The Roots of Taozi Tree Yoga: Theresa Parsonage

When I experienced yoga in Beijing for the first time, yoga as a means of fitness and health was still in its infancy in the city, but now thanks to teachers like Theresa Parsonage, of Taozi Tree yoga studio, that has changed, and yoga’s popularity continues to grow because of pioneers like her.

Theresa, who also goes by Taozi Laoshi is originally from the USA, but has been in Beijing for almost two decades , and is a cornerstone of the health and wellness community here. I have had the pleasure to know Theresa for over five years, and she has been my go-to person for any questions about yoga in China. She was also very supportive to me in helping me when I opened my yoga studio, and with the hundreds of other teachers she has guided in getting their yoga teachers training certificates, she has undoubtedly been a part of countless other quality studios opening up all over China.  

Theresa is passionate about life and does her best to uplift and encourage everyone she meets, and in addition to being a yoga teacher, she is so much more, and then some. She is a wife, and runs Taozi Tree Yoga and Kaivalya Corporate Wellness with her husband Ross. She is a mother, and has three absolutely adorable little ones (6-years, 4-years and 9-months-old). Additionally, she is a friend to many, an inspiration to us all, and says that “I am forever a student of life.”

What is yoga to you?
Yoga is a path into lightness, health and joy. It is physical, mental, and emotional purification. And it is fun! It builds quality community and a good life, at least it has for me.

What are a few of the similarities and differences about yoga in Beijing versus where you're from?
I am from the beautiful state of Colorado in the United States. My last five years in Colorado I was in a city called Boulder. Boulder is a gorgeous sanctuary for nature and spiritual enthusiasts. Its full of hippies and college students, SUVs and was serving matcha oat milk lattes back in the ‘90s before it was cool. I’d say the only link between yoga there and yoga in Beijing is Taozi Tree Yoga. We try to bring the Boulder, Colorado/Santa Barbara, California vibe into this city, to help people slow down and chill out! I think people can instant feel that shift when walking in the door.

How long have you been involved in the Beijing yoga community?
I got involved during my first year in China in 2007. I lived in Tianjin and would come down on the weekends and practice at various studios around the city. I studied and taught at UTON Yoga outside of 5th ring road from 2008 to 2010. We left in 2011 and travelled the world for 2.5 years. I wasn’t really actively teaching in the Chaoyang/Sanlitun area until we moved back to Beijing in 2014. I hustled and taught everywhere for years, Taozi Tree Yoga started in early 2018.

Have you seen yoga change in Beijing since you got involved?
First, I can’t claim to fully grasp the entire Beijing yoga scene, I mean there are over 20 million people in this city. I can happily speak to what I have seen happen in my networks. Pre-Covid our Yoga in the Park classes were massive (70-80 students) and we, along with HeyRunning, were of the original groups meeting outdoors.

Things were flourishing. Even in the midst of Covid, so many free fitness groups popped up all over the place! Not so unique anymore, however this development has really helped spread awareness and make being “fit” trendy… there is WAY more understanding on the importance of health now. This is helping us grow. Now, as the pandemic continues, people are feeling the effects of the constant stress of uncertainty, and we are seeing more and more students seek us out for the mental and emotional benefits too.

What do you think will be some of the future things that happen within the Beijing yoga community?
I think students will increasingly be attracted to the positive mind-body/emotional effects of the practice as opposed to only seeking the physical “fitness” aspect.  I hope that our community will continue to expand, that we can help more and more people find peace. We are opening a bigger studio soon just to accommodate this!

We also hope to attract more local Beijingers. The service and experiences we provide are so beneficial to city people, where overwhelming working environments moving at break neck speed are normal practice (9-9-6!).

Often, people don’t understand how stressed out and unhealthy they are until they experience the alternative. There is a positive and light way to experience life, even in the midst of constant uncertainty and movement, we hope to show more curious students how.

What are some key characteristics about your yoga studio?
Taozi Tree Yoga is not just a studio, it is a community with deep soul. Our content has a strong emphasis on the multiple layers of our human experience. We are physical, energetic, mental and emotional beings! We can tap into our full and healthiest potential just by paying attention, observing, learning, and practicing the breath and movement that best serves wherever we are at.

Change takes consistency, time, practice, and enthusiasm! If students show up daily for a month or two, things change dramatically, not in the world, but inside of them. Often times people don’t think they have the time or patience to try, so at Taozi we create a lot of unique experiences and fun events outside of the studio to help cultivate community and to get people interested and curious, including Moved by the Moon, Restorative Nights with sound baths, Yoga in the City, Yoga in the Park, Yoga by the Lake, dinners, movie nights, and more. Students feel great, connect with others, then eventually students stick around to dig deeper.

What makes you love the Beijing community most?
Beijing is one of my greatest teachers! It’s constantly re-inventing itself, it’s transient and flexible. The people who call it home are the epitome of resilience and open to whatever is coming next. I love the multinational connections and endless opportunities for collaborations to be found here. Being a part of the Beijing community has taught me how to jump into new friendships with enthusiasm and trust, and to let go with grace and ease.

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Images courtesy of Theresa Parsonage