4 . Lindsay couldn’t go to her gym after Beijing shut down indoor sports facilities in May because of a coronavirus outbreak. So she started cycling and soon fell in love with the sport. “I realized a racing bicycle was quite different from a regular bike,” she said. “It’s very fast and exciting, and I couldn’t stop anymore.”

Bicycles have long been a means of transport in China and once outnumbered cars on city streets. Now cycling is also increasingly seen as a sport by the urban middle class that has benefited from China’s growth into the world’s second largest economy. Biking events organized by Beijing cycling club Qiyi totaled about 10,000 participants over the past year, with about 50% of them regulars. Nationwide, at least 20 million people are participating in the sport, according to the Chinese Cycling Association.

The pandemic has played a role, with authorities moving quickly to close non-essential businesses, including gyms, during outbreaks under a strict zero-COVID approach. Cycling, which can be done individually as well as in groups, has largely been free from restrictions that limit gathering. For cyclist Yang Lan, the reason why she loves cycling is that the sport provides an escape from the daily life in the coronavirus era. “With the pandemic, it seems to be the only way for us to run away from the terrible city life and pace,” she said.

People will have more choices for sports and entertainment when the pandemic is over. But Feng Baozhong, the vice president of the Chinese Cycling Association says that he expects cycling to remain popular. Because it’s driven by China’s growing economy, growth of the sports industry and increasing concern about health due to COVID-19. “The pursuit of health will not disappear,” he said, “and the popularity of cycling is also a sign of the public’s awareness of environmental protection and pursuit of a low-carbon lifestyle.”

Most Popular Types of Exercise Among Chinese

6 . Rock climbing (攀岩) did not become a sport until late in the 1900s. But now it has become a popular outdoor activity. While rock climbing may still be necessary for mountain climbing, most people just climb low mountains for fun.

If you have ever done rock climbing, you will know that it is not a very easy sport. Indoor and outdoor rock climbing both need practice. What most people don’t know is that rock climbing is one of the sports that depend on your body and mind (意志).

To climb successfully, one must use wonderful skills (技能).One of the important rules is to always have three parts of your body on the rock face. Another important rule is that your arms only hold you close to the rock face while your legs are pushing (推) you up, the closer you are to the rock face, the easier it is to climb.

Rock climbing is a wonderful sport. Once you start to learn how to climb, you’ll find more fun. People who like games such as chess playing or problem-solving may love rock climbing, because they are nearly the same in the way of thinking. For anyone who wants to get into beautiful shape (体形), rock climbing is a fun and good way. Anyone who enjoys a difficult game and loves the outdoors should think of taking rock climbing as a new hobby.

9 . Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have been stuck indoors. Online classes and working from home mean a lot of sitting around on your butt. We already know that if we don’t move much, we get fatter, we get heart problems and we may get diabetes.     1    .

A study of 937 Brazilian adults during the pandemic found that about one-third of them sat around for more than 10 hours per day. It reported that people who sat for too long often showed more symptoms of depression.

    2    . It found that each extra hour of sitting time at ages 8, 10 and 12 led to higher depression scores by age 18. Eighteen-year-olds who sat most often had depression scores 28 percent higher than those who were more active.

    3    . But according to Mats Hallgren from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, “sitting for too long can slow blood flow in the body, including blood flow to the brain.” It might also affect the growth of neurons in the brain. And couch potatoes might do other unhealthy things while sitting, such as snacking on junk food. All these may lead to depression.

The good news?     4    . Aaron Kandola from University College London, UK, said “all types” of movement might help, even light activity. “It is great to exercise and play sports,” said Kandola. “But anything you can do to avoid sitting for too long will help with mood, stress and thinking clearly.”     5    .

10 . Cat-Cow, Crow, Downward-facing dog and Pigeon: these names might sound like animals but they are actually yoga poses.     1    

What is yoga?

Yoga is exercise for the body and mind. It combines moving your body into different positions while focusing on your breathing. Yoga was first practiced around 5, 000 years ago in what is now northern India, where it was linked to the religion of Hinduism. For example, a yoga sequence was developed to greet Surya, the Hindu god of the Sun.    2    There are many different types of yoga but one of the most common is hatha yoga. This combines traditional yoga movements with breathing exercises.

    3    

Yoga encourages you to connect your mind and body and to link your existence to the wider universe. Many people find this helpful because they are reminded of the “bigger picture”, which can make their worries or unhelpful thoughts feel more manageable. Yoga's focus on breathing and movement can be calming.     4    Elysia, aged seventeen, agrees. “I love yoga because it gives me peace and time to think,” she says.

What if my body isn't bendy?

Yoga isn’t just for gymnasts.     5    According to NHS England, yoga can make your muscles stronger, improve your flexibility and lead to better balance and coordination. Many professional athletes and sportspeople practice yoga. This convinced Joseph, aged eight, to try it. He told The Week Junior, “I wanted to try yoga because I love tennis and I know that Novak Djokovic says it helps him be the best and stops him from getting injured.”