Guruji in Beijing

Yoga is not new to China, as yoga centers have come up all over the country ever since China began to liberalise spiritual and religious practices in recent years.

But this is the first time that a centre has been granted permission to operate.

"We do not plan anything. Things happen on their own," he said, recalling how Chinese organisers approached him to start the centre.

Yoga, Indian classical and Bollywood dances were becoming biggest cultural ambassadors of India in China even though the ties between the two countries moved at a slow pace.
Image: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with Chang Da Lin, executive director of Buddhism association, World Buddhist peace foundation.

As the popularity yoga spreads fast in China, many complain of huge shortage of teachers and trainers and Sri Sri's centre was expected to fill this void to train a new generation of Chinese yoga teachers.

In addition to this, three yoga centres were being set up by different groups in Shanghai Anji and Xian with the assistance of the Indian government.

A yoga research centre was also expected to be set up in collaboration with the Chinese hospitals and universities next year.

Peace is your very nature- it cannot go away from you. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji