In a Chinese Village,Elderly Farmers Are Now Yogis

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As the top Chinese official in this village,Lu Wenzhen had a problem.The young people had all moved away.The elderly farmers left behind were ailing.His ageing hamlet1hamlet小村莊。needed money.Life.A spark.

玉狗梁村干部盧文震有道難題。村里年輕一輩都搬走了，而留守的老村民們身體狀況也愈來(lái)愈差。這座開(kāi)始老齡化的村子，需要經(jīng)濟(jì)援助，也需要灌注生命與活力。

[2]Then,two years ago,he watched a 60-year-old woman sit cross-legged for about half an hour on a kang,a stone bed common in China’s northern countryside.Lu suddenly had a eureka moment2eureka moment頓悟時(shí)刻；突發(fā)靈感的一刻。.

“Yoga,” he said.

[2]然而在兩年前，他看到一位60歲的老太太盤腿坐在“炕”（一種北方鄉(xiāng)村常見(jiàn)的石頭做的床）上，看了差不多半小時(shí)，他突然靈光一閃，說(shuō)道：“瑜伽！”

[3]It was an audacious plan that seemed out of place in Yugouliang,a village of fewer than 100 people in Hebei province,far from the gyms and health food stores in places like Beijing and Shanghai.It is so remote that the closest train station is two hours away.The Internet had just arrived two years ago.The average age of a Yugouliang resident is 65.They survive by tending to their cows and sheep and small plots of land.

[3]對(duì)于玉狗梁這個(gè)位于河北省、人口不到百人的村子來(lái)說(shuō)，這個(gè)計(jì)劃不僅大膽，而且與當(dāng)?shù)馗窀癫蝗耄@里沒(méi)有北京、上海等地那樣的健身房和保健食品店。它地處偏遠(yuǎn)，離最近的火車站都有兩小時(shí)車程。兩年前才通互聯(lián)網(wǎng)。居民人均年齡達(dá)65歲，靠著養(yǎng)牛羊和幾小塊地過(guò)活。

[4]China’s rapidly ageing population is one of the most pressing issues facing the government.In rural China,at least 50 million older Chinese have been left behind by the country’s economic boom,according to official data.Many struggle with poverty and depression.By 2050,the number of people in China age 60 or older is expected to reach 487 million,representing more than onethird of the total population,according to government figures.

[4]人口急速老齡化是中國(guó)政府面臨的最為迫切的問(wèn)題之一。根據(jù)官方數(shù)據(jù)顯示，在中國(guó)農(nóng)村，至少有5000萬(wàn)老人已經(jīng)被經(jīng)濟(jì)繁榮發(fā)展遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)拋在后面。很多人還在脫貧道路上掙扎。政府?dāng)?shù)據(jù)表明，到2050年，中國(guó)60歲及以上人口預(yù)計(jì)將達(dá)到4.87億，占總?cè)丝跀?shù)的三分之一以上。

[5]The residents in Yugouliang were unconvinced.They had never heard of yoga.Was Secretary Lu,as they called him,trying to introduce them into a cult?

[5]玉狗梁村民從來(lái)都沒(méi)聽(tīng)說(shuō)過(guò)瑜伽，對(duì)盧文震的想法心存疑惑。他們聲聲喚的盧書(shū)記是不是想帶他們加入邪教？

[6]There was another wrinkle3wrinkle小問(wèn)題。: Lu,52,had never taken a yoga class.

“I couldn’t bring myself to tell them that I didn’t know how to do it,” he said.

[6]還有另一個(gè)問(wèn)題，52歲的盧書(shū)記從來(lái)沒(méi)上過(guò)瑜伽課。

他說(shuō)：“我也不能跟村民說(shuō)我不知道怎么做瑜伽?！?/p>

[7]The Internet was his guide.He watched videos and looked at photos.

He knew that getting older farmers to do yoga would be tricky.He bought gloves and yoga mats to entice them.

[7]于是他上網(wǎng)，通過(guò)看視頻和照片自學(xué)。

盧書(shū)記知道讓老人們做瑜伽不是一件容易的事，便買了手套和瑜伽墊來(lái)引發(fā)他們的興趣。

[8]Those first few sessions,just a few residents turned up.Lu started off slow.First he taught them how to breathe through a singing exercise.Then he tried to take them through some simple,cross-legged moves.

