Improving coordination and developing brain synapses are just two reasons to ditch the TV on Monday night and do some juggling, Tamara Gomez discovers

Chilly winter nights in the capital usually stimulate residents to stay close to their heaters. However, an international crowd is throwing balls and Indian clubs at Yugong Yishan every Monday evening.

These are the Beijing Jugglers. Some look concentrated, others relaxed, some laugh while trying a new trick, but you can see the common denominator here: everyone is having fun.

Though it's a modest crowd that show up to the weekly meetings, they share the passion and excitement that brings them together to practice and learn from each other.

"It has changed my life and the perspective of how I view things," said Federico Moro, one of the founders of the open and free-to-attend group.

Fede, as he is known, a 31-year-old Italian, discovered juggling back in 1999 while spending a summer in France. What began as a hobby is now his profession.

Five years ago, in 2005, he came to China. In Beijing Fede met Ines Brunn, a professional gymnast who was competing for her national team in Germany until fate brought her to Asia.

Talking about their passions they realized that Beijing was missing an environment that encouraged these kinds of activities, so in 2006 they decided to develop the local juggling scene. They wanted to do something new - not a circus-oriented school but something with a more open focus.

With five core members plus comers and goers, the group gets together on a regular basis all year long.

Since it is open to everyone, the organization often receives visits from beginners and onlookers.

"It's a fun way for young people to express themselves and be creative," said Fede.

"It allows them to stand out from the crowd but it's also the best way to develop and maintain body skills."

He added that among all the physical activities on offer in Beijing, juggling helps the development of brain synapses the most.

In a city like Beijing, where there is a very big focus on health and maintaining it, juggling seems a perfect match - but it's also an activity that enables the juggler to participate in the community.

Even though they are both professionals, Brunn and Fede wanted to create a community and social environment for people to enjoy juggling as a non-professional hobby.

To those who think it looks too difficult, Fede suggests an alternative viewpoint.

"It took you three years and a lot of effort to learn how to walk, but you did it. If you managed that, you can manage everything," he said.

Beijing Jugglers provide the equipment and teach visitors the techniques, so they can pick up basic skills in an easy and convenient way. To become a great juggler though, Fede said it requires persistence and practice.

"Juggling is basically five minutes of lessons and 20 hours of practice," he said.

As the group grew, they realized that people who liked juggling had nowhere to buy gear in the city, so they opened Natooke, a shop in Wudaoying Hutong just in front of the Lama Temple.

Here they sell both imported juggling materials and fixed gear bikes, oriented to another group that Brunn leads.

Beijing Jugglers is getting to be well known in the capital and they've performed in several venues around the city at the request of private clubs, artist agencies and charity events, but Fede has his eye on something else.

"Next October, I want to organize the first Chinese Juggling Convention to promote juggling culture," he said.

He envisages a three-day event with foreign and national guest performers and a program full of activities.

"There are regular juggling meetings in other Asian cities," he said. "Right now, the leading country is Japan and then South Korea, but I think China will follow soon and that is what we want to push for."