Yoga Participation Grows While Pilates Numbers Decline

Mind-Body-Spirit News:

Yoga and yoga-related activities continue to increase in popularity, although the growth rate has slowed somewhat, according to the 2011 Tracking the Fitness Movement Report by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. In 2010, approximately 21.9 million people participated in yoga and yoga-related activities compared with about 20.1 million in 2009, representing an 8.8% growth.

Suggested reasons for growth include an increase in the number of yoga studios; new programming for specific groups, such as older adults, kids and runners; and publication of research on the many health benefits derived from practicing yoga.

Pilates Numbers Continue to Drop. The 2011 Tracking the Fitness Movement Report noted that Pilates participation declined for the third year in a row in 2010. Last year, 8.1 million people practiced Pilates compared with 8.7 million in 2009. In contrast to yoga, traditional Pilates programming can require large, expensive equipment. Study authors believed that interest in Pilates mat classes is holding steady and that the decline is in fee-for-participation classes that require machines. Since consumer spending has been down and disposable income has shrunk, people may be limiting spending on this type of fee-based training.

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Shirley Archer, JD, MA

IDEA Author/Presenter

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Shirley Archer, JD, MA, was the 2008 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year and is IDEA’s mind-bo... moreShirley Archer, JD, MA, was the 2008 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year and is IDEA’s mind-body-spirit spokesperson. She is a certified yoga and Pilates teacher and an award-winning author based in Palm Beach, Florida, and Zurich, Switzerland. Two of her books, The Walking Deck and The Strength and Toning Deck, are now featured as iPhone apps. Contact her at www.shirleyarcher.com. less

IDEA Fitness Journal, Volume 8, Number 11

November 2011

© 2011 by IDEA Health & Fitness Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

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