Robin and Kimi, founders of Yoga Yard.

North of the Yonghegong or Lama Temple, the choking traffic on the Second Ring Road and fevered city bustle assault the senses.

But there is an oasis of calm to be found across the canal, in a converted apartment in a nondescript Beijing block the Yoga Yard.

Upon entering, the relaxing atmosphere settles restless minds. A man stands effortlessly on his hands, then drops his feet gracefully back to the studio floor.

The Yoga Yard opened in its original courtyard location, from which it gets its name, in 2002, where it was based for a year before moving.

"There's a craze that has swept across the US and Canada, and it's really taking off in China right now," said co-founder and teacher Mimi Kuo.

"We were the first to open in Beijing. We have maintained consistency in the type of yoga we teach.

"The fact we've been around for three years is great in Chinese years it's equivalent to 10 years."

Yoga is an ancient mysticism that has its origins in Hinduism on the Indian subcontinent.

Through both practical and philosophical elements, yoga aims to bring the practitioner to a state of union with the world.

Hatha yoga aims to balance mind and body through the practise of a series of asanas, or poses.

Yoga Yard teaches Vinyasa, a form of Hatha, which particularly focuses on linking movements with breathing patterns.

Some of the school's classes are bilingual, and there are special pre and post-natal groups. The regular introductory programmes have proved to be very popular.

"Yoga is in a high growth state in China right now," said Robyn Wexler, co-founder and teacher. "It is something people like to do to improve their day, week or their life."

Yoga Yard has 100 regular and 500 infrequent students. About 2,000 people of different nationalities and backgrounds have been at least once its members since the studio opened.

"We have a good mix of students," said Kuo. "We have two Chinese teachers and three Americans. That also represents the demographic of students 60 to 70 per cent are expats."

Renae Stevens has taught yoga in her native Australia for three years, and is spending a year as a visiting teacher.

On a Saturday afternoon 10 beginner and intermediate students follow her instructions, contorting their bodies into weird and wonderful positions.

After an hour and a half the students are visibly more relaxed, quietly gathering up their possessions and making their way back into the frantic city.

"Yoga is for me just a really interesting science that allows you to discover a lot about yourself," said Stevens, after teaching her first class at Yoga Yard.

"The way in which your mind interacts with your body take note of your reactions. Yoga helps you understand the close processes between your mind and body. The deeper you go the more interesting it gets."

Rob Nutbrown

(China Daily 11/03/2005 page4)