Angelina Liu is the co-founder of Incy Wincy Yoga, a yoga company that specializes in prenatal, baby, and kids’ yoga. Originally from Shandong Province, Liu discovered yoga when she moved to Beijing in 2001. She founded Incy Wincy Yoga in 2006 with her husband Ian Gordon after discovering the benefits of doing baby yoga with their eldest son, Oliver (now 4). Incy Wincy’s programs are offered at several international schools and expat compounds, as well as its two studios in Shunyi and downtown Beijing. Liu recently gave birth to her second son, Tristan. She took time out of her busy schedule to speak with Year 5 students from The British School of Beijing. During her visit, the kids learned “balloon breathing,” team games, and yoga poses like the warrior pose, tree pose, boat pose, plow pose, and shoulder stand.
Eddy Choi, 10, Korea
When did yoga begin?
Nobody knows exactly, but yoga has a long history of about 8,000 years.
Chien-Yu Huang, 10, Taiwan
Why did people first start doing yoga?
It started as a kind of religion. A long time ago, people did it to become closer to the gods. It was a way to improve themselves and become better people.
Luca Coban, 10, UK/Germany
Where was yoga invented?
Many people believe it was northern India. Nobody owns yoga – everybody can practice it.
Selina Yang, 10, China/Canada
When did you start yoga and why?
I started yoga when I first came to Beijing in 2001. At that time, it was just becoming
popular in China. I found a yoga article in a magazine; lots of movie stars were practicing yoga and [talking about]how amazing it was. I looked into it, and have been doing it ever since.
Serena Liu, 9, US
What made you want to teach kids instead of adults?
Kids need yoga more than adults. Physically, you’re at an age where your body is growing very fast. Yoga can help you grow stronger. Many kids now have lots of fast food. We eat lots of McDonald’s and do fewer sports, so our bodies get really unhealthy. Also, I love kids.
Sophia Leow, 10, Spain
How is yoga similar to other sports?
Yoga poses can help you balance better, become more flexible, and develop specific
muscle groups. Just like other sports, yoga keeps you healthy.
Georgie Cassidy, 10, Scotland
Why did you decide to teach yoga and not other sports?
I started yoga, then it became a hobby and a job. Other sports don’t give me what yoga does.
Jieun Chang, 9, South Korea
Why is your company’s name Incy Wincy Yoga?
It started with my son Oliver. “Incy wincy” means tiny or small, and it came to me because I started doing yoga with him when he was a baby. I wanted to give him a healthy life early on.
Sophia Leow, 10, Spain
When you teach baby groups, don’t the babies crawl away?
In the baby class, we do two age groups: babies who can sit up and babies who can
walk. They do sometimes crawl around, but their mother will help keep them on the yoga mat. We don’t stay still; we do lots of fun things, then the baby is free to crawl around when the parents take a break.
Jieun Chang, 9, South Korea
Why do you do breathing exercises first?
Breathing exercises help you become calm and get ready for the next phase. Sometimes when we’re working or studying, we have too much energy and our minds are all over the place. We start with breathing to focus yourself before moving onto poses.
Joseph Chew, 10, Malaysia
How many places do you teach?
We teach in many international schools, like BSB, Harrow, CISB, BCIS, and BISS. I also teach in international kindergartens like BIBS and MSB, as well as communities like Dragon Bay and River Garden. In Beijing, we teach at over 20 locations. It’s the same in Thailand and Malaysia.
Daniel Raab, 10, Austria
Is there also an Incy Wincy studio?
Yes, we have two: One at Xidawang Lu and one at the River Garden clubhouse in Shunyi.
Sacha Mabuya, 10, Zimbabwe
Do you only teach yoga in Asia?
At the moment, yes. We’re focused on Asia.
Joseph Chew, 10, Malaysia
Does your whole family love yoga?
Yes. I have two boys; my oldest has practiced yoga since he was born. My second son is only 3 months old and I practice yoga with him every day. He loves it. Yoga helps babies sleep better; mine sleeps through the night, from 7 at night to 7 in the morning.
This article is excerpted from beijingkids Jun/Jul 2012 issue. View it in PDF form here or contact distribution@beijing-kids.com to find out where you can pick up your free copy.