes. Why? Well, I figured A) it'd be a good supplement to my running and B) it can't be that hard; I've danced in un-airconditioned gyms in high school and played tennis in Texas during the heat wave. Oh, and C) it supposedly burns up to 600 calories per workout. Um, sign me up.

For those not as well versed on the different types of yoga, here's a little background on Bikram Yoga:

Bikram Yoga is a series of twenty-six Hatha Yoga postures and two Pranayama breathing exercises designed to provide a challenging, invigorating, rejuvenating and effective yoga experience. During the 90 minute class, every muscle, tendon, ligament, joint and internal organ in the entire body are worked, giving you an incredible sense of well being. Supposedly, these 26 postures systematically work every part of the body, to give all the internal organs, veins, ligaments, and all muscles everything they need to maintain optimum health and maximum function.  Each component takes care of something different in the body, and all work together extending the benefits.

Yoga changes the construction of the body from the inside out. Bikram Yoga heats the body up to soften it and make it flexible. Traditional Hatha Yoga flushes away the waste products, the toxins of all the glands and organs of your body and provides a natural irrigation of the body through the circulatory system, with the help of the respiratory system. It brings nourishment to every cell of the body. Bikram Yoga also employs heat to further that cleaning process. Conducted in a heated room, Bikram Yoga detoxifies the body through perspiration, tones the muscles and flushes every cell and organ in the body.

The practice is named for Bikram Choudhury who is a life-long student and practitioner of Hatha Yoga. After a weight lifting injury, he spent three years working with western doctors and scientists at Tokyo University Hospital perfecting his comprehensive system of 26 postures suitable for all ages and levels of fitness. Apparently, yoga has the potential to regenerate tissues and heal chronic ailments. (According to one article I read, Mr. Choudury is now a celebrity yoga instructor with his main studio located in Beverly Hills and franchises available. He drives a Rolls Royce and wears a Speedo and diamond studded watch during class...isn't the American Dream great.)

I've never felt compelled to seek out a yoga class, mainly because I'd rather pound it out on the pavement, running as fast as I can, where I feel the bad stuff being pounded away with every step. I've also never been one of those people who can completely clear their mind and meditate. That's just slowing down WAY too much and I don't really like to slow down. However, since I'm now a resident of the Far East where this kind of stuff originated why not give it a whirl on their home turf. As per my usual, I chose probably one of the most difficult types of Yoga to start with. Why? Um, 600 calories remember!? That and I actually just really love to sweat (when I'm dressed appropriately for it of course). I Googled around online for Bikram Yoga studios in Seoul and discovered Yoga Palace.

Yoga Palace in Apgujeong

Image from Yoga Palace Website

Yoga Palace opened its doors in December 2008 and is owned and operated by three Thai siblings: Ball, Fair and Fame Rattanapong. What uplifting and inspirational names and perfect for yoga instructors. It is located in the young and incredibly trendy area of Apgujeong in the Gangnam district of Seoul. I love Apgujeong. This was one of the first areas I discovered on my second or third day here and it's VERY reminiscent of Soho in NYC. It is a flourishing area surrounding the Galleria and Hyundai Department Stores (I still need to write about my trip to Hyundai) and is often referred to as Koreas's Rodeo Drive, with glittering businesses ranging from designer shops to unique vintage clothing ones. The young and fashionable gather here, so as you can imagine people watching is superb. Apparently Korean celebrities frequent the area so star-sightings are not uncommon (if I only knew what they look like). There are dozens of clubs and bars, so during the day it's a somewhat quiet area with an underlying energy that you have to come back at night to experience.

Yoga Palace is located on the 3rd floor of a glass building, sharing space with a coffee shop and what I think is a stylist or magazine because there was a group of incredibly stylish girls in stilettos hauling out bags of worn Dior, Chanel and Louis Vuitton and delivery stickers on the outside of the bags...typical scene in NYC where bags of clothes from designers are delivered for photo shoots then returned by eager interns.

Image from Yoga Palace Website

90 Minutes in a Simulated Texas Heatwave (aka a Torture Chamber)

It was hot. Oh my God was it hot. No wonder this practice is good for focus and mental health, it's too hot to think about anything else. Also, good thing I wore my workout clothes made from the least amount of fabric possible. Next time I might wear a bathing suit. In addition to being hot and humid, the room was incredibly spacious, probably room for about 15-20 students, but there were only about 10 of us in this first class of the day. It is a very peaceful environment, as there is no talking at all when you are in the room, even before class begins. Our instructor was great; Powerful and forceful in direction but motivational in tone. She did not do the poses with us in front of the class, instead she talked us through each sequence as she walked through the room. Obviously the sweat starts pouring immediately, from every possible place it can, making it a little difficult to hold some of the positions. There is no need to go get facials if you partake in this class, every pore was flushed clean. I only got a little dizzy and "weird" feeling a couple of times and you are encouraged to rest if you do start to feel sick or nauseous, as this is apparently common if you're a beginner. I powered through each position with only a few corrections from our instructor. Oddly enough, the one position that was most like a "dance position" was the one I could do the least and had the most trouble with as far as balance. I guess it has been  12 years since high school dance team, so I won't take it too much to heart.

90 minutes later I was completely soaked and couldn't wait for the final "Dead Corpse Position" to lie flat on my back letting my hands and feet fall where they may. As any good sweat and workout will do, I felt completely cleansed and very proud that I finished.

Post-Torture

It's now five hours, one nap and two Advil later and I definitely feel like I did an intense workout this morning, but without having to engage in vigorous motion or weights. Amazing! Best part is my skin is still glowing. I think I will definitely start to practice Bikram Yoga regularly at Yoga Palace, one to two days a week, in between my daily runs. As for the flushing of waste products and toxins completely from my system? I'm drinking a Dr. Pepper and eating pretzels filled with peanut butter as I write this. I'll probably start drinking more water as a result of my new practice, but I will not give up Dr. Pepper. Isn't that the point of working out anyway? So you can eat whatever you want?