It didn’t take long for more people to join.Nor did it take long for them to try more ambitious poses.

[8]頭幾堂課只有零星幾個(gè)村民來(lái)了。盧書(shū)記教得很慢。他先教如何通過(guò)唱頌來(lái)練習(xí)調(diào)整氣息，然后再試著帶他們做一些簡(jiǎn)單的盤腿動(dòng)作。

沒(méi)過(guò)多久，越來(lái)越多的人加入了，他也很快讓村民們嘗試一些更有挑戰(zhàn)性的動(dòng)作。

[9]Encouraged to do more,Lu enrolled in a yoga course sponsored by the government.From there,Lu got a certificate as a yoga judge and has since judged competitions.

[9]盧書(shū)記受到了鼓舞后，報(bào)名參加了一個(gè)由政府贊助的瑜伽課程。他在那里取得了瑜伽裁判證，之后也參與了一些比賽當(dāng)裁判。

[10]The authorities were encouraging.In February 2017,the State General Administration of Sports,which oversees the country’s athletics,gave Yugouliang the title of “China’s first yoga village.”

[10]這項(xiàng)舉動(dòng)得到了當(dāng)?shù)卣闹С帧?017年2月，監(jiān)管國(guó)家體育運(yùn)動(dòng)的國(guó)家體育總局授予了玉狗梁村“中國(guó)瑜伽第一村”的稱號(hào)。

[11]But it wasn’t until the end of last year that Lu felt his residents were good enough to compete.He entered the farmers into a yoga competition in Shijiazhuang,the provincial capital.They won an award for being the “best collective team.”

[11]但直到去年年底，盧書(shū)記才感覺(jué)村民們的實(shí)力足夠參加比賽。他帶領(lǐng)村民們報(bào)名參加了一場(chǎng)在省會(huì)石家莊舉行的瑜伽比賽，并最終贏得了“最佳組織獎(jiǎng)”。

[12]The local government has said it is giving Lu US$1.5 million for a nursing home and a yoga pavilion,a gleaming,glass-walled compound that will make it easier for villagers to practice year-round.

[12]當(dāng)?shù)卣驯硎緦?huì)撥款150萬(wàn)美元用來(lái)建造一家養(yǎng)老院和一個(gè)瑜伽館。瑜伽館是閃亮的玻璃幕墻建筑，將更方便村民全年練習(xí)。

[13]But his goal of setting off a tourism boom could be difficult to achieve.The village is hard to reach and there are no amenities to speak of.

Lu still sees positives.Yogastrengthened residents,he said,save on medical costs.

[13]然而這里交通不便利，也沒(méi)有像樣的設(shè)施，盧書(shū)記發(fā)展旅游業(yè)的目標(biāo)很難實(shí)現(xiàn)。

但他還是看到了積極面。他說(shuō)，練過(guò)瑜伽的村民身體素質(zhì)加強(qiáng)了，省了看病的錢。

[14]There are about 36 yoga regulars in Yugouliang,who showed remarkable stamina4stamina 耐力；毅力。when they gathered on a recent afternoon.Wearing the same outfits that they use to farm,scarves tied around their heads to protect them from the hot sun,they blazed through a 15-minute routine of standing splits,side planks and boat poses5瑜伽中依靠坐骨和尾骨來(lái)平衡身體的姿勢(shì)，可有效增強(qiáng)腹部和臀屈肌。.Around them,gaptoothed66 gaptoothed（由于缺牙）齒縫很大的。women in their 80s and 90s watched from worn armchairs.

[14]玉狗梁瑜伽隊(duì)差不多有36個(gè)隊(duì)員。前不久的某個(gè)下午，他們聚在一起，向人展示了驚人的毅力。穿著統(tǒng)一的平日種田衣裳，頭上圍著用來(lái)防曬的頭巾，他們一鼓作氣完成一套15分鐘的練習(xí)：站立劈腿、側(cè)平板支撐和船式。一群八九十歲掉了牙的老太太，坐在破舊的扶手椅中，圍著他們觀看。

[15]Ge Luyun spent years taking medicine to treat the pain in her shoulder and elbow.Two years ago,the 62-year-old weighed over 68kg.

