Yoga Is Much More Popular Than You Think

The ancient practice is not just a fitness trend. It’s a billion-dollar business with millions of participants.

Yoga Is Much More Popular Than You Think

Outdoor yoga class — Yoga can be done anywhere.

Yoga is more than a fitness trend. It’s a billion-dollar business with millions of participants.

Between pictures of bodies bending in mind-boggling ways and celebrities raving about the benefits, perhaps your curiosity has been piqued. You're not alone. Yoga’s popularity is real.

Here are some facts about yoga — and its economic impact — that may surprise you.

1. Yoga Strengthens Your Mind, Body and Soul

Yoga outside group — Yoga has gained popularity across the world.

Yoga is an ancient practice that’s been developed over thousands of years.

It is an immersive physical, spiritual and mental study — a mind-body approach to improving your overall lifestyle.

2. The Practice Has Gone Mainstream

Yoga class — Yoga is now a mainstream exercise practice.

Part of the study of yoga — arguably the most popular part — is "hatha" yoga, the physical practice of bending your body into "asanas," or various postures that improve your strength and flexibility.

Though in the past, yoga may have been considered an out-of-the-mainstream exercise practice, it’s gained popularity across the world.

3. Yoga's Goal Is to Make You Feel Better

Yoga pose near water — Yoga is a great way to connect with nature.

The goal of the physical practice of yoga isn’t exclusively to improve the overall mind-body connection through physical exertion and breathwork.

For many people, it’s an effective, body-positive exercise option that can complement another training routine or be a stand-alone program.

4. Yoga Beats Many Other Exercise Options

Yoga popularity chart — Yoga is popular.

And because yoga attempts to promote an accepting and open culture no matter your physical abilities, there’s far more interest in yoga than other popular exercise options beyond walking and running.

See the graph above. From 2014 to 2019, Google searches for yoga (blue) outpaced those of CrossFit (red), spinning (yellow), SoulCycle (green) and zumba (purple).

5. Not Everyone Is a Fan

Vintage yoga headstands — Yoga has been around for a long time.

Of course, yoga’s not without its controversies.

It’s gotten plenty of pushback in Western culture.

Even early adopters in ancient times had their issues.

6. The Good Outweighs Any Potential Drawbacks

Yoga outdoor class — Yoga brings happiness to many people.

Yoga is by no means perfect.

Like any form of exercise, overexerting yourself or trying to practice without proper alignment or instruction can be just as dangerous for your body and health as any other form of intense physical activity.

Still, the overall benefits of yoga are considered positive.

7. It’s a Multi-Billion Dollar Industry

In 2013, a Huffington Post story called yoga a $27 billion industry. A 2016 study by Yoga Journal and the Yoga Alliance reported it’s a $16.8 billion industry. Statista concludes that yoga’s 2015 revenue in the U.S. alone was $9.09 billion, and it’s estimated to rise to $11.56 billion by 2020.

So while the exact billion-dollar number seems difficult to lock down, the conclusion is real: Between classes people pay to attend, and the equipment and accessories practitioners buy, yoga has become a big business.

8. Yoga’s More Lucrative and More Popular Than CrossFit

Warrior I pose — Yoga teaches you how to be a peaceful warrior.

To put yoga in perspective, let’s compare it to CrossFit, another fitness craze that has sharply risen in popularity in recent years.

CrossFit is an estimated $4 billion industry.

9. Yoga vs. CrossFit

On Google, people search for yoga far more often, too.

Over the past five years, Google searches for yoga (blue in the graph above) consistently outpace those of CrossFit (red).

10. About 26 Percent of the World’s Population Practices Yoga

According to a United Nations news report, an estimated 2 billion people worldwide practice yoga.

Earth’s overall current population is 7.8 billion.

11. Or Is It 300 Million Practitioners?

Yoga in Bali — Yoga practitioners in Bali.

However, the number of yoga practitioners is somewhat contested.

Other sources claim the worldwide number of yoga practitioners is closer to 300 million.

Either way, it’s a pretty impressive number.

12. Yoga vs. Tinder

Yoga studio — Yoga's an effective exercise option.

More people regularly practice yoga than use Tinder daily.

Tinder users are estimated at 50 million.

13. 34 Percent of Americans Express Interest in Practicing Yoga

yoga in the U.S. — The number of U.S. yoga practitioners is estimated to be more than 36 million.

According to the 2016 study by Yoga Journal and the Yoga Alliance, 34 percent of Americans reported that they’re "somewhat or very likely to practice yoga in the next 12 months."

