Yoga Practice Among Americans Reaches New Heights, CDC Survey Finds

Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness

In the United States, approximately one in six adults, or 16.9%, practiced yoga in 2022, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This data, drawn from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey, highlights demographic trends and motivations behind yoga practice among American adults.

The survey reveals that 80% of yoga practitioners engage in the activity to improve their overall health, while around 30% use yoga as a method to treat and manage pain. Women are significantly more likely to practice yoga than men, with over 23% of U.S. women participating in yoga compared to 11.4% of men.

Yoga practice is notably prevalent among certain racial and ethnic groups. Among adults who practice yoga, 16.9% are Asian, 15.5% are White, 9.3% are Hispanic, and 7.5% are Black. Additionally, the likelihood of practicing yoga increases with higher income levels, with the highest participation rate among those with family incomes at 400% of the federal poverty level or more.

The survey also indicates that more than half of yoga practitioners incorporate meditation into their routines. Specifically, 57.4% of yoga practitioners meditate as part of their practice, with women (59.3%) being more likely to do so than men (52.9%). The likelihood of practicing meditation as part of yoga decreases with age, from 62.0% for adults aged 18–44 to 49.1% for those aged 65 and older.

Among those who practice yoga, 28.8% do so to treat or manage pain. Men (31.8%) are more likely than women (27.5%) to use yoga for pain management. The practice is most common among adults aged 45–64 (31.5%) compared to those aged 18–44 (27.9%) and those aged 65 and older (27.2%). The percentage of adults using yoga for pain management decreases with increasing family income, from 37.8% among those with family incomes less than 200% of the federal poverty level to 25.4% among those with family incomes at 400% or more.

These findings coincide with the celebration of International Day of Yoga tomorrow, highlighting the growing acceptance and integration of yoga into the health and wellness routines of many Americans. As more people turn to yoga for its restorative and therapeutic properties, its role in promoting a balanced and healthy lifestyle continues to expand.

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