1 Out Of 6 US Adults Practices Yoga: Why Yoga Is Great For All

Nearly 1 in every 6 American adults has practiced yoga in the past year, data from the US government shows. Statistics revealed that yoga remains more popular amongst women (23.3% participation) as compared to men (10.3%). It's also more popular among the young (ages 18 to 44), with 21.3% in that age group saying they practiced yoga, than the middle-aged (14.1%) or those aged 65 or older (8%).

The practice was also influenced with the socio-economic status of people. Overall, 23% of people in the highest income bracket said they practiced yoga versus 10.4% of those at the lowest income level.

Yoga is the oldest form of exercise and traces its roots back to ancient India. The word "yoga" comes from the Sanskrit word "yuj," which means "to yoke" or "to bind." Interestingly, yoga incorporates physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation together. While spirituality lists various benefits of yoga, scientific research into it is still at preliminary stage. However, numerous studies have indicated that it has a significant positive impact on a person's physical and mental health.

This form of exercise is highly popular amongst western countries, particularly the US. When questioned by the researchers, about 80% of yoga practitioners cited "restoring overall health" as the key reason behind practicing yoga. This was especially true for people aged between 45 to 64 years of age.

In fact, meditation was often being performed with yoga. Nearly, 57% of all practitioners said they meditated as a part of their yoga practice. Interestingly, lower-income people were more likely to engage in meditation and yoga together compared to better-off folks. Another reason cited by them was pain relief. About 29% said that they engaged in yoga to help people treat or manage pain. Again, lower-income people who engaged in yoga were more likely to say that they used the practice to ease pain compared to higher-income people.

Science Based Reasons To Incorporate Yoga Into Your Daily Routine

Firstly, yoga involves stretching muscles, which helps improve flexibility and balance. Moreover, it can also significantly lower stress levels through physical practice, meditation, breath work, and sound rituals, providing relaxation and an improved quality of life. Yoga is recognized as an effective treatment for depression, with research indicating that both movement and breath-based therapies can significantly alleviate depressive symptoms.

Certain styles of yoga are strength-building, targeting both upper and lower limbs. Yoga asana can serve as an alternative treatment for anxiety, and practices like Yoga Nidra (a body-scan meditation) have been shown to reduce anxiety symptoms. Research had shown that this form of exercise, improves the quality of life for individuals with chronic pain, enhancing well-being and providing long-term health benefits, particularly for those with persistent health issues.

Yoga helps strengthen the immune system by reducing inflammation and enhancing cell-mediated immunity, especially with consistent practice over time. Pranayama (yogic breathing) has been shown to improve cardiovascular function. Research suggests that controlled breathing may positively affect the heart, brain, and lungs. In addition, it promotes better sleep by helping individuals fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply.