Learn Real Spoken Chinese: A Yoga Teacher Interview from China

Have you ever wanted to improve your Chinese listening skills while learning about Chinese culture at the same time? In a recent interview I filmed with my yoga teacher, 小言 (Xiǎo Yán), we talked about life, food, personal interests—and yes, yoga! This  conversation is full of real-life, everyday Mandarin that you won't always find in textbooks.

Let’s dive into what we talked about, with useful vocabulary and cultural context along the way to support your learning.

A Listening Warm-Up

At the beginning of the interview, I say:
“来考考你们的听力哦，准备好了吗？”

“Let’s test your listening—are you ready?”

Vocabulary Tip:

• 听力 (tīnglì) = listening comprehension
• 准备好了吗? = Are you ready?

 Try This: Before reading on, listen to the video and see how many of the questions you can understand the first time around!

Meet Xiao Yan: Teacher, Traveler, Artist

Xiao Yan is 26 years old and comes from Kaifeng, Henan (河南开封)—a city in northern China known for its ancient architecture and rich culture.

Cultural Note:
Northern Chinese cuisine is often hearty, salty, and full of noodles and breads. Kaifeng is famous for street snacks like 灌汤包 (soup-filled buns) and 胡辣汤 (spicy pepper soup).

She’s now living and teaching yoga in the south of China, where he says she enjoys the warmer climate, though she still prefers northern food.

A Life Beyond Yoga

When I asked her what she loves doing, Xiao Yan mentioned:

• 唱歌 (chànggē) = singing
• 画画 (huàhuà) = drawing
• 书法 (shūfǎ) = calligraphy
• 吃 (chī) = eating (a very common favorite!)

Vocabulary Tip:

• 爱好 (àihào) = hobby
• 吃货 (chīhuò) = foodie (a slang term for someone who lives to eat)

“我挺喜欢唱歌，然后我的专业本来也是画画，设计类的。”
“I really like singing, and my major used to be related to drawing and design.”

Cats, Crabs, and Comfort Foods

When asked “你喜欢猫还是狗?” (Do you like cats or dogs?), Xiao Yan said she prefers cats—especially 加菲猫 (Garfield)!

But her real passion? Food. She enthusiastically talked about her favorites:

• 小笼包 (xiǎo lóng bāo) = soup dumplings
• 北京烤鸭 (Běijīng kǎo yā) = Peking duck
• 大闸蟹 (dàzháxiè) = hairy crabs

Cultural Note:
Hairy crabs are a seasonal delicacy in China, usually eaten in autumn (especially around October). In some regions, they are very expensive, but Xiao Yan’s hometown has local 养殖场 (yǎngzhíchǎng) or crab farms that sell directly to consumers.

From Designer to Yoga Instructor

Before becoming a yoga teacher, Xiao Yan studied design, but long hours and lack of creative freedom made her rethink her path.

“当时因为你设计东西，你不能按照自己的意愿...太多的局限性。”
“When you're designing things, you can’t do it the way you want... there are too many limitations.”

Vocabulary Tip:

• 转行 (zhuǎnháng) = to change professions
• 自由 (zìyóu) = freedom
• 朝九晚六 (zhāo jiǔ wǎn liù) = 9-to-6 job (standard office hours)

Why yoga? It offered flexibility, body-mind balance, and personal fulfillment—all things Xiao Yan values deeply.

The Benefits of Yoga (用中文说!)

When I asked about the benefits of yoga, she emphasized mental peace:

“练瑜伽是一个调节内心、身心平衡的东西。”
“Practicing yoga is a way to balance your mind and body.”

Vocabulary Tip:

• 调节 (tiáojié) = to regulate, adjust
• 内心 (nèixīn) = inner self
• 身心平衡 (shēnxīn pínghéng) = physical and mental balance

She also noted that in modern life—with its stress about jobs, houses, and pressure—yoga helps us slow down and breathe.

Facing Challenges & Building Strength

Even for Xiao Yan, some parts of yoga were tough in the beginning. The biggest challenge? Aerial yoga (空中瑜伽 kōngzhōng yújiā)—a form of yoga done with fabric hammocks hanging from the ceiling.

“刚开始我练的时候...肌肉都是软软的，松松的。”
“When I first started... my muscles were soft and weak.”

But after regular training, she gained strength and a sense of accomplishment.

Cultural Note:
Aerial yoga is growing in popularity in Chinese cities, especially among young professionals looking for fitness alternatives to the gym.

Try These 3 Stretches at Home!

At the end of our interview, Xiao Yan kindly demonstrated 3 beginner-friendly yoga poses to help with:

• Tight shoulders
• Poor posture from phone/computer use
• Lower back discomfort

She used real, natural Mandarin to explain each movement. For example:

“去舒展右腋窝，腋下淋巴和乳腺。”
“Stretch the right armpit, lymph nodes, and chest area.”

Vocabulary Tip:

• 舒展 (shūzhǎn) = to stretch
• 腋窝 (yèwō) = armpit
• 淋巴 (línbā) = lymph
• 乳腺 (rǔxiàn) = mammary glands

Try watching the demo and following along—it’s a fun way to train your body and your Mandarin listening at the same time!

Your Takeaway

This conversation is full of authentic Mandarin spoken naturally and casually—exactly how native speakers talk. Whether you’re learning for travel, for daily life, or just for fun, this interview is a great way to experience real Chinese in context.

So...
你准备好了吗？

Watch the full interview
Try some stretches
Practice your vocabulary
And keep listening to more real Chinese conversations!

 Want More?
MandarinHQ’s Real Spoken Chinese Vault is full of natural dialogues, transcripts, and interactive exercises to help you improve your listening—fast.

Vocabulary List: Words & Phrases from the Interview

身体部位词汇（Body Parts Vocabulary）

方位词汇（Directional / Positional Words）

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