Yoga college facilitates China-India cultural exchange

"They not only learn yoga positions, but also sutras, philosophy, culture and dining habits from the Indian tutors," said Lu.

"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, who became a Chinese yoga teacher in the college.

The college was one of 24 agreements reached during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China in May last year. Under the agreement, India sends at least two tutors to the college. Currently the college does not issue degrees, but students who want a degree in yoga can pursue further study at Indian colleges.

Velusamy Subbulakshmi, who came from India's Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, has spent the past five months giving yoga lessons.

She said it is 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.

"Yoga has become the most popular form of cultural exchange between China and India," said Ding Shaoxiang, vice governor of Yunnan province.

China and India, as neighbors and two of the world's fastest growing economies, have great potential in deepening cultural exchange, he said.