Yoga Among Most Popular Forms of Complementary Medicine

Over 21 million Americans practice yoga nowadays, according to a new study; that’s nearly double the amount of people who practiced yoga in 2002.

Moreover the percentage of Americans aged between 45 and 64 years old who are practicing yoga increased from 5.2% to 7.2%, with a significant difference seen in the number of Hispanic or Latino individuals practicing yoga. These findings come from 2 federal government surveys of over 100,000 adults and children.

Apart from physical well being, a lot of people have taken up yoga in order to treat chronic pain or anxiety. Children have also become more and more interested in this Indian practice. But all in all, the ones who practice it are doing this not just for physical training purposes, but for its meditation and mindfulness.

According to the study’s authors:

“The low cost and the ability to practice in one’s own home may contribute to yoga’s growing popularity. (…) Furthermore, public school systems are beginning to incorporate yoga into their fitness programs, which may accelerate use by children in the future.”

The study, which was released Tuesday, investigated several forms of alternative medicine that are gaining more and more graound. Among other supplements that are being used more and more, there’s one exception: fish oil, which is apparently holding the same top spot as it did when the survey was previously conducted five years ago. Because it is widely known for its containing omega-3 fatty acids the fish oil use raised from 4.8% in 2007 to 7.8% in 2012.

All in all about 1/3 of U.S. health care consumers announced they are using complementary therapies apart from the traditional Western medicine during 2002 and 2012, according to the survey released this Tuesday. Complementary therapies include yoga, chiropractic care, acupuncture, meditation,herbal products and massage.

In the meantime, Indians are disagreeing with the way their ancient practice has been transferred to the Western world. That’s why it’s planning to rebrand it to an authentically Hindu practice. The manners in which it was absorbed by the rest of the world reportedly have nothing to do with the authentic essence of Yoga, a Hindu practice dating back some 2500 years ago. The physical poses practiced by most are just a small part of the whole routine. Moreover some U.S. yoga trends, like power yoga, hip hop yoga or hot haha yoga been “invented” about a decade ago, so they have nothing to do with the real thing whatsoever.

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Tara Hamilton

Tara has graduated from the University of Oregon, with bachelors degree in Spanish Literature in 2010. She lived in Miami for one year and travelled extensively before settling down in El Paso.