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

Pole-dancing is growing in popularity in China, where it's regarded as a good form of exercise. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

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.

Because they’re all beginners and pole-dancing requires help in some moves, they always encourage one another.

Xu Yiting, founder of Mulan Pole Dance Studio in Shanghai, talking about how her students make good friends in the training

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.

She adds that both her mental and physical health have been improved since learning pole-dancing.

Song says it has changed the way she looks at the world. "I don't care what other people think. It is like how I started my pole-dancing journey."

Xu Yanxia, co-founder of the studio, attends a pole-dancing competition in 2021. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Some people may still have a stereotypical view about pole-dancing, but her experience has allowed people around her to understand it and want to even try it out.

Song is one of a growing number of pole-dancing enthusiasts who practice after their working day in Shanghai.

Fitness and professional guidance are the main reasons for the interest.

According to FastData report on China's fitness industry in 2021, the pandemic has increased people's awareness of sports and fitness. In 2020, the number of people who regularly participated in sports reached 435 million, 27 million more than in 2019.

Another report by Qing Cheng Technology suggests the total number of gyms in China reached 98,000 in 2018. In addition to traditional gyms, venues offering CrossFit, bike-training, boxing, archery, pole-dancing and rock-climbing are booming.

"Pole-dancing got a late start in China. In 2008, it was mainly recognized as bar entertainment until some competitions were launched in 2010. After international contacts and exchanges, pole-dancing is becoming more popular," pole-dancer Ke Hong tells news portal Jiemian.

Ke was a winner of a world competition held in Liechtenstein in 2017 by the Pole Sports and Arts World Federation, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting pole-dancing as a sport.

With the participation of professionals and the establishment of the China Pole Dance Championship in 2010, more people have the opportunity to learn about it.

Participants train at Mulan Pole Dance Studio in Shanghai. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Xu Yiting, founder of Mulan Pole Dance Studio in Shanghai, has witnessed the expanding market in recent years.

"There are more than 2,000 people who have attended classes in my studio, and now we have over 100 active members," says Xu, who launched the studio with her trainer in 2019.

Xu started to practice pole-dancing in 2015 after seeing a show in Thailand.

"In recent years, the approach to pole-dancing has changed, from wanting to make money to a fitness activity," Xu says.

In 2015, people learned pole-dancing from her mainly for commercial performances. But in recent years, educated and well-paid people from different walks of life have been learning, motivated by interest.

Xu says five years ago, her pole-dancing choreography was "very sexy", and now it's more about "displaying skill and power".

Learning pole-dancing has become a lifestyle, and people can make friends in the process, she says.

"I often hear my 'students' say they have made good friends in the studio. Because they're all beginners and pole-dancing requires help in some moves, they always encourage one another," Xu says.

Pole-dancing amateur Song shares a similar idea.

"I didn't grow up in Shanghai, nor did I go to university here, so I don't know anyone except my colleagues at work," Song says.

"Since I started dancing, I have met friends from different industries and cities.

"On holidays, we gather for practice and drink and chat, forming a hobby-oriented independent female community."

Ke tells Jiemian: "Pole-dancing is not only good for exercise but also for entertainment. It can be a fun way to exercise.

"A lot of people are still resistant to it and think it's erotic, whereas going to the gym doesn't have that psychological barrier. Society will accept it over time, maybe three to five years, maybe even 10 to 20 years. I and all pole-dancers will continue to work on this."

Contact the writer at heqi@chinadaily.com.cn