Banned by authorities in China, Falun Dafa is being embraced by more and more Australians, writes CLARISSA BYE.

You may have noticed them in the early hours of the morning, around Sydney's suburbs.

Standing in parks or behind council libraries arms stretched above their heads or sitting in groups on the grass.

While it may have looked as if they were practising tai chi or perhaps yoga, it's a different practice altogether.

It's called Falun Dafa.

And for something based on five gentle exercises, meditation and a positive philosophy, it has caused huge political controversy in China and swept through the rest of the world.

Also known as Falun Gong, it comes from an ancient Chinese set of spiritual exercises and meditation, with similar roots to Taoism and Buddhism. It was brought to public attention in China in 1992 by Li Hongzhi, who has been nominated for next year's Nobel Peace Prize.

Since then, the practice has been taken up by an estimated 100 million followers in 40 nations.

Here in Australia, practices have sprung up and down the country, from Canberra to Toowooba and partioularly in Sydney. Many Australians of Chinese heritage enjoy the daily ritual, but organizers say it's totally open to anyone. It's also free.

The five exercises are gentle, slow and the practitioners say they are easy to learn, from children as young as three to octogenarians. They are designed to open the energy channels of the body and circulate energy.

Organiser Vina Lee of Surry Hills, said the practice helped reduce stress in her life.

She said she looked forward to doing them in the morning in a way she never could for gym exercises. She said Falun Dafa had a spiritual dimension - a "cultivation", which took an individual much further on their own inner path or journey.

"These particular exercises were formed thousands of years ago." Ms Lee said.

"Before I did it , I was busy and had no time and was stressful; now I would use the word delightful to describe how I feel."

She's been practising for several years in Australia and helped establish a new location at Surry Hills.

Last month Burwood Council became the first city in Australia to declare an official Falun Dafa Day, following similar open days by 30 cities in the united States.

Burwood mayor Joseph Tannous, who opened the information day, said Australians were lucky to have freedom and tolerance, unlike the present situation in China.

He was referring to last year's banning of Falun Gong by the Chinese Government, after 10,000 practitioners held a peaceful gathering in Beijing, protesting against harassment against fellow members.

Since then, China's treatment of Falun Gong followers, sending them to labor camps and torturing some, has prompted international condemnation and outrage from countries such as the US and Australia.