Yoga has gained incredible popularity in the last few years, and according to some insightful yoga statistics, more than 30 million people in the US practice this 5,000-year-old Indian discipline. No wonder yoga has become so popular; it brings numerous mental and physical health benefits and promotes mindfulness.
If you want to know more about the history of yoga poses or some interesting facts about yoga, keep scrolling.
But first, let’s take a look at some of the most surprising facts and statistics about this ancient Indian practice.
Top 10 most impressive yoga statistics and facts
- 15 minutes of daily yoga practice changes the brain’s chemistry and boosts mood.
- Daily yoga practice improves posture and alleviates back pain.
- Depression levels decrease by approximately 50% after just three months of yoga practice.
- On average, yoga decreases anxiety levels by 40%.
- There are 37 million yoga practitioners in the US.
- More than 43% of yoga practitioners are between 30 and 49 years old.
- The data on yoga demographics shows that 72% of all yoga practitioners are women.
- There are more than 100 styles of yoga.
- The world’s oldest yoga teacher is the 101-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch from the White Plains.
- Studies show that 50% of all yoga practitioners are of Indian origin.
If you want to start practicing yoga or are already an experienced yogi interested in yoga trivia, you will find our list of the most important things to know about yoga fascinating.
Statistics on Health Benefits of Yoga
1. In just three months, yoga can lower systolic blood pressure by 26 points.
(Yoga Journal)
Researchers have revealed that this practice is particularly beneficial to people with hypertension. Practicing yoga can lower systolic blood pressure (the top number) by 26 and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) by 15 points.
2. Yoga strengthens the immune system and fights diseases such as the flu.
(Shape)
Researchers in Norway have discovered that yoga affects gene expression and alters the immune system on a cellular level, which makes the immune system stronger. Most people practicing yoga are in good health. They get an immunity boost and fight the flu more efficiently than those who don’t practice this discipline.
3. In just 12 weeks, yoga has reduced the inflammatory markers in breast cancer survivors.
(Healthline)
A few years back, a few studies revealed that regular yoga practice could help fight both chronic and periodic inflammations. Moreover, the studies also show that yoga is beneficial to women’s health, specifically breast cancer survivors fighting inflammation and fatigue.
4. After only one month of practicing yoga, people with lung problems decreased their average respiratory rate from 13.4 to 7.6 breaths per minute.
(Yoga Journal)
People who practice yoga take fewer breaths of higher volume, which has very calming effects. This technique, known as “complete breathing,” improves exercise capacity and increases blood oxygen levels. It also eases respiratory and lung problems, which is yet another one of the many health benefits of yoga for men and women alike.
5. Daily yoga practice improves posture and alleviates back pain.
(NetDoctor)
The plank pose can strengthen our arms, legs, shoulders, and abs, while the downward-facing dog helps us become more flexible. Moreover, regular yoga practice improves posture and results in walking tall and sitting straight. There’s a variety of yoga poses for spine health that can also ease back pains and aches caused by an incorrect posture.
6. Practicing yoga lowers total cholesterol by 23%.
(Healthline)
Besides reducing blood pressure, yoga is also beneficial for overall heart health. A study with participants suffering from a heart disease proved that regular yoga practice lowers “bad” cholesterol by 26% and the total cholesterol by 23%. More importantly, the heart disease stopped progressing in 47% of participants, making this yet another one of the great health benefits of the yoga poses.
7. Close to 75% of women say they are more satisfied with their sex lives after practicing yoga.
(Harvard Health)
Research in India that included women aged 22 to 55 had the participants go through a program of 22 yoga poses, or asanas, that are good for the abdominal and pelvic muscle tone, digestion, joint function, and mood. After completing the 12-week program, almost three-quarters of the women reported an improvement in their sex life, implying that yoga could be beneficial for sexual health.
8. Daily yoga practice delays the aging process and increases the lifespan of its practitioners.
(NetDoctor)
Practicing yoga is good for overall health. By exercising regularly, you can improve your fitness levels, regulate your heart rate, reduce stress, and become happier. All of this can lead to a much calmer lifestyle and increased life expectancy. Meditation also helps delay the aging process by protecting the caps at the end of chromosomes.
Statistics Showing the Benefits of Yoga for Mental Health
9. Weekly yoga practice has helped 52% of people to alleviate symptoms of PTSD.
(Healthline)
A high number of people practice yoga to relieve anxiety and stress. Numerous studies have shown that practicing yoga twice a week for a month significantly lowers stress levels. And practicing yoga just once a week helps with some of the symptoms of PTSD.
10. Yoga health statistics show that 15 minutes of daily yoga practice changes the brain’s chemistry and boosts mood.
(NetDoctor)
Studies have found that a regular yoga routine can increase happiness and emotional strength. Practicing yoga can also trigger changes in the brain, as it improves brain mass in areas that are associated with contentment.
