Popularity of modern yoga stretches across nation

More people turn to ancient pastime to improve health, mindfulness

Over the summer, a number of mass public yoga events were held across the country where people from all walks of life could be seen exercising not just their bodies but their minds too.

The scenes were an indication of China's growing number of yoga practitioners drawn to the ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice whose roots stem back to some 5,000 years ago.

According to a report on the yoga industry in China, from 2017 to 2021 the number of yoga studios in the country tripled to 42,000, and it's estimated that at least several million people in the country practice yoga regularly, while more people occasionally do so, with the most prominent segment being women.