FITNESS INDUSTRY WORKS UP A SWEAT IN INTERNET AGE

Millions use online platforms to back athletic lifestyles

Liu Ya, a 28-year-old manager at a public relations agency in Beijing, switches on her phone and opens a fitness app.

With just a few taps, she has registered for her weekly barre class, which involves using a handrail that provides support for various types of exercise, incorporates movements derived from ballet, and combines positions and movements drawn from yoga and Pilates.