As the world prepares to mark the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on June 21, a nationwide survey conducted by the Ministry of Ayush highlights a decade of growing yoga adoption in India. The report, Impact Assessment of a Decade of International Day of Yoga (IDY): Survey Findings, reveals that over 41 per cent of respondents have integrated yoga into their lifestyle in various forms, underscoring its increasing relevance in health and wellness.
The comprehensive survey, conducted by the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN) and Surveykshan under YOLO 9 Technologies, covered 30,084 households across 34 States and union territories. It found that 11.2 per cent of respondents practice yoga regularly, while 13.4 per cent do so occasionally. Regular practitioners were defined as individuals who attend yoga classes or sessions consistently.
Dr Raghavendra Rao, Director of CCRYN, explained that lifestyle integration of yoga includes not just physical postures but also practices such as meditation, prayer (bhakti yoga), and other mindfulness routines. "These practices aim to calm the mind and bring holistic wellness, reflecting the broader impact of yoga beyond physical exercise," he said.
The report also revealed that yoga positively influences health: 24.6 per cent of respondents reported improved fitness, 16.9 per cent noted reduced stress levels, and about one-fourth claimed enhanced health awareness due to yoga. Notably, 36.2 per cent of individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease have turned to yoga as part of their management strategy.
Yoga awareness was found to be highest among the 18-24 age group, though the highest rate of regular practice (17 per cent) was among those aged 65 and above. Gender-wise, 11.6 per cent of men and 10.7 per cent of women reported regular practice, with urban areas showing slightly higher engagement (12.6 per cent) compared to rural regions (10.4 per cent).
In tandem with these findings, the Ministry of Ayush is advancing a new initiative-Harit Yoga, one of the 10 signature events commemorating IDY 2025. Union Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav emphasised that Harit Yoga merges environmental sustainability with yogic principles. "Harit Yoga is a movement to reconnect our breath with the planet's rhythm-one tree, one asana at a time," he said in an interview.
Launched under the vision of "One Tree in Mother's Name," inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for environmental consciousness, Harit Yoga encourages citizens to plant trees while embracing yoga in natural spaces. Over 160 dedicated events have already taken place, including clean-up drives, tree plantations, and outdoor yoga sessions across diverse terrains-from coastal zones to the Himalayan valleys.
To further support this green vision, the Ministry is revitalising Yoga Parks in collaboration with local bodies and Resident Welfare Associations. These open-air community wellness spaces aim to provide citizens with serene, eco-friendly environments for regular yoga practice.
"Yoga should not be limited to June 21. It must become a daily habit-a path to personal wellness and national well-being," Jadhav said.