Indian yoga teacher deported from China after pay dispute for illegal work. Taught 300+ classes, earned 180k yuan, fined 10k, blacklisted. Studio fined too.
Tags:
A dispute between a yoga studio and a foreign instructor in Chengdu, China, ended with the instructor being deported after authorities discovered he had been working without the proper visa.
The Indian yoga teacher, identified in reports as Raj (a pseudonym), originally entered China using a business visa instead of a work visa. The situation later became problematic when disagreements about payment arose between him and the studio that invited him to teach.
The collaboration reportedly started in early 2024 at an international yoga exchange event, where the studio owner was impressed by Raj's skills. Because Raj said he was having trouble securing a Chinese work visa due to paperwork issues, the studio suggested he travel on a business visa and present the arrangement as a cultural exchange.
They agreed verbally that Raj would teach classes for 600 yuan per session, while the studio would handle accommodation and online promotion.
Initially, the partnership was successful. Raj's approach, combining traditional Hatha Yoga techniques with posture correction, attracted many students. The studio began promoting premium "Indian master" yoga classes, charging 398 yuan per session.
Short videos of Raj demonstrating yoga poses and meditation practices were also shared on Chinese social media platforms.
The clips quickly gained popularity, reportedly bringing his follower count to around 200,000 and generating more than two million views within a short time.
However, the situation later changed when Raj asked for a pay increase to 1,500 yuan per class, saying he had received better offers from other training centres.
The studio owner declined the request and instead proposed increasing the fee to 800 yuan.
The disagreement strained their relationship. Some students noticed a drop in enthusiasm during his classes, with reports that he sometimes arrived late or ended sessions early.
A few months later, Raj posted a message online saying, "True yoga practice is the unity of body, mind, and values." Many followers interpreted it as a sign that he was unhappy with his compensation.
The studio owner reportedly confronted him about the post and threatened to report him for working illegally.
Local authorities later investigated the case and found that between June 2024 and April 2025, Raj had conducted over 300 classes while holding a business visa and earned more than 180,000 yuan.
Under Chinese law, an employer must secure a work permit and sponsor the correct work visa before a foreign national can be legally employed.
As a result, Raj was fined 10,000 yuan, ordered to leave China within 10 days, and placed on a re-entry blacklist. The yoga studio also received a 10,000 yuan fine, and the income it earned from the arrangement was confiscated.
Before leaving the country, Raj reportedly sent a final message to the studio owner saying, "Yoga teaches balance, but neither of us found it."
The case sparked debate online, with some people criticising the studio for not helping the instructor secure a proper work visa, while others argued that foreigners should follow local employment regulations.
Source: Baidu.com