Interview with an international - Yanqin Wang

‘I was looking for somewhere to do my PhD and came into contact with the supervisor of a research team at Maastricht University. Initially, I was researching sleep problems and stress among first-year university students who were struggling with the transition from secondary school to university. However, in the meantime, I've switched to a well-being study that I find even more intriguing, namely the effects of yoga on employees. The target group is also much larger now.

For a while, I have been teaching Yoga and Pilates classes in the David Lloyd Sports&Health Club, I also work there as a fitness coach;  meanwhile I am a Yoga and Pilates instructor, fitness coach and lifestyle coach, partly self-employed by SportCity Eindhoven. I teach Flow Yoga, Hatha yoga, Yin yoga, Pilates and Barre Pilates, both group sessions and private lessons. I usually have a group of 10-15 people, but sometimes there are classes of up to 30 participants. I find that challenging because I feel that I can't take care of everyone individually as well as I would like to. Of course, I can demonstrate the movements, but there is no time to guide everyone individually where necessary. That's where the private lessons come in handy.

I also give Yoga and Pilates classes to organisations, both independently and through the sports club. You can hire me as an instructor, but I don't have my own studio where I give classes. So yes, I'm pretty busy.'

How would you rate life in the Maastricht Region on a scale of 1 to 5?

'The highest score, 5 out of 5. I love Maastricht Region, it is the whole package. Maastricht is a big town in a beautiful, rural setting. It's so harmonious here. When I first came to Maastricht and saw that old bridge (Sint Servaasbrug), I was excited. I decided I wanted to live in such a beautiful place, and lo and behold, 2 years and 9 months later, I still love living here. That's why I'm taking more and more steps to settle here, both with my business and with my research, which I also find very rewarding.

I used to live near the University of Birmingham in England. When I compare the 2, I much prefer it here. I feel that Birmingham is bigger and more modern. There are many companies and more industry. Though for people who love the good life, I think that the Maastricht Region is always the best choice.'

You are Chinese and have been living in Europe for a number of years now. Are there things you miss about life in Asia?

'I do sometimes miss Chinese culture, which in my opinion places more emphasis on relationships. When we do something, we always take other people's feelings into account and consider the impact it may have. In a way, that can put pressure on you, but on the other hand, you realise that more intense connection with people also provides you with a lot of support when you are facing difficulties in your life. I sometimes miss that connection and support from other people here.'

Do you have much contact with the international community here?

'I occasionally attend the information sessions organised by Expat Centre Maastricht Region (ECMR), such as the recent Buying a house in the Netherlands event, and I keep an eye on the website for other events. I participated in your Naober* pilot here in Maastricht 2 years ago. I felt that sense of community during that time. It was a small group of people, but after the activity or excursion, we often went for a coffee and a chat. This shows that the group doesn't always have to be that big to be successful. The small scale meant there was more room for connection. Plus, we also came into contact with non-internationals a bit more. Unfortunately, the project no longer exists.

The theme of connection and peer support through conversation also emerges in the research I’m involved in. The study includes three test groups: one group engages in peer conversations to explore whether dialogue can help reduce stress; a second group participates in a Yoga intervention; and a third group practices meditation. We aim to investigate and compare which intervention yields the most beneficial outcomes.'
 

Now that you've been living in the Maastricht Region for almost 3 years, are there any practical tips you'd like to share with other internationals who are considering moving here or have just taken the plunge?

'I would advise doing some research in advance, not only about the new job, but also about your potential new home  and its surroundings. Go on holiday there for a few days beforehand. Take a look around, see what there is to do, experience it a little. That way, you'll get a feel for whether this is a place where you can see yourself living.

I moved to Maastricht in 2023, but in September 2022 I visited Maastricht for a week, precisely for that reason. I visited the university, Randwyck and also Maastricht UMC+, where my office is and where I do my research. After that week, it was clear to me that this was a region where I would quickly feel at home.

Oh, and make an appointment with one of the hospitality coaches at the ECMR, that's my second piece of advice. They have all the information you need to get started here in the Maastricht Region.'

