Searching for Yoga

January is the peak time of year for people Google-searching for Yoga and perhaps trying it out for the first time or coming back to practice in earnest. A natural time of year when we start thinking about how best to look after ourselves and attend to our health and well-being.

Interestingly, the largest-ever search for Yoga online in the UK was apparently around the Covid lockdown in January 2021. As Yoga continues to gain popularity at an incredible rate, I think it’s the power of our own experiences in this practice that drives the growth of Yoga year after year.

According to the Global Yoga Survey of over 10,000 people in 2021 by doyou, friends and family have a significant influence in moving others to practise. Such is the impact of the benefits we feel in ourselves, so many of us feel compelled to share it with others.

Why Yoga?

Many of you completed the Yoga survey I sent out in December, and I’ve loved reading the responses - thank you for returning them. The results were remarkably in sync with other surveys, such as the Global Yoga Survey and the Big UK Yoga Study (Cartwright/Mason et al.), which looked at regular practitioners' motivations, benefits and behaviours.

The physical and mental health benefits are cited as the most common reasons people start to practise. In the UK survey, well-being and general fitness were important to starters, with around half of practitioners changing their motivations over time - stress management and spirituality becoming more important to their current practice. Many of you were open enough to share your stories and describe how Yoga helps you deal with the challenges life brings.

YOUR Yoga

Beyond data, what I love the most are the personal articulations which enrich our understanding of what we get out of our practice. When I asked what you enjoy most about Yoga, here is a snapshot of the responses I received:

“When my body feels opened and strengthened and my mind is calm and centred.”

“It’s taught me to be more accepting of myself, my body and my limitations.”

“The feel-good factor after practice.”

“Being absorbed, the breathing, fluidity.”

“..always brings me back to myself.”

“Harmony, balance, sense of improving general well-being and building a strong foundation”

“How it makes me feel moving with the breath.”

“Total absorption”

You can still complete my yoga survey here: Yoga Survey 😉

Keep it Going in 2023

One of the first blogs I posted on my website was around this time last year. It was all about building and maintaining habits. January is a naturally motivating time, but motivation invariably wanes - creating an environment around us to help sustain good habits is just as essential to help us succeed beyond January.

Read my blog on habits here: First we make our habits, then our habits make us

Whether you’re new to Yoga…whether you’re seasoned...are you practising with me this year? I hope so 😁

Let’s welcome this new year of potential. Let’s practise.