11. Depression levels decrease by approximately 50% after just three months of yoga practice.
(Time)
The positive effects of yoga on mental health are perfect for people who don’t respond well to traditional depression treatments and antidepressant medication. For them, yoga practice can be a life-changing experience. The positive effects of yoga on mental health stem from deep breathing, which impacts the autonomic nervous system. When the autonomic nervous system is balanced, the brain functions well too.
12. On average, yoga decreases anxiety levels by 40%. But does yoga really help with anxiety?
(Journal of Physiotherapy & Physical Rehabilitation)
The combination of slow breathing and movement has proven useful for alleviating the symptoms of anxiety as well. Yoga brings peace and has no side effects like traditional medication to both people with mental issues as well as completely healthy individuals. Therefore, yoga is one of the most effective ways to reduce anxiety levels and restore balance to people’s lives.
Yoga Statistics and Demographics
13. More than 37 million people in the United States practice yoga.
(Forbes)
The number of yogis in the US has nearly doubled in just a few years, meaning that now one in every 10 people practice this discipline. Yoga has taken over the country, and there’s no sign that its popularity will decrease any time soon.
14. 1 in 3 Americans tried yoga at least once in their lifetime.
(The Good Body)
Yoga population statistics also reveal that 15% of the US population has practiced yoga in the last six months. In addition to this, the number of Americans who practice yoga grew by 50% in just four years.
15. Only 12% of people identify themselves as advanced yogis.
(Eventbrite Blog)
One research reveals that 37% of yoga practitioners are brand new to this discipline, while 27% are at the beginner level. Furthermore, 22% consider themselves to be at an intermediate level, and only 12% think they’re ready for advanced yoga practices.
16. About 61% of people have started practicing yoga to improve their flexibility.
(Book Retreats)
In addition to this, 56% of people have started practicing this discipline to relieve stress, while 49% started doing yoga to improve their health and fitness. Moreover, the primary motivation for 54% of yoga practitioners to continue practicing yoga is the release of tension, while 52% are looking to get physically and mentally stronger.
17. Yoga statistics reveal that 72% of yoga practitioners are women.
(Forbes)
There is a vast difference in the number of men and women who practice yoga. Women outnumber men by far since only 28% of men are yoga practitioners. A few years ago, ladies who practiced yoga outnumbered men by four to one.
18. More than 43% of the overall yogis are between 30 and 49 years old.
(The Good Body)
As yoga statistics show, the highest number of yogis are younger than 50. However, the popularity of yoga in people who are older than 50 has tripled over the last four years, and 38% of the overall yoga practitioners are now older than 50. Additionally, only 19% of them are between the ages of 18 and 29.
19. It’s estimated that 67% of people practice yoga at home.
(Eventbrite Blog)
Nowadays, there’s an abundance of different kinds of yoga practices you can find online, allowing people to practice yoga in the comfort of their own home. However, 43% of people still go to the gym, 38% visit a yoga studio, 32% practice yoga in the outdoors, 20% go to various yoga and wellness festivals, while 20% go to special events and venues.
20. Practicing yoga in the workplace increases productivity levels.
(CDC)
When it comes to doing yoga in the workplace, statistics reveal that workers can reduce stress and improve their overall health by focusing on mindfulness. Moreover, business owners who encourage their employees to do yoga spend less money on healthcare.
21. It’s estimated that 20% of people want to try laughter yoga.
(Book Retreats)
Even though yoga is a practice that is more than 5,000 years old, its growing popularity brings on new trends and varieties. Surveys have discovered that 18% of people would also like to try hot yoga. Other types of yoga practices people are interested in are silent disco yoga (17%), immersive yoga (17%), and aerial yoga (15%).
22. The number of yoga injuries rose from 9.5 to 17 per 100,000 in just a few years.
(The Good Body)
People often ask, “Is yoga considered a sport?” Most of them see the activity as just stretching and prefer doing yoga for fun. However, yoga is just as dangerous as any other sport. And when it comes to yoga injuries, statistics show that the number of injuries has almost doubled in a very short period, with the headstand being one of the most dangerous yoga poses.
23. More than 60 million yoga posts are trending on Instagram at any given time.
(The Good Body)
This is another proof of how popular yoga is. It hasn’t only taken the country by storm but also social media, as some fun facts about yoga have discovered. Furthermore, every day, people create thousands of new yoga accounts on this social media platform alone.
24. About 37% of yoga practitioners’ children under the age of 18 also practice yoga.
(Forbes)
Practicing yoga has become so popular that children are also taking up this discipline. Additionally, many schools offer yoga as a part of their curriculum to help their students stay calm and centered during class.
