Yoga college facilitates China-India cultural exchange

[Photo/Xinhua]

The China-India Yoga College has drawn thousands of followers since it opened last November in Kunming, capital of Southwest 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.

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 during celebrations such as the International Women's Day," said Lu.

Yoga was first introduced into China by Hong Kong practitioner Wai Lana in the 1980s. Her workout programs, 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.