7 Interesting Facts About Yoga
Yoga is a physical practice from India that's over 5000 years old. Amazingly, it's not only survived these thousands of years but it's adapted over time and become increasingly popular. There are now over 330 million people worldwide who practice yoga.
You'll find yoga anywhere from your local gym to a brewery! There are more unique styles of yoga than ever before, and more opportunities to try them.
That being said, let's dive into 7 interesting facts about yoga to better understand where it came from, why people do it, and what it can do for you.
Yoga is Rooted in Hindu Philosophy
Anand Mehrotra emphasizes that while many in the West view yoga merely as a form of exercise, there's often a light infusion of philosophical teachings derived from its Indian origins in local yoga classes.
There are 8 main steps or principles traditionally laid out before someone can be called a yogi. These are called the 8 limbs of yoga which are as follows:
Yama (non-violence)
Niyama (cleanliness of body + mind)
Asanas (physical yoga practice)
Pranayamas (breathing exercises)
Pratyahara (withdrawing senses)
Dharna (focus)
Dhyan (meditation)
Samadhi (a state of meditative consciousness)
Yoga in the Western world is primarily focused on physical postures and breathing exercises, but some yoga teachers will also mix in elements of meditation and moral teachings to help their students become closer to the state of "self-realization" or freedom.
More Women Practice Yoga Than Men
Yoga was originally practiced exclusively by men, but these demographics have changed over the many years yoga has evolved. Yoga is now practiced by mostly women. 72% of people who practice yoga globally are women, and 82% of people who do yoga in the US are female.
The largest age group demographic who does yoga is 30-39-year-olds, so it appears men, young people, and elderly people may all be missing out on the full benefits of yoga.
The reason not many men do yoga is complex, but it seems to be related to an unhelpful societal expectation that men should do more intense activities and should pay little attention to caring for their own health and well-being.
This subtle but pervasive message leaves men with worse mental and physical health outcomes than they deserve. Thankfully, the tide is finally turning and more and more men are becoming open to trying beneficial practices like yoga.
There are even services and apps that cater specifically to yoga for men so they can work on their targeted goals.
Yoga Came to America as Far Back as 1893
Yoga could be called "mainstream" in American culture today, but it wasn't always like that. The first person to bring the ancient practice of yoga to an American audience was Swami Vivekananda at the Chicago World Parliament of Religions. However, it still took several decades for yoga to grow in popularity.
Yoga had an uptick in recognition in the 1920s and 1930s', but it spread rapidly during the 1960s as part of the hippie subculture. There's far less political controversy surrounding yoga today as it's slowly become interwoven with various different aspects of American culture.
The bottom line is, yoga stuck around because it offers countless benefits to the people who practice it.
One of The Most Common Reasons For Practicing Yoga is Stress Relief
People do yoga for an innumerable number of reasons, and most people do it for several, but the most commonly stated reason to practice yoga is for stress relief.
Yoga encourages practitioners to slow down and become introspective. It helps them reconnect with their breath, the sensations of their body, as well as the thoughts and feelings in their mind. Many people operate in a constant state of external focus which often leads to feelings of anxiety and stress.
Much of the stress relief seen from doing yoga is simply from the opportunity to slow down and pay attention to your own needs rather than function in a constant state of high alert.
Yoga is Effective at Enhancing Physical Fitness
Another common reason to try yoga is to increase physical fitness. Depending on the style of yoga, it can be a rigorous form of exercise that increases strength, cardiovascular health, and of course flexibility,
Yoga may also improve balance and coordination which is another often underrated aspect of total physical fitness and health. Athletes may find yoga is a great supplement to their athletic training to work on these particular aspects of physical capabilities.
Yoga Can Have Impressive Neurocognitive Benefits
Since yoga has become incredibly widespread, there's been a fair bit of research into the exact effects and benefits it can impart. One interesting effect yoga seems to have on practitioners is a boost in cognitive abilities.
Specifically, yoga can increase neuroplasticity by better allowing the brain cells to make new connections. This may improve learning abilities, memories, attention, and even mood regulation.
The Average Yogi Will Spend Tens of Thousands of Dollars on Yoga in Their Lifetime
This final interesting fact about yoga may be the most shocking one of all. Most yogis will spend huge amounts of money on their yoga-focused lifestyle.
Depending on how you calculate it, this could be an average of $1000 dollars per year, or even more. Yoga classes, workshops, and events can add up, but what's even more expensive are the lifestyle-related expenses.
Yoga retreats that involve international travel have become an increasingly popular form of wellness tourism. They can be days to weeks long and center around an itinerary of yoga done in a structured way. Yoga teacher training programs are also highly popular and generally cost several thousand dollars to complete.
Aside from these large expenses, yoga clothing, mats, and accessories can also add up.
Conclusion
Yoga has stood the test of time thanks to its obvious ability to improve the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of those who practice it. It's becoming more accessible, and stigmas around men doing yoga are beginning to shift.
Yoga can be an expensive practice, so services like online apps that provide instructional yoga content can be an excellent way to reap the benefits of yoga no matter your location or budget.
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