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Yoga's Youth Gap: Where Have All the Youngsters Gone?
21 Jun
Summary
- Most yoga attendees in Panchkula are middle-aged or elderly.
- Local instructors report very few young adults in yoga classes.
- Institutions like schools and medical colleges are introducing yoga.
On the eve of the 12th International Yoga Day, public spaces like Yavnika Park in Panchkula are filled with elderly and middle-aged individuals practicing yoga, with very few young adults present. This marks a decade since Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a large yoga session in Chandigarh. Local yoga instructors confirm that their regular attendees are typically over 50 years old, with very few participants under 30.
Instructors like Vinod Bajaj and Anupama observe that younger generations do not yet grasp the profound benefits of yoga or the future lifestyle challenges it addresses. While overall demand for yoga has increased post-COVID, particularly for respiratory health, the youth demographic remains notably absent. Experts suggest that systematic introduction of yoga in schools is crucial to foster appreciation and understanding among the youth.
To make yoga more appealing to younger people, it has been included as a sport in the Khelo India games, with aspirations for Olympic inclusion. Additionally, PGIMER has integrated yoga into its MBBS curriculum to help medical students manage stress and burnout. Clinical studies have demonstrated that structured yoga can significantly reduce anxiety and depression in adolescents and adults, while improving cognitive functions.
