Take a Dosha Quiz in Mandarin
When the Ayurveda module began, the students were fascinated. I asked them to take a dosha quiz in Mandarin. I introduced the idea of the Ayurvedic clock to them and asked them to start eating heavier meals during the day and lighter ones at night. Within the group, there were kula members with digestive issues, sleep issues, one cancer survivor, and a few with chronic respiratory infections. Smoking and pollution are the two main causes for respiratory issues in China.
The modern Chinese diet has a lot of sugar and salt, causing hypertension and diabetes. The newly prosperous Chinese are now prone to many chronic illnesses, such as obesity and heart problems. These health issues were not as prevalent in China in the past. I taught the Chinese yoga teachers many of the 10 health habits of Body Thrive. As a result, the Chinese students in Guangzhou were able begin to understand how to take care of their own health challenges. During that week they shared that they were sleeping better, their digestion felt more efficient and some students were able to quiet their minds for meditation for the first time in their lives. Regular meditators found that their practice deepened and became more fruitful. They had more kriyas and insights about their Sadhana (spiritual path).
Time for Chair Yoga in China
When I finally got to the ‘Yoga for Seniors’ module, we studied Osteoporosis and Ayurveda. Since many Chinese people do not trust taking medication (I wonder why!!) I was told that because many children have died or have become ill eating formula from China. As a result parents often go to Hong Kong and bring back safer formula from overseas. Medications in China are sometimes tainted with industrial chemicals making people ill.
I learned that there is great fear of medications and baby formula in China For this reason, having alternative treatments for Osteoporosis, rather than drugs, was appealing to the Chinese yoga teachers.
I taught the traines how to teach chair yoga. One of my students said that Chinese people were skeptical about the causes of Osteoporosis and rebelled against taking medication or doing any weight bearing activity. I assured them that education is the best medicine. I also explained to many of these teachers who are now in their 20’s 30’s and 40’s, that the time to build muscle and bone mass was right now! I discovered they loved inversions and were now inspired by the ‘Yoga for Seniors’ module to build muscle and bone to prepare for the aging process and life post menopause.