Saturday, June 21st, marks International Yoga Day, a global celebration of one of the world’s oldest and most holistic forms of movement and mindfulness. With origins dating back over 5,000 years in India, yoga has transcended borders and generations to become a powerful global movement with over 300 million people practising worldwide today.
Research-based evidence continues to grow, supporting the notion that yoga benefits all aspects of our overall well-being, including mental, emotional, social, and physical health. Encouragingly, yoga participation in Aotearoa remains steady, a reflection of its lasting appeal and value. Increasingly, Kiwis are recognising that the true benefits of yoga unfold through consistent, ongoing practice. As one of the most effective, accessible, and sustainable paths to overall well-being, yoga offers long-term rewards for those who embrace it as part of their lifestyle. With different styles and methods of practice, it is a modality that can be incorporated into any life stage or capacity. International Yoga Day is a wonderful starting point and an invitation to make yoga a regular, enriching part of everyday life.
Research consistently promotes the potential health benefits related to the regular practice of yoga, such as improvements in mood, focus, and resilience. A Harvard Medical School article notes that yoga can be as effective as standard exercise in reducing anxiety and depression symptoms, with added benefits to brain function, heart rate variability, and emotional balance. The same review highlights how yoga practice increases thickness in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, areas of the brain tied to memory and learning. Additionally, further research in Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience confirms yoga’s positive effects on brain structure and function, particularly in areas related to self-awareness and emotional regulation.
Why Yoga Works: Evidence-Based Benefits
Yoga can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety by up to 40%
Regular practice improves sleep, focus, and heart rate variability
Yoga enhances flexibility, balance, and core strength, reducing the risk of injury
Long-term practice supports emotional regulation and mental clarity
Yoga may increase brain volume in key areas related to cognition and memory
This International Yoga Day, ExerciseNZ and YogaNZ invite you to go beyond a single day of practice and consider how yoga could become a lasting part of your life. Take a moment to pause, breathe deeply, and move with intention. Whether you’re stepping into a studio, unrolling your mat at home, or trying yoga for the first time, you’re joining a global movement toward greater wellbeing, mindfulness, and inner peace.
