Who needs a gym, when you have stairs - and music

The new year has arrived for both the Chinese and Westerners. This is the time for those familiar resolutions in which we vow to exercise regularly.

The famous joke in the United States is that Americans pledge to follow a regular exercise program on Jan 1, and by Jan 3, they are back to couch-potato TV watching and doughnut eating.

The Chinese have workouts down to an art, literally. I have seen the graceful tai chi exercises, which seem magical to me. Slow movements are not a part of American exercise (except yoga, which does have a following in the US). But the majority of Americans just pound the pavement, running or walking, becoming future candidates for knee-replacement surgery.