Yoga has become one of the most widely practised forms of physical activity in the United Kingdom. This page brings together the most reliable data on participation, demographics, market size, and health research into one place. All figures are drawn from primary sources, including Sport England, peer-reviewed journals, and government health bodies.
How many people practise yoga in the UK?
According to the Sport England Active Lives Adult Survey (November 2023 to 2024), yoga and Pilates combined attract 14% of the adult population in England. Sport England surveys over 200,000 adults each year, making this the most statistically robust measure of participation available in the UK.
The participation split by gender is significant. Around 20% of women in England participate in yoga or Pilates, compared with around 6% of men. This three-to-one female-to-male ratio has been consistent across multiple survey years, though participation among men has grown steadily since 2015.
A cross-sectional survey published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (University of Westminster, 2020) found that UK yoga practitioners are predominantly female (82%), white (94%), and well-educated, with the largest age group falling in the 30 to 49 bracket.
Yoga studios and teachers in the UK
There are approximately 4,920 Pilates and yoga studios in the UK as of 2025, according to IBISWorld industry data. This represents growth of around 1.3% per year over the past five years, a steady expansion that continued despite the disruption of the pandemic years.
Yoga teacher demographics differ markedly from practitioner demographics. A survey of 407 UK yoga providers found that teachers are predominantly aged 45 to 64 (69%), female (93%), and white (93%), according to research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
The two main professional bodies for yoga teachers in the UK are Yoga Alliance Professionals and the British Wheel of Yoga. Both bodies set training standards and provide insurance frameworks for registered teachers.
The UK yoga market
The UK yoga market was valued at approximately $6.2 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $12.8 billion by 2033, according to Grand View Research, representing a compound annual growth rate of 9.5%. These figures include yoga tuition, studios, teacher training, retreats, and yoga-related products.
The UK yoga accessories market, which covers mats, props, clothing, and equipment, was valued at approximately $425 million in 2024 and is forecast to grow to $652 million by 2030 (Deep Market Insights, 2024).
Offline yoga classes continue to represent the largest segment of the market, accounting for around 77% of total revenue. Online yoga is the fastest-growing segment, a shift accelerated by the pandemic and sustained by changes in how people schedule their practice.
Yoga and health: what the research shows
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) includes yoga as one of the recommended treatments for lower back pain and sciatica in its clinical guidelines. This makes the UK one of the few countries where yoga has formal recognition within a national healthcare framework.
The University of Westminster survey found that wellbeing scores among yoga practitioners are higher, and stress scores lower, than national population norms. Musculoskeletal conditions and mental health conditions were the most commonly cited reasons for beginning yoga.
A 2024 study funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), conducted by York St John University, examined a 12-week yoga programme for adults aged 65 and over with multiple long-term health conditions. The programme involved over 450 participants and was found to be safe, positively experienced, and good value for money.
A meta-analysis by Cramer et al. found yoga to be an effective complementary intervention for depression, anxiety, and stress-related conditions. The College of Medicine and Integrated Health has called for yoga to be clinically prescribed by the NHS, citing its cost-effectiveness as a preventive and complementary treatment.
Yoga and mental health in the UK
Mental health is the fastest-growing reason for starting yoga in the UK. The University of Westminster survey found that anxiety was the most commonly cited current health condition among yoga practitioners, and also the condition for which practitioners most frequently credited yoga as helpful.
Stress reduction is the most consistently reported benefit across UK yoga surveys. Yoga's effects on cortisol regulation and the parasympathetic nervous system are well-documented in the published literature, providing a biological mechanism for these reported improvements.
Yoga participation: UK vs global
Globally, yoga is practised by an estimated 300 million people worldwide, with the United States representing the largest single market. The UK is among the most active yoga markets in Europe, alongside Germany, France, and Australia.
The global yoga market was valued at approximately $107 billion in 2024 and is forecast to exceed $200 billion by 2032 (Grand View Research).
Key statistics at a glance
- 14% of English adults participate in yoga or Pilates (Sport England, 2024)
- 20% of women and 6% of men participate in yoga or Pilates (Sport England, 2024)
- Approximately 4,920 yoga and Pilates studios in the UK (IBISWorld, 2025)
- UK yoga market value: approximately $6.2 billion (2025)
- UK yoga accessories market: approximately $425 million (2024)
- NICE recommends yoga for lower back pain and sciatica
- 82% of UK yoga practitioners are female (University of Westminster, 2020)
- Largest practitioner age group: 30 to 49 years
- 93% of UK yoga teachers are female (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health)
Sources and methodology
The statistics on this page are drawn from the following primary sources: Sport England Active Lives Adult Survey (November 2023 to 2024, published April 2025); University of Westminster cross-sectional survey of UK yoga practice, published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2020); IBISWorld UK Pilates and Yoga Studios industry report (2025); Grand View Research yoga market analysis (2024); Deep Market Insights UK yoga accessories market report (2024); NICE guidelines on low back pain and sciatica (NG59); York St John University NIHR-funded yoga study (2024).
This page is reviewed and updated annually. Where figures come from commercial market research reports, they should be treated as estimates. Sport England Active Lives data represents the most statistically robust participation figures available for England.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people do yoga in the UK?
Sport England's Active Lives Survey reports that 14% of adults in England participate in yoga or Pilates. With England's adult population of approximately 45 million, this represents around 6 to 7 million regular participants.
Is yoga growing in popularity in the UK?
Yes. Participation in yoga and Pilates has grown steadily over the past decade according to Sport England data, and the yoga accessories and studio market has continued to expand. Online yoga experienced particularly strong growth during and after the pandemic.
Does the NHS recommend yoga?
NICE, which sets clinical guidelines for England and Wales, includes yoga as a recommended treatment for lower back pain and sciatica. GPs can also recommend yoga through social prescribing. Yoga is not yet formally available as a clinical prescription, though there is growing academic and clinical support for this change.
What is the most popular type of yoga in the UK?
Hatha and Vinyasa are consistently the most widely taught styles in UK studios. Yin yoga, restorative yoga, and pregnancy yoga have all grown significantly in recent years.