The same survey pinpointed the actual number of U.S. yoga practitioners at 36.7 million.

14. It’s Been in America Since the Late 1800s

It took a few thousand years, but the first yoga practitioner to make it to the United States, Swami Vivekenanda, came over in 1894.

He published a book, "Raja Yoga," out of New York in 1896.

15. Anyone Can Learn to Open Up Their Spiritual Dimensions

Yoga in nature — Yoga helps people find balance.

There was a resurgence in the 1920s, thanks to another famous yoga teacher, Paramahansa Yogananda.

He spoke, taught and published the classic book "Autobiography of the Yogi."

That book remains popular to this day around the world with more than four million copies sold since its 1947 publication.

16. Yoga Studios Are Booming

There are more than 6,000 yoga studios in the United States.

17. All Are Welcome

Child's pose — Yoga studios are meditative and energizing places.

Some studios are independent and homegrown. Others are more corporate.

Today, you can find a yoga studio to meet just about any need.

18. Yoga’s a Popular Amazon Search, Too

Yoga mats — Mats come in different colors and designs.

Through 2018, "yoga mat" ranked No. 58 on the list of most popular Amazon searches, with around 769,000 people looking for it.

Just below it, at No. 59 with 767,000 searches, was "gaming chair."

19. You Can Get a Comfortable Yoga Mat for Under $100

Yoga pose — A good yoga mat becomes your friend.

So more people were looking for a comfortable way to move than a comfortable way to sit down for hours.

Though, to be fair, the more sedentary Nintendo Switch topped the Amazon list with more than four million searches.

Still, you can get a good mat for $20 to $100. That's not a huge expense for something that could change your life.

20. Instagram Loves Yoga

yoga on instagram — Being a yoga lifestyle brand or influencer is growing business, too.

A quick Instagram search for #yoga yields more than 82 million results.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

21. The Biggest Influencers Have Millions of Followers

Shannon De Lima is a yoga influencer with 2.2 million Instagram followers.

Being a yoga lifestyle brand or influencer is a growing business.

According to Heepsy, the top 10 yoga-themed influencers each have more than 370,00 followers. Six have more than 1 million followers.

And one, Shannon De Lima (@shadelima), has more than 2 million.

22. Teaching Yoga Is a Popular Job or Side Hustle

yoga as a job — Being a yoga teacher is great for one's overall stress levels.

According to a CNN story, being a yoga teacher is one of the best jobs in America based on the income, growth potential and overall stress levels (in this case, a general lack thereof).

23. There Are Thousands of Yoga Schools and Instructors

Expert yoga pose — This pose is not for beginners.

Many people have been trained to teach yoga and are eager to share their knowledge.

Through December of 2015, 52,746 teachers had graduated from the more than 18,000 Yoga Alliance-registered schools.

Will you be next to teach, learn or both?

24. There Also Are Many Ways to Practice

Woman practicing yoga — A woman practices kundalini yoga.

Yoga can be incorporated into other popular workouts in many creative ways.

Some of them include yogalates, power, kundalini, hot, Iyengar, vinyasa, bikram, Yin and trauma.

25. That's Because Yoga Is Flexible (Literally and Figuratively)

Yoga splits — Every yoga journey is unique.

Yoga, as you can see, gives practitioners many choices.

Because yoga can be modified to fit any lifestyle or fitness goal.

26. Class Costs Vary

The average cost of a yoga class in the U.S. ranges from $12-$16, depending on where you live.

Many gym memberships include group yoga classes.

27. Yoga Has Lots of Deals

Yoga circle — Yoga is the practice of quieting your mind.

Some yoga studios offer class packages and monthly memberships that can reduce that overall cost in exchange for a one-time fee.

28. Yoga Can Be Addictive Once You Get Started

The trick is, of course, getting to classes to make that membership cost worth it.

As one anonymous said, "Yoga is not a workout. It is a work-in. And this is the point of spiritual practice to make us teachable to open up our hearts and focus our awareness so that we can know what we already know and be who we already are."

29. You Can Do It With Online Instruction

If going to a class isn't for you, that's fine.

You don’t need to be a member of or even physically attend a more traditional yoga studio in order to practice regularly.

Between free YouTube videos, yoga DVDs, online yoga communities, tutorials for yoga and tons of yoga apps, there are countless ways to get involved in the yoga community without belonging to an actual physical community.

30. All You Need Is 10 Minutes to Start Today

A little yoga goes a long way.

This 10-minute yoga routine is a great place to start.

Namaste.