(Minghui.org) Over 56,000 people attended a health expo in Helsinki, Finland, themed, “I Love My Health” from October 20 to 22. The expo featured current trends in beauty, fashion, and wellness. Practitioners had a booth at the event where they provided information about Falun Dafa and taught people the exercises. Approximately 30 people attended each session and many people learned the exercises during the three-day event. 

People learn the Falun Dafa exercises at a health expo in Helsinki, Finland.

Iina and Tiisa were impressed by the practice. “I often feel cold, but these exercises made me very warm,” said Iina. “The movements are not difficult and some of the positions are unique.” She was also delighted to receive a hand-made lotus flower and learned that practitioners need to constantly improve themselves like a lotus flower emerging from the mud. Both ladies were happy to hear the exercises are taught for free and they asked where the nearest group practice site was.

Practitioners demonstrate the Falun Dafa exercises.

People learn the exercises

Amidst the noisy crowd, practitioners' peaceful exercises drew many people and some learned the movements. When they heard how practitioners were mistreated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for their faith, many people signed a petition calling for an end to the persecution. Some also called their friends to the booth to sign petitions. One person said, “What you are doing is very important.” 

Jutta works in sales and was shocked to hear the extent of the human rights violation in China especially the persecution of Falun Dafa. “Such brutality is wrong and Western society should not accept this,” she said. 

Janina is a business person from Järvenpää and stopped to watch practitioners do the exercises. She also accepted a flyer from a practitioner and said she would look into it.

After learning about the persecution in China, people sign a petition to end the atrocities. 

One woman from Russia stopped at the booth and said she hoped to attend Falun Dafa exercise teaching sessions. A student in Helsinki was interested in the practice and attended one session to learn the exercises. She liked it very much and hoped to attend the group practice in Helsinki. 

A retired woman was happy to the join an exercise session. After she did the exercises she said her neck and shoulders became relaxed. “Many people use lots of electronics and live in a virtual world. This is not good because it negatively affects our concentration and social skills,” she said. “Falun Dafa is what I need.”

Before leaving, the woman purchased a copy of Zhuan Falun, the main teachings of Falun Dafa. She also asked where the nearest group practice site was and said she hoped to join it.