Yoga Voted the Best Form of Exercise: Ipsos Study

69% Indians do not practice Yoga

77% commend PM Modi’s feat for World Yoga Day    

Majority (51%) voted Yoga as the best form of exercise, followed by Walking (31%), Running (11%) and Gymming (8%); according to a new study by leading global market research company Ipsos.

The Ipsos study was released on the eve of World Yoga Day on June 21.

Yoga has been an age old practice in India and not surprisingly, 62% of respondents polled said they were proud of Yoga as their rich heritage.

“Prima facie, hard selling benefits of Yoga is not the need of hour, adopting Yoga and making time for it is key for vitality, stress free and healthy life,” said Amit Adarkar, Managing Director, Ipsos India.

64% respondents polled said that World Yoga Day should be best leveraged via road shows covering schools, malls and television, encouraging widespread adoption of Yoga. 19% respondents polled said celebrities should promote Yoga, while 14% respondents said that corporate world should conduct events propagating benefits and adoption of Yoga on World Yoga Day.

PM Modi’s role in World Yoga Day was commended by respondents and 77% said that they were proud of this feat. And credit Modi for his intervention and using his clout with the UN to mark June 21^st as World Yoga Day.  

Interestingly, 69% of respondents polled said that they do not practice Yoga daily. Only exceptions being Mumbaikars, Delhiites and Lucknowites – where over 40% respondents polled, claimed to be practicing Yoga regularly.

While majority does not do Yoga in their daily regimen, when probed about benefits of Yoga, we found respondents espousing them.

Our survey showed 79% of the respondents polled endorsed Yoga for both physical and mental well-being.

Respondents also seemed highly aware on the health benefits of Yoga and ascribed a number of benefits to it: improved respiration, energy and vitality (63%); increased muscle strength and tone (62%) and weight reduction (62%); balanced metabolism (50%); cardio & circulatory health (46%); increased flexibility 45%); improved athletic performance (31%); and protection from injury (11%).

Adarkar sees merit in regular practice of Yoga. ‘With increased stress levels, urban Indians are constantly tossed by demands and looking for ways to de-stress and give their cent per cent to every facet of life. Practicing Yoga will give them the booster dose for mental and physical well-being, making them equipped for challenges, getting least flustered,” added Adarkar. 

The biggest challenge was about doing Yoga the right way. 83% of respondents polled felt that Yoga was best learnt through an expert at it involves the various intricacies of the asanas. 

All popular brands have a brand ambassador. When we asked respondents about who they felt should be the face of Yoga, 61% voted for Baba Ramdev, 27% for PM Narendra Modi, 8% for Shilpa Shetty and 4% for Bipasha Basu.

Over 50% respondents polled in Chennai and Bangalore endorsed PM Modi as more suited for the title, given his popularity and his role in bringing recognition for Yoga as Made in India brand.