They hold their arms in an arc at their hips, then above their heads, holding each stance for more than 15 minutes. After nearly an hour, they sit on the floor and meditate. Their tranquil movements stand in stark contrast to the images on posters tacked up nearby, depicting oppression and torture. Some practitioners of Falun Gong are Chinese nationals who say they could be punished for taking part in it if they returned to China. Others are new non-Chinese devotees taking up the combination of physical stretching, meditation and religious readings.
Followers claim it brings spiritual enlightenment and improved health.
In Wisconsin, groups have started in Milwaukee and Madison in the last three years. They've taken their place among many U.S. Falun Gong organizations. Because there is no official membership, and people often practice in their homes or in small groups, it is impossible to estimate the number of followers in the United States, said Feng Yuan, a spokeswoman for the Falun Dafa Information Center in New York. Followers also refer to the movement as Falun Dafa. Yuan said a New York conference two years ago drew more than 3,000 people, and there are thousands more across the country.