Yoga Industry Statistics
25. There are more than 100 styles of yoga.
(The Good Body)
Both traditional and modern styles of yoga are popular, and just a tiny part of them are hatha yoga, Iyengar yoga, hot yoga, and aerial yoga. In the US alone, yoga is the most common complementary health approach.
26. Americans have spent more than $16 billion on yoga classes in 2016.
(Forbes)
This includes classes, gear, as well as accessories. Furthermore, yoga statistics show that this is a significant increase in spending when compared to 2013 when the US population has spent more than $10 billion on yoga accessories, classes, and gear.
27. The pilates and yoga industry grew by 12.1% per year from 2002 to 2012.
(The Good Body)
Yoga is, in fact, one of the fastest-growing industries in America. Statistics also show that the industry was pretty resistant to the recession in 2008 and 2009, and kept growing at the same pace.
28. Yoga facts show that people spend, on average, $62,640 during their lifetime on yoga.
(Eventbrite Blog)
This number includes classes, equipment, and yoga accessories, amounting to an average of $90 per month. Moreover, the average yoga practitioner spends $40 on a single, special, one-time yoga experience. Some are even ready to spend more than $100 on a memorable yoga experience.
29. There were more than 52,000 registered yoga teachers in 2016, according to yoga stats.
(The Good Body)
Additionally, there are more than 6,000 yoga studios in the US, and their number is growing daily. But, the number of yoga studios and certified teachers is not the only number that is quickly increasing. There are also more than 18,000 registered yoga schools in the US, and it’s estimated that the value of the yoga market will only keep growing in the following years.
Yoga Statistics Worldwide
30. The world’s oldest yoga teacher is the 101-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch from the White Plains.
(News 12)
Tao has discovered a yoga child growing up in the French colony of India and has been teaching it for more than 60 years. In 2012, when Tao was 94 years old, the Guinness Book of World Records named her the oldest yoga teacher in the world.
31. There are more than 300 million yoga practitioners in the world.
(The Good Body)
Yoga statistics from 2018 reveal that millions of people around the globe practice yoga regularly. In addition to taking care of their health, people around the world also spend more than $80 billion every year on classes, equipment, accessories, and other yoga-related things.
32. There are more than 10,000 yoga teachers in the UK.
(Finder)
We have already confirmed that yoga is popular all around the world, but the UK, in particular, is showing massive interest in this discipline. According to the yoga statistics for the UK, every year, the interest in yoga rises by 73%, with close to 460,000 Brits participating in yoga classes every week.
33. The yoga and pilates market in the UK was worth more than £875 million in 2018 alone.
(Finder)
This is a 2.1% rise compared to the previous year. Moreover, every year, 5% of Brits spend money on online fitness, yoga, or training services during the last year, as the yoga industry statistics for 2018 for the UK reveal. In addition to this, the UK’s yoga industry currently employs more than 16,000 people who teach between 20,000 and 30,000 yoga classes every week.
34. Studies show that 50% of the overall yoga practitioners in the world are of Indian origin.
(ET HealthWorld)
The number of yoga practitioners is continuously rising, with no signs of slowing down. In 2020, there will be more than 55 million yoga practitioners in the US alone, according to the yoga statistics from India. Having in mind that India is the birthplace of yoga, it comes as no surprise that half of the world’s yoga practitioners are of Indian origin.
35. Adidas sales of yoga clothes and accessories grew by 30% in the Indian market.
(The Economic Times)
Just a decade ago, practicing yoga required just a towel. However, as it became more popular, yoga has become a multi-billion-dollar global industry, which is just starting to thrive.
FAQ
What are the health benefits of yoga?
Yoga is beneficial to both physical and mental health. It helps with chronic pain, lower back pain, arthritis, headaches, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Furthermore, it improves cardio and circulatory health and helps in weight reduction. Yoga also manages stress levels, creates mental clarity and calmness, increases body awareness, relaxes the mind, and enhances attention and concentration.
Is yoga scientifically proven?
After numerous researches and studies in all parts of the world, it has been scientifically proven that yoga is good for your health.
How many times a week should I do yoga?
Yoga experts suggest that a beginner should start with two or three sessions per week, for an hour or an hour and a half each time. However, practicing yoga for even one hour per week will bring benefits.
Where is yoga most popular in the world?
When it comes to the most popular places for yoga practice, India, the cradle of this discipline is at the top of the list. Spain, Indonesia, Thailand, Portugal, and the US follow right behind, but Italy, the UK, Costa Rica, and Morocco are also in the top 10.
The Bottom Line
We hope that these interesting yoga statistics have shown you that it’s never too late to become a yogi. Taking care of your physical and mental health, growing mindfulness, and becoming healthier in every way is attainable through this ancient practice.
You can do it at home, in a park, a yoga studio, alone or with your friends and family. And no matter which yoga style you choose, your body and mind will appreciate your efforts to keep them strong and healthy.
