Yoga practitioners in India rise to 542 million: CCRYN director
Speaking at the 'Cardio Yoga Summit-2025: Healing Diabetes Through Yogic Integration', at Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research (SJICSR), here, Dr. Rao said 542 million people in the country are practicing yoga, realising its significance for health. The number of yoga practitioners was 300 million in 2005, which has risen to 542 million in 2025, with a sharp rise among both the young and the elderly.
The summit was organised in collaboration with the Government Ayurveda Research Centre, Mysuru, and the Department of AYUSH.
Dr. Rao said there is not much difference between urban and rural areas in terms of yoga practitioners, and nearly 17% of the youth have taken to yoga, realising its benefits. 'People across age groups – young, middle-aged, and elderly – are taking up yoga courses and practicing yoga regularly,' he said.
He also noted that the Union government has been promoting yoga in a big way, and the record turnout at Visakhapatnam during the International Day of Yoga 2025 is an indicator.
Despite India being a yoga hub, research on yoga is not encouraging compared to studies being carried out in the United States, United Kingdom, and even Russia. 'If only 19% of studies on yoga are from India, it is 41% in the US,' he observed.
He suggested that institutions should collaborate to carry out research in yoga, and collaborations with institutes such as Sri Jayadeva Institute can go a long way in this direction.
K.S. Sadananda, medical superintendent, SJICSR, said that India is described as the diabetes capital of the world, along with increasing cases of heart diseases. Despite technological advancements, the incidence of diabetes continues to rise, and the number of people seeking help following a spurt in heart attacks is also going up.
Attributing sedentary lifestyle as a major reason for the rise in diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, he said lifestyle modification is the need of the hour, and yoga plays an important role in addressing lifestyle diseases. 'Neither modern medicine nor yoga alone is the answer to these diseases. There is a need for integration of modern medicine and yogic medicine,' he added, calling for more research in yoga.
Former Vice-Chancellor K.S. Rangappa, who delivered the chief guest address virtually, said type-2 diabetes continues to challenge the public health system. 'The number of people with type-2 diabetes was 31 million in 2000, and it can go up to 79 million in 2030. Yoga can be one of the answers to address lifestyle diseases. It can be an effective medium,' he said.
The keynote address was delivered by M.A. Shekar, Vice-chancellor, Adichunchangiri University. SJICSR Bengaluru director Ravindranath delivered his presidential address, virtually. L.N. Shenoy, assistant director, GARC, Mysuru, was present.
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