The China-India Yoga College has drawn thousands since it opened in November last year in Kunming in China's Yunnan province.
Based in the Yunnan Minzu (Nationalities) University, the country's first yoga college frequently has students queue up for free lessons in the ancient art, reports Xinhua news agency.
Lu Fang, deputy director of the college, said more than five dozen full-time students have completed yoga sessions. Close to 3,000 people participated in free yoga sessions offered by the college.
"Several companies and government offices invited our teachers to teach yoga," said Lu.
Yoga was first introduced into China by Hong Kong practitioner Wai Lana in the 1980s. Her workout programmes, which aired daily on China's Central Television, were the starting point for many Chinese yogis.
China's white collar workers have adopted yoga as a way to stay fit, with many attending a couple of sessions per week in the gym or studio.
Lu said a growing number of people want to learn from Indian yoga masters.
"They not only learn yoga positions, but also sutras, philosophy, culture and dining habits from the Indian tutors," Xinhua quoted Lu as saying.
"I only knew about Iyengar style, but after extensive learning with Indian tutors, I have come to a much deeper understanding of the yoga art," said Han Mingxue, a Chinese yoga teacher in the college.
The college figured in one of 24 agreements reached during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China in May last year.
![](https://media.darpanmagazine.com/library/uploads/news/content/yoga-china#@</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
under the agreement, india sends at least two tutors to the college. it does not issue degrees, but students who want a degree in yoga can pursue further study at indian colleges.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
velusamy subbulakshmi, who came from india's krishnamacharya yoga mandiram, has spent the past five months giving yoga lessons.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
she said it was not hard to communicate yoga culture with chinese learners. "for example, the chinese taiji (shadowboxing), has a great deal of similarity with yoga," she said.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
"yoga has become the most popular form of cultural exchange between china and india," said ding shaoxiang, vice governor of yunnan province.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
china and india, as neighbours and two of the world's fastest growing economies, have great potential in deepening cultural exchanges, he said.</div>.jpg)
MORE International ARTICLES
Trudeau Won't Pick Fight With Trump; Says US Should Talk Election Financing
U.S. presidential candidates raise billions in financing and court special interests, something Trudeau says Canada does not allow.
Trudeau Won't Pick Fight With Trump; Says US Should Talk Election Financing
Boxer Cody Nixon Among 2 Canadians Killed After Ferrari Hits Pole In Dubai
The National newspaper says two others also died in the crash, which happened early Sunday local time.
Boxer Cody Nixon Among 2 Canadians Killed After Ferrari Hits Pole In Dubai
Ted Cruz Off To Strong Start In Weekend Races
Benefiting from a caucus system that requires organization from campaigns and commitment from voters, Cruz took the first prize Saturday with his Kansas win.
Ted Cruz Off To Strong Start In Weekend Races
Canadians Invited To Comment On US City's Request To Draw Great Lakes Water
Waukesha, a city of about 70,000 people, wants to divert water from Lake Michigan because its own aqui
Canadians Invited To Comment On US City's Request To Draw Great Lakes Water
Justin Trudeau Trip Like A Blast To The Past: A Comparison To Past Pm Visits To U.S.
This month will feel like a blast to a long-lost past where Canadian prime ministers visited the United States frequently and received considerable attention while doing so.
Justin Trudeau Trip Like A Blast To The Past: A Comparison To Past Pm Visits To U.S.
Hundreds Expected At Gay Wedding Expo In Utah
Utah is one of 29 states where it is legal for businesses to refuse services to same-sex couples, according to the Human Rights Campaign. A proposal to change that law died last week in the Utah's Republican-controlled legislation.