title: Frequency of yoga practice predicts health: results of a national survey of yoga practitioners.
abstract: Background. Yoga shows promise as a therapeutic intervention, but relationships between yoga practice and health are underexplored. Purpose. To examine the relationship between yoga practice and health (subjective well-being, diet, BMI, smoking, alcohol/caffeine consumption, sleep, fatigue, social support, mindfulness, and physical activity). Methods. Cross-sectional, anonymous internet surveys distributed to 4307 randomly selected from 18,160 individuals at 15 US Iyengar yoga studios; 1045 (24.3%) surveys completed. Results. Mean age 51.7 (± 11.7) years; 84.2% female. Frequency of home practice favorably predicted (P < .001): mindfulness, subjective well-being, BMI, fruit and vegetable consumption, vegetarian status, sleep, and fatigue. Each component of yoga practice (different categories of physical poses, breath work, meditation, philosophy study) predicted at least 1 health outcome (P < .05). Conclusions. Home practice of yoga predicted health better than years of practice or class frequency. Different physical poses and yoga techniques may have unique health benefits.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Nursing, 655 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Alyson
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Friedmann
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bevans
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thomas