For preventative healthcare experts Renu and Ashish Dhawan, the past 18 years has been focused on integrating yoga into the culture and lifestyle of Macau.
When Renu Dhawan and her husband Ashish arrived in Macau in 2008 little did they know that their lives would be changing forever. Wellness professionals with expertise in Yogic and Ayurvedic solutions for a healthy lifestyle, the two had met in the Maldives while working for the Four Seasons hotel and resorts. After getting married they worked with various international hotel chains in India and overseas before moving to Macau for Ashish’s job with the Mandarin Oriental.
With her education and experience as an Ayurvedic doctor trained in both yoga and traditional holistic Indian medicine, Renu started working for a local yoga company.
“It was the first time for us living in Asia. I’m from Haryana, Ashish is from Delhi. The culture in Macau is very different to Delhi, and to the remote islands lifestyle of the Maldives, or even to New Zealand where Ashish’s family are based; it took us some time to acclimatize” Renu explains. “We’re vegetarians too and back 18 years ago it was quite a challenge to find pure vegetarian places to eat out or where to buy some of the food we like to cook. But the people here are kind and welcoming and Macau is such a safe place, especially being a woman!”
“After 5 years and at the end of Ashish’s work contract we were all set to return to India.” But by then the couple had built up a close group of friends and a loyal following of students who persuaded them that their skills in promoting yoga and physical and spiritual health therapies are very much needed in Macau. They started working together when in 2012 their company Yoga Life Macau opened its doors. “Our daughters Anvi and Asmin were born in New Zealand and both are now attending the Macau Anglican College. Our personal and professional lives developed and we felt at last settled and very happy” smiles Renu.
Staunch believers in giving back to the community that has welcomed them so warmly, the couple have also established the ‘Indian Cultural and Health Association of Macau (ICHAM)’, with the mission to spread Indian cultural activities and traditional Indian wellness systems in Macau and around the world, promoting activities, hosting welfare events, fundraising for members of the community in need and offering complimentary programmes from time to time. ICHAM has participated in various intercultural exchange programmes and cultural dance and music festivals including the Macau International Parade, Chinese New Year Parade, Lusofonia, the Macau Fringe Festival and the Macau Arts Festival. This year, the Macau Cultural Affairs Bureau presented ICHAM with the ‘Most Energetic Award’ for their dance routine … “That was very exciting and motivating for future participation!” Renu laughs.
Yoga Life Macau’s first studio was based in Macau – where it continues today in Centro Comercial Praia Grande. A couple of years later, Yoga Life established a studio in Taipa, located at the start of the Taipa Village in a very convenient location opposite Kingsville.
The ancient Indian holistic system of Ayurveda promotes overall health and well-being by balancing the body, mind and spirit through practices like diet, herbal remedies, and yoga, meditation, detoxification and rejuvenation therapies. With the bright lights and buzz of 24-hour casinos, the millions of tourists, a fast pace of life and focus on money and winning … when they first arrived in Macau Renu and Ashish faced skepticism and misconceptions as to the use and benefits of yoga and meditation. Is yoga a religious activity? Or is it only for athletes and vegetarians?
Through a concerted effort of education and communication, giving talks, writing and sharing articles for local newspapers the Dhawans gradually demystified these misunderstandings. They found an enthusiastic following receptive to trying new things and seeing the many advantages of yoga in daily life. “Despite Covid challenges our business continues to grow and develop with plans for future expansion. Most of our members come from word-of-mouth and referrals.”
“Ayurveda aims to ideally prevent illness” emphasizes Renu. “Today several of our members are doctors, referred to us by their patients who have experienced the benefits of what we do.” And a trained doctor herself, Renu has the credibility and qualifications to speak their language. Having toughed out and passed the highly competitive entrance exam for national medical universities in India, her hard work paid off; for the next 6 years she attended one of the best medical colleges in her province, Shri Krishna Ayush University. Graduating with a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery she then earned a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management from Sikkim Manipal University. She later acquired a number of international spa and fitness accreditations.
Renu’s specialties are in yoga, therapeutic application, body anatomy and physiology and Ashish’s are in yoga, nutrition, dietetics, naturopathy, homeopathy, acupuncture, and acupressure. ‘Yoga Life Macau’ services include a range of packages for private and group yoga and meditation classes, wellness consultations, corporate workshops and programmes for pregnant ladies, Indian dance and “kids’ sessions, they start at 3 years old, they love being monkeys on the aerial hammocks!” They have a number of popular family sessions too; “we have ways to engage the children with partner poses, fun games, and stories based on yoga principals.”
So what does the future hold for the Dhawan family? “We love Macau, we feel blessed here,” Renu emphasizes, “it will always be our home. We appreciate Macau for its safety, as a parent I have peace of mind, as a professional I am content with our business, profits go up and down, it’s just part of life. Though we have plans to expand when the time is right, I will be in Macau; the needs of our members and our two girls keep us more than busy!”
To contact ‘Yoga Life Macau’: +853 6659 8049 Products and Services: yogalifemacau.com
Macau Studio: 5A, Edificio Centro Comercial da Praia Grande, 429 Avenida da Praia Grande, Macau
Article written by Suzanne Watkinson for the Macau Closer magazine, September-October 2025 issue.
Photograph credits: Those of yoga poses and Indian dance provided by Yoga Life. Other photograph by Suzanne
