by Guest Blogger, Bjorn Turnquist of 3 Bridges Yoga
Yoga is everywhere. From TV commercials, celebrities, yoga festivals, p90X and gyms and health clubs, yoga has hit the mainstream. Even right here in Portsmouth, there are 8 studios all within the city limits and this doesn’t include the many other yoga options available throughout the Seacoast.
Here are the latest stats about the popularity of yoga in the United States, according to Statistic Brain.
http://www.statisticbrain.com/yoga-statistics/
| Yoga Demographics and Statistics | |
| Total Number of Americans who practice Yoga | 15 million |
| Percent female | 72.2% |
| Percent male | 27.8% |
| Precent who earn more than $75,000 annually | 44% |
| Percent who earn more than $100,000 annually | 24% |
| Percent between the ages of 18-34 | 40.6% |
| Percent between the ages of 35-54 | 41% |
| Percent over 55 | 18.4% |
| Percent who are college graduates | 71.4% |
| Yoga by Location | |
| Percent of practitioners that live on the West Coast | 20 % |
| Percent of practitioners that live in the Northeast | 30 % |
| Percent of practitioners that live in the Midwest including Ohio | 30 % |
| Other parts | 20 % |
| Yoga Industry Growth Statistics | |
| Amount spent annually in the US on yoga products | $27 Billion |
| Percent increase on yoga product spending over the last 5 years | 87 % |
| Average annual increase of the number of people who practice yoga | 20 % |
Why is yoga on the upward trend? Its roots date back to 5,000 years ago and it was brought to the US in the early 1900s, so why now? Well, for one obvious reason is people want to live healthier. Like other physical activities like running, swimming, and biking, yoga is exercise.
Looking at the trends above, 20% more people are practicing yoga every year, and spending more money. Unlike the many yoga options in town, there are only a few gyms. According to statistic brain, gym membership sales are down 16% from 2010 to 2011.
Is yoga just going to be a trend, like jazzercise, leg warmers and gangnam style? Or is it going to last and become the way humans stay fit?
Maybe this yoga thing has more to it than just sweating it out and showcasing your best Warrior 2 butt and legs. Maybe there is something more than just getting a work out. In this age where we are constantly distracted by media, internet, Facebooks, cellphones, video games – you name it; maybe yoga is calling our culture and world to something more.
The heart of yoga doesn’t reside in the yoga poses. In Sanskrit, Yoga means “to yoke”, or in simpler terms, “union”. There are many facets of yoga: from poses, to breathing exercises, and even moral principles to follow. There are techniques ranging from the simple to the weird and complex. For example, what are we trying to yoke when we balance on one leg?
The heart of yoga is connection. Yoga aims to connect you to you, and to connect you to others: other people, other living things and our planet and universe. It’s not religion, but when you connect whole heartedly to yourself and others, and know we are all living and breathing on this planet together, there might be more to just us spinning randomly on this ball of blue.
But what do I know? I’m just another one of us on the growing yoga bandwagon. I’ve been practicing for 7 years, teaching for 2, and I’ve barely scratched the surface of what yoga means. As a yoga teacher, I do see people coming in for their first class. Their bodies like sacks of potatoes and maybe harboring an injury. Their minds are racing and distracted. But, after some steady practice, they feel better. They seem happier, lighter, stand a little taller, and are a little more aware and mindful. Not to mention a trimmer waistline and maybe a healed injury.
So, if you have never done yoga, or tried it and didn’t like it, give it another shot. Make it a challenge. Make it a relationship. Go try one of the many great studios and teachers in the area and find the one that resonates with you. Who knows what will happen?
About Bjorn and Jody
Bjorn founded 3 Bridges Yoga with his wife Jody in 2011. 3 Bridges Yoga with locations in Portsmouth and Durham, New Hampshire is dedicated to serving our community by making yoga accessible and successful for all. Bjorn completed his 200 hour RYT certification with yoga teacher and author Rolf Gates. Bjorn also trained in dynamic language and themes with Danny Arguetty. When not teaching yoga, Bjorn enjoys spending time with their daugther Zoe, listening and playing music, golfing and a good meal.
About Healing Hands Community Chiropractic
Our mission at Healing Hands Community Chiropractic -Portsmouth, NH is to promote and support the overall health, well-being and highest quality of life of all individuals and families in our community through affordable chiropractic care.
Healing Hands Community Chiropractic is a health -care model intended to increase access to chiropractic care by offering adjustments in an open setting and fees on an affordable sliding-scale, without income verification. By doing so, we offer the people of our community the opportunity to receive treatment as often as they need, to get the results they deserve with no insurance hassles -simply paying what they can for only $20- $40!
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