Photo of the day: Pregnant Group Yoga World Record

Our photo theme this week is “Get Physical” — physical education and culture that spans dynasties. Kung fu, qigong, elderly square dancing, and everything in between.

One thing folks don’t totally understand about China is the deeply embedded, inescapable presence of group exercise.

China’s particular history of doing exercise in big groups all lined up in rows spans hundreds of years, from the first Shaolin fighting forms to the early morning tai chi meetups of today. The practice got stamped into the DNA of modern China with Mao’s officially mandated workout routine (but more on that tomorrow).

For now, please enjoy this photo of 505 pregnant women doing yoga in Changsha, beating the Guinness World Record for…biggest group of pregnant women doing yoga. The previous record holder was a group of 423 women in Shenzhen, so if you didn’t believe us about China winning the group exercise game, now you do.

Photo: China Daily