Fremont, California: People Enjoy Free Falun Dafa Class

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Aug. 3, 2025 | By Minghui correspondent Wang Ying in San Francisco

(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners in Fremont, California, held a free class in Central Park next to Lake Elizabeth on July 27, 2025. A number of people who were taking a walk along the lake joined the class when they heard how practicing Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) benefits one’s body and mind.

People learn the Falun Dafa exercises on July 27.

A practitioner talks with passersby.

Chinese Man Seeks out Falun Dafa

Mr. Li from China

Mr. Li immigrated to the United States from China a month ago.

He said, “Going from a repression-filled society to a completely open one where people freely practice Falun Dafa, I feel very happy. I feel as if I have been emptied out and suddenly opened up.”

This was the first time he'd ever done the Falun Dafa exercises. He said, “Speaking from the bottom of my heart, I feel very good. After learning the exercises, my body feels light and relaxed and my mind also feels relaxed.”

When Mr. Li was in China, one of his classmates was a traffic police officer and this classmate’s mother practiced Falun Dafa. Every time Mr. Li saw this classmate, he asked about his mother. The classmate told Mr. Li that their neighborhood official spoke with his mother again and the police later detained her and did not let her practice Falun Dafa.

Mr. Li liked sports and qigong. After the persecution of Falun Dafa began, practitioners no longer did the exercises publicly. As a result, he also lost the opportunity to practice Falun Dafa.

He said that he used to frequently take business trips to Europe and the U.S. and saw Falun Dafa practitioners passing out flyers. He said he wondered why there were so many practitioners abroad. “I received Falun Dafa brochures both in Chicago and Washington, D.C. And I read them. I also saw The Epoch Times newspaper at supermarkets. I realized that it was very free abroad, which would be a good environment to practice Falun Dafa,” he said.

So when he came to California, he started looking for Falun Dafa. “I first went to the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco, but did not find it. Then I searched online and found it. It also said that a class was held at Fremont Park this Sunday so I came,” he said.

“The first impression it gave me was very positive,” he said about seeing practitioners meditating when he arrived at the park. “There is no environment like this in China. This is my first contact with Falun Gong practitioners here. Practicing Falun Gong can make one calm, peaceful, and free of interference.

“I think the three words of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are very good,” he said. “You must be sincere and face everything truthfully. Toward people, you must be kind and tolerant.”

Mr. Li also said that the CCP is very wicked and that he had been persecuted in China as well. His company was forced to shut down and he did not have a means of making money. He withdrew from the Communist Youth League and Young Pioneers on the spot and expressed hope for the CCP to collapse soon.

“Wakes up My Whole Body”

Natalia Silva

Natalia Silva meditates every day but this was the first time she'd practiced Falun Dafa. “I’m touched. This was the first meditation practice that woke up my whole body,” she said. “The meditation today didn’t have a lot of movements but its power was so strong. It connected me with nature. I felt energy working inside my body.”

After she did the exercises she said, “I feel stronger and my energy is getting stronger.”

“I think Falun Dafa practitioners are doing a great cause for the entire Earth. They are changing the Earth’s energy field and saving the Earth from more war and suffering. You are doing it for the divine. Thank you very much,” Natalia said.

“I completely agree with Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. I can feel every word as well as those who dedicate themselves along with you,” she said.

She said that people these days have forgotten what Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are, and they seem to have lost their sight. She said that every living being is precious, including bad people, who have just temporarily lost their sight. “When they realize who they themselves are, they will feel light,” she said.

Speaking of why she wanted to learn Falun Dafa, she said, “I want to become a better person. I wanted to do what I did today one month ago. When I saw information about the Falun Dafa class, I thought to myself, ‘Wow, this is what I want. I want to meditate and exercise with everybody. I wanted to do this a long time ago. I finally found it today.

“I will continue to practice Falun Dafa and follow Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. It was great to exercise with everybody in the park,” she said.

“I was thinking: I am so rich! It’s great to be able to practice Falun Dafa. I will not forget it even after this life!” Ms. Silva said.

“The World Needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Right Now”

Steffi Jos

Steffi Jos is a computer engineer, and this is the first time she learned the Falun Dafa exercises. She said she was familiar with Chinese acupuncture and was interested in Chinese culture, but never heard of Falun Dafa. She said that the scene as practitioners did the exercises looked peaceful, “So I wanted to try it myself.”

“I felt great when I was learning the exercises. I felt serene and peaceful. I just kept worrying about whether my postures were correct,” she said.

When she learned about the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, she said excitedly, “The world needs Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance right now.”

“My Body Feels More Relaxed”

Gotom

Another computer engineer, Gotom, said that when he saw practitioners exercising during his walk at the park last week, he was drawn to it and learned the movements. “When I passed by the practitioners’ practice site, I felt drawn to it, as I had been looking for an exercise that could make me feel energy.

“I feel great after learning the exercises today,” he said. He learned the first, third, and fourth exercises last time. Today, he learned all the exercises. “I feel more relaxed.”

He said he was glad to learn about Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance today. “I have a bad temper. I have to work on forbearance. This is the way of life I was looking for: using Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance as the standard,” he said.

Thanks Practitioners

Joan (left) thanked practitioners.

Local resident Joan took a walk in the park, and decided to try the exercises. Afterwards she said she felt great, “I wanted to learn the exercises because I want a healthy body. I want to practice them every day.

“I like Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. The whole world needs Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. We need to change the world,” she said.

She thanked practitioners for coming to the park to teach the exercises, “If you didn’t come, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to know about Falun Dafa. Thank you.”