PM Modi’s China visit opens new avenue for Indian Yoga practitioners

By visiting neighbouring country China, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not only made headlines across the globe, but has opened new doors of opportunities for wellness professionals of his country.

The Yoga practitioners of India have welcomed the stunt and are on the verge of taking a plunge over potent Chinese market.

In an exclusive conversation with Wellness India, Gunjan Kochhar, Celebrity Yoga Expert who is already in the process of tapping Chinese market to spread reach of Indian Yoga practice, said, “I have been teaching as much possible in different states and June 1st week I will be teaching in Guanzhou, China. I am already taking this opportunity to spread the teachings and practice of yoga wherever possible.”

High hopes with the bilateral ties
Hoping to improve economic growth of the country, reportedly, PM Modi has tweeted on  his official social media page over China visit, “I am confident my visit will lay the foundation for further enhancing economic cooperation with China in a wide range of sectors,” he wrote on his official Twitter page last week.

Interestingly, as per the Indian market observation unveiled by a leading daily, China is India’s biggest trading partner with two-way commerce totaling $71 billion in 2014. However, India’s trade deficit with China has soared from just $1 billion in 2001-02 to over $38 billion last year.

Reacting over the same, Kochhar noted, “I totally believe that this (PM’s China visit) move would bring positive development to the Indian economy. Certainly, yoga could be one of the big supporters in the GDP of the economy. It does require more support and encouragement.”

Reportedly, the high growing business potential prompted yoga teachers in US to rush for patenting the practice couple of years back. On which, India raised strong protest through all its channels and US admitted that the patents were given for yoga related products, made in US, but not to yogic postures.
India became alert and had set up a resource team to research and standardize yoga postures, to ensure owning and developing yoga.

A visit to recall
To revive the instance of promoting Yoga in China, let’s go back in the recent past, when PM Modi had attended the high profile Yoga-Tai Chi event with Premier Li Keqiang.

International media reports suggested that during the event, Modi had given permission to set up the first India-assisted Yoga college in China, seen as an official sanction for its spread in the communist nation.

In fact, an MoU to set up a Yoga college along with Indian teachers in Yunnan University was signed between both the country during Modi’s visit which for the first time will bring new standards to thousands of Yoga teachers and institutions mushrooming all over China. The college will provide certificate courses.

Indian Council of Cultural Relations, (ICCR) will provide two teachers to the university unveiled Indian officials.
Meanwhile, another renowned Yoga Practitioner of India, Pallavi Aggarwal, expressed her opinion, “It is heartening to see Yoga-Taichi joint event in China. It represents that two civilizations are coming together, which is great news for both of us, lot to learn from each other and improve. Acceptability of Yoga in one of the biggest economy will surely have big impact on its future across the world giving the recognition it deserves.

Challenges
As every market has its own opportunities and challenges, China also has it. The country has a history of wellness and is equipped with its traditional practices like Tai chi, acupuncture, Shiatsu massage, T’ai Chi, Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Thus, some Indian wellness professionals believe that instead of entering into equally equipped market of wellness, exploring opportunities in our own country would be a smart business move.

Highlighting the same, a young wellness entrepreneur, Arpit Sharma, who is also the CEO of Sevenseas spa chain said, “Our country has so much potential rightnow, why do we want to get into a market which already have a strong history in wellness, apart from India? I think both the countries have a 4000-5000 year old history into wellness. So, no point being part of each other’s rival.  It’s better to enter into the rest of the world like South Africa, Switzerland etc. Why do we contradict and be part of sword fighting with Indian techniques verses Chinese technique?”

Abstract
As every coin has two sides, every potent market has its own opportunities and threats, which never means, it may hamper the growth of a new player, infact business cannot be run without taking risk. Thus, Indian yoga practitioners are taking a plunge over Chinese market.

Yoga is an ancient Hindu philosophical practice, which was developed in the northern parts of India about 5000 years ago. The yoga practice includes body movements and fixed postures clubbed with meditation, spiritual, and holistic exercises. The multi-benefit Yoga practice gained high popularity and worldwide recognition after various celebrities and Indian Yoga experts started promoting it in a big way, showcasing its impact on an individual in terms of body, mind and soul.
Significantly, Western countries have taken this a step forward and develop it as an industry, by standardization of its training and development practices.

Home image: The Ayur Ganga Spa @ Gamga Kinare, Rishikesh

Story image: 1. Gunjan Kochhar's China endeavour announcement; 2. Pallavi Aggarwal; 3. PM Narendra Modi's Yoga stunt- Facebook pick