Introducing Yoga and Mindfulness to Chinese Students: Finding Calm Amidst the Pressure

Studies have shown that regular yoga and meditation can help reduce anxiety, improve concentration, and increase emotional resilience.

Teaching yoga and meditation to my students in China was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my career. Chinese students face incredibly intense schedules—early mornings, long study hours, and high expectations to excel academically. Mental health isn’t often a focus in their education system, so introducing them to the benefits of yoga and mindfulness felt like giving them a breath of fresh air.

Yoga also promotes physical strength, flexibility, and body awareness, which boosts overall confidence and mental clarity.

Over the course of three months, I taught simple yoga sequences and breathing techniques, gradually building up the poses and helping them understand how to use these practices when feeling stressed or overwhelmed—especially before exams. I passed on what I had learned from my own yoga teachers and an online course I had completed, focusing on movements that promoted relaxation, focus, and emotional balance.

For students under high pressure, mindfulness can be a powerful tool to manage stress, improve focus, and build emotional balance.

At first, it was new and unfamiliar for them. But slowly, more and more students started signing up for the classes. By the end, it had become one of the most popular extracurricular activities in the school. The students told me how much calmer and more focused they felt afterward. Some said it was the first time they had experienced real stillness and peace in their busy, high-pressure lives.

The impact was incredible. Over time, I noticed a visible improvement in their overall wellbeing and engagement. Their focus sharpened in class, and they handled stress better. It was heartwarming to hear that many planned to continue their practice after the course ended because it gave them a tool to manage the demands of their academic life.

A calm and focused mind leads to better concentration, improved memory, and greater resilience.

The benefits of yoga and mindfulness for young people are profound. Studies have shown that regular practice can help reduce anxiety, improve concentration, and increase emotional resilience. For students under high pressure, mindfulness can be a powerful tool to manage stress, improve focus, and build emotional balance. Yoga also promotes physical strength, flexibility, and body awareness, which boosts overall confidence and mental clarity.

This experience reinforced the importance of mental and emotional wellbeing alongside academic success—something we strongly believe in at The Shan Academy. That’s why we encourage our students to adopt mindfulness practices like meditation and yoga, especially when preparing for exams. A calm and focused mind leads to better concentration, improved memory, and greater resilience. Academic success is important—but so is feeling balanced, confident, and supported.

Helping students discover this balance was truly rewarding. Seeing them find calm and confidence in themselves through yoga and mindfulness reminded me that education isn’t just about results—it’s about helping students feel strong, capable, and prepared for life.