Sunil Bisht practices yoga near Fuxian Lake, Chengjiang Couty, Yunnan. [Provided to InKunming]

Sunil Bisht practices yoga near Fuxian Lake, Chengjiang, Yunnan. [Provided to InKunming]

[InKunming--Interviews & Polls]  In the afternoon of June 12, Sunil Bisht sat on a sofa in a yoga training center, with an iPad on his hand, reading information on the iPad.

He arrived at the yoga training center about one hour before a start of a yoga class. Wearing white yoga clothes, barefoot, Sunil immersed himself in reading, looked silent and peaceful.

"To be a standard Yogi, he must keep stable living state and own a calm heart," Sunil spoke in a mild tone when he received InKunming journalist Cathy Chen's interview in the training center, "Yogis know how to discipline themselves."

Sunil had lived in Kunming for 8 years since October, 2006. He lives a simple and happy life all the time. "After he finished his work, he always directly went back home. We could sense that he is content with present state, and does not expect much in daily life," Wu Yanhong, boss of the yoga training center told the journalist.

"In past 8 years, Sunil had never been late for work, and never complained of overtime classes. His actions represent Yoga spirits that require a person to be an upright man." Wu evaluated.

"I am a vegetarian. I do not eat meat and eggs. And only have one meal per day," Sunil described his living state in Kunming, "To cultivate a regular living habit is very important to a Yogi. He should keep a peaceful, calm mindset in the long term. To me, I should set a model to my students."

Sunil would like to live under guidance of Yoga spirits, so he instructed his two daughters to eat vegetables and guided them not to eat meat and eggs as he does.

According to Sunil, to inherit good family customs is very important. "I was born in Rishikesh, the well-known capital of Yoga in India. Size of the city is smaller than Kunming, but weather and sceneries of the city have similarities to Kunming."

Sunil's parents, relatives and school teachers have taught Sunil to learn Yoga since he was a child. They trained him Yoga postures and educated him Yoga spirits. "I have learned Bhakti (devotion yoga), Jnana (wisdom yoga), Karma (action yoga), and Raja (royal yoga) from relatives, teachers, society and yoga research centers respectively." Sunil said.

Due to multiple influences on Sunil in India, he determined to be a Yogi after he graduated from university. "I trained myself to be an IT tech, a tourism expert, a chef, a hotel management manager in my teenage period, but I gave up all those choices and finally learned to be a Yogi." Sunil said that by trying different jobs, he finally found special connections with yoga. Yogi is the best job he suits for.

Sunil Bisht practices yoga near Fuxian Lake, Chengjiang, Yunnan. [Provided to InKunming]

Eight years' teaching experience in Kunming made Sunil develop a long row of yoga followers. Even some of students have learned from him for 8 years.

"5 years ago, I joined in yoga classes which were taught by Sunil. Through practices on my body and to my heart in classes, my illness hypothyroidism had been cured. Thanks to yoga. Thanks for the opportunity that enables me to learn from Sunil," Yang Zhaohan, a woman aged over 50 years old told the journalist.

"I gradually changed my bad habits such as having hotpot meals, eating a lot of meat, after I learned Yoga in classes taught by Sunil," a woman who is in her middle age spoke her gains from the training center. "Yoga improves both my mind and body, which inspires me to keep practising."

Positive appraisals from students propel Sunil to be a better Yogi. Sunil demands himself to learn more knowledge. "I usually cost one or two hour(s) of a day to learn knowledge that is related to yoga. To keep learning and absorbing new knowledge through lifetime are doctrines that are commonly agreed by yoga embracers in yoga spirits." Sunil narrated.

Although having professionally learned yoga in the past, Sunil still keeps learning philosophy, medicine and psychology. All these experiences make him become more sophisticated and skilled.

"He has both intensive and extensive knowledge about yoga. He often manages his mentality very well. He is a true Yogi." Surely said by Wu Yanhong, the boss of the yoga training center.

Students and the boss of the yoga training center think that positive energies from Sunil deeply influence them to step on a promising road in their lives.

Sunil also deserves trust of his boss and students. "As long as my family members are all well in India, I will keep living in Kunming. For those followers who greatly believe in me, I should not let them down." Sunil said.

Having lived in Kunming for such a long time, he increasingly loves the city. "I don't know when I may leave the city. I enjoy my state here, and can work longer." Sunil said to InKunming journalist.

Click here to view Chinese report.

(Editors: Cathy Chen, Tracy)