In pole position

Fitness activity is gaining new acceptance and adherents, He Qi reports in Shanghai.

Song Yanyi, a 26-year-old white-collar worker in Shanghai, had her first interaction with pole-dancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Staying at home every day after the outbreak allowed Song to reexamine the importance of physical health for the first time.

Song, who doesn't like sports at all, wanted to find a gym near her home, and the closest one was a pole-dancing studio.

For the trial class, she was able to complete a set of movements quickly after her trainer showed them to her, which gave Song a sense of accomplishment and encouraged her to continue unlocking new movements.

She soon started taking classes regularly and now takes six classes a week, spending about 10,000 yuan ($1,572) a year on pole-dancing.

After practicing it for some time, Song found out the intensity of exercises. Beginners who don't exert power can easily get injured, and her body has been bruised. But she doesn't see these as difficulties.

"All hobbies have a threshold and need a long time to practice. Exercise brings high level of satisfaction, and I enjoy it very much," Song says.