Then she started doing yoga.Ge has lost 5kg and said she has a flatter stomach.“Now,I don’t have to take a single painkiller,” Ge said.

[15]葛錄云（音譯）常年靠吃藥來(lái)治療肩膀和肘部的疼痛。兩年前，62歲的她體重超過(guò)了68公斤。

開(kāi)始練瑜伽之后，葛老太太體重減輕了5公斤，還說(shuō)肚子也變小了?！艾F(xiàn)在我不用吃止疼片了?！彼f(shuō)道。

[16]The next morning,Lu led the residents through a series of balancing poses.Then he told them to relax their entire bodies and laugh loudly.It was a happy moment in a village that has had little to look forward to.Because of a recent drought,vast patches of fields are barren and brown.The residents’ children work or study in Chinese cities,coming home to visit only once a year.

[16]第二天早上，盧書(shū)記領(lǐng)著村民們做了一套平衡體式動(dòng)作，接著叫他們放松身體放聲大笑。最近一場(chǎng)干旱讓大片土地顆粒無(wú)收。孩子們又都進(jìn)城工作學(xué)習(xí)去了，一年才回一次家。對(duì)于這座沒(méi)太大盼頭兒的村子來(lái)說(shuō)，此刻很歡樂(lè)。

[17]Zhang Xiying,62,said she had never felt motvated to work until she learned yoga.“Before this,training the body was playing cards,” she said.“Now,we don’t play anymore.”

Yoga has become part of the daily routine for many.Many practice at 5.30am,then let their cows and sheep out to pasture7pasture放（牛羊）吃草。before sunrise,followed by breakfast,farming,lunch,rest,farming,evening yoga at 5.30pm,then dinner.

[17]62歲的張喜英說(shuō)她自從學(xué)了瑜伽后，才感覺(jué)勞作有動(dòng)力?！耙郧鞍?，鍛煉身體就是打牌，”她說(shuō)，“現(xiàn)在我們?cè)僖膊淮蛄?。?/p>

瑜伽已經(jīng)融入到大多數(shù)人的日常生活中。很多村民早上5點(diǎn)半就起來(lái)練，日出前把牛羊趕去吃草，然后吃早飯、種地、吃午飯、休息，接著種地，到了5點(diǎn)半開(kāi)始傍晚的瑜伽練習(xí)，練完吃晚飯。

[18]Lu,who was previously the Communist Party secretary of a technical college in Shijiazhuang,was sent to work in Yugouliang in 2016,part of the party’s longtime practice of sending cadres to less developed areas.

Like hundreds of other cadres in rural China,he was tasked with alleviating poverty by 2020.

[18]盧書(shū)記以前是石家莊一所職業(yè)技術(shù)學(xué)院的黨支部書(shū)記。2016年，在干部下鄉(xiāng)長(zhǎng)期政策的貫徹實(shí)施中，被派到玉狗梁村工作。

跟其他成百上千的中國(guó)農(nóng)村干部一樣，他的任務(wù)是帶領(lǐng)村子在2020年實(shí)現(xiàn)脫貧。

[19]Lu said he had bigger plans.He wants to turn Yugouliang into a yoga training base for farmers from all over China,which he says will draw tourists as well.

“All these are dreams for now,” Lu said as he drove amid mud-brick homes and toilets that were little more than pits.“But one has to have dreams.” ■

[19]盧書(shū)記說(shuō)他還有更大的計(jì)劃。他想把玉狗梁打造成全中國(guó)農(nóng)民的瑜伽培訓(xùn)基地，這樣也能吸引游客。

“這些暫時(shí)還只是夢(mèng)想，”盧書(shū)記邊開(kāi)著車穿過(guò)泥磚房和簡(jiǎn)陋的廁所邊說(shuō)，“但人總得有夢(mèng)想?！?□

（譯者曾獲第三屆“《英語(yǔ)世界》杯”翻譯大賽優(yōu)秀獎(jiǎng)）