More than 1 million Aussies practise: Why yoga’s popularity is growing

Bridget Johns had no intention of ever trying yoga. “I didn’t think a yoga workout was a ‘proper’ workout,” the 40-year-old says. “I thought that to be a workout, it needed to be sweaty; you need to be lifting weights and things like that.” She wasn’t drawn to the idea of it, either. “The ‘woo-ness’ probably scared me away a bit.”

But when she attended a business retreat a few months ago and saw that yoga sessions were on offer, she decided to join in. “I just thought it would be a good way to talk to people in a more casual environment.”

That one yoga class kickstarted a new outlook – and a new habit. As an organisation expert, Johns talks about the benefits of using 1 per cent of your day – 14.4 minutes – to achieving your goals. Johns decided to dedicate one per cent of her day to practising yoga.

She is far from the only one soaking up the benefits of the downward dog. Research from the Australian Sports Commission found that of all the sporting endeavours Aussies partake in, lifestyle activities are proving most popular. While tennis, golf and soccer are still hot favourites, yoga has even more fans, with 1.17 million Australians aged 15 and over practising it.

Exercise physiologist and yoga teacher Skye Thomas says the ancient practice has been rising in popularity in Australia “for quite a while”. While it’s common to discuss yoga as a single entity, she says it’s an umbrella term for a variety of practices.

These range from ashtanga, vinyasa and hot yoga – which Thomas says are “strong practices” that can lead to a sweaty, intense workout – to the “nourishing” effects of yin and restorative yoga.

“Those are more about calming the nervous system and allowing your body to open and relax,” she says.

Regardless of the type, Thomas says you’re bound to reap the benefits. Not only can yoga improve flexibility, balance and body strength, she says it can also assist in reducing levels of chronic pain and blood pressure.

While people often hop on board the yoga bandwagon because of the physical benefits, Thomas says they tend to keep going because of the benefits to their mental health.