Healing moment

He Zhijia, a figure skating coach at a skating rink in Guangzhou, said while young skaters are often driven by external factors like parents' wishes for skill development, physical exercise, or academic advantages, adults are mainly more self-motivated.

"Their motivations typically include cultivating a lifelong hobby, relieving stress, shaping their bodies, socializing, and fulfilling childhood dreams," He said.

Liu, the store manager in Wuhan, said women make up a high proportion of adult learners, with many drawn by the sport's aesthetic appeal.

"Compared with monotonous gym workouts, figure skating offers both physical exercise and personal enjoyment, making it highly appealing to stressed-out modern young people," Liu said.

Li Xinqi, a second-year PhD student in religious aesthetics attending King's College London, resumed figure skating, which she learned in high school, as a way to relieve academic pressure during her return to China for fieldwork.

"Skating allows me to temporarily withdraw from academic research and be myself," said the 24-year-old. "Before skating, I sometimes feel a bit sluggish and low in spirits. But as soon as I step on the ice, I feel like I'm energized."

Li said figure skating is a profoundly rewarding pursuit, as it not only shapes an elegant figure and enhances physical coordination and flexibility, but also fosters an inner resilience.

"I view figure skating as a lifelong activity, not a race. I am not rushing to take tests or perfect difficult moves, but valuing the little progress I make each time," she said.

Wang Zhixuan, a 21-year-old student at the Capital University of Economics and Business in Beijing, who has been practicing figure skating for a year, said it has made her more confident. "On the ice, I feel unique and beautiful, like a swan," she said.

Despite her social anxiety, Wang was encouraged by her coach to participate in an Ice Skating Institute Asia competition.

"My legs were trembling when I took to the ice," she said. "But when I finished, the audience threw plush toys to me to show their appreciation."

The sport also introduced Wang to a diverse range of friends, from seasoned coaches offering advice to joyful younger skaters.

Wang said she is committed to advancing her skills and spreading the joy of figure skating. "I want to challenge the perception that it's a high-barrier sport and share its beauty with everyone," she said.