What did you have to get used to most when you came to live in the Maastricht Region? What surprised you the most?

'That wonderful festival you have here. What's it called? Carnaval.'

'It's so playful. The way people really get into dressing up and their characters. Those big parades that last for hours. The street carnival, everyone wearing something different. I had never seen anything like it before I moved to Maastricht. I didn't know people could party like that, young and old alike. Even the children have fun. I think it's great.'

Do you celebrate Carnaval too?

'The first year, I was so impressed. I celebrated for 3 days. The second year, 2 days. I couldn't keep it up any longer than that. This will be my third year, so now I know a little better what to expect, where and when. I think I'll do a few hours spread over those 3 days. It's a lot of fun, but also very tiring.'

What do you like most about living and working in the Maastricht Region?

'The peaceful way of life and your direct culture. I find people are very straightforward, so I don't have to worry. I just have to communicate what I think. If people agree with me, they say so. If they disagree with me, they say so too. I don't waste time in that respect.

I lived in Great Britain for a while. In my experience, when people disagreed with me, they said, ‘interesting’. Not just ‘this might not work’ or ‘I don't like that’. They said ‘interesting’.

What can I do with that? I was always in doubt. Do they really find it interesting or do they just not like it? I prefer directness. You know where you stand.'

Are you also learning Dutch and do you find it necessary to speak the language?

'I don't feel it's necessary for me to function day-to-day. On the other hand, I do think it's good to speak Dutch so that you can have more in-depth conversations with other people. For example, after my lessons, I like to chat with the group. However, everyone speaks Dutch and my Dutch is still too limited to chat for long. If I learn the language better, I'll also feel more connected.

I find I can get by very well with English in the Maastricht region. In my experience young people speak English very well. Older people less so, I've noticed. They prefer their own language (dialect), but I respect that. It's also good that people honour this, it's cultural heritage.

I am in a Dutch class, A2, first year. However, even when you pass the exam, I find that speaking is still difficult. Dutch has that rolling “r”. Our Chinese tongues, or at least mine, are not prepared for that. I cannot pronounce it. You would probably feel the same way when learning Chinese. It takes time.'

How do you see your future in the Maastricht Region? What are your plans?

'I'm going to continue my research, focusing on the effects of yoga on occupational health. And of course I want to continue teaching Yoga and Pilates. That's really my thing. When I'm teaching, I don't feel time passing. The 45 minutes fly by.

Nowadays, more and more people are looking for a job in something they are passionate about. I feel privileged in that respect. My work doesn't feel like work. I love it. Plus, I get my own Yoga workout during classes that I give. When I demonstrate a movement, my body has to be there as well as my mind. So it's work combined with something that is also very good for me.'

Your academic research is about occupational health and the role that Yoga can play in it. Would you like to explain a little more about that?

'Some people feel so much pressure at work that they burn out and sometimes can't work for months. They suffer from stress, sleep problems, sometimes even depression. We want to investigate whether offering Yoga can prevent this in companies where there is a high rate of absenteeism. Or would these people perhaps benefit more from meditation? Or is regular group discussion sufficient? We combine psychology and neurobiology in this research.'

That sounds very interesting. If people would like more information about this research, where can they find it?

'From our lead supervisor, Professor Arjan Blokland, Prof Conny Quaedflieg, or from me. I am also very enthusiastic about it. This is a major study and it could yield a lot for companies and their employees. We even hope to continue it through a postdoc.'

So you will be staying in this region for a while?

'I think so, but if I may give you and the Maastricht Region a little tip. Focus more on recycling, including among internationals and visitors. Let the internationals know which bag or bin is intended for which type of waste. We all have to take care of the environment. We sort our waste properly in our own homes, but not as much so in public areas. In my opinion, recycling waste in the city centres is still a real work in progress.'

For more information or to contact Yanqin Wang

%20y.wang [at] aloeyogapilates.nl (Contact)

*Naober was a pilot buddy project set up by ECMR in collaboration with students from Hogeschool Zuyd. It ran from spring 2023 to summer of that same year, but was not continued.