The enduring appeal of yoga – a constant presence in the world’s top fitness trends

The development of yoga can be traced back over 5,000 years; some researchers think the practice may be several millennia older still.

And yet, while other exercise concepts come and go – passing fads that last no more than a couple of years – yoga consistently places in the ACSM’s top 20 trends. Of course, new innovations help keep it fresh: the likes of hot yoga, for example, and aerial yoga. But at the heart of it, yoga’s principles remain intact.

So what is it that ensures yoga’s continued role at the heart of studio class timetables around the world?

One of the key reasons for its continued popularity is the variety within the discipline. If you just want to relax and breathe to ease away the stresses of everyday life, there’s a form of yoga that fits the bill perfectly. If you prefer to use your gym time to burn calories and shed fat, there are yoga classes out there that will deliver exactly that. If you want to improve your performance in other sports, the strength, flexibility and balance that yoga develops enhances your body’s potential in other physical activities.

The other vital factor in yoga’s longevity is the credibility afforded to it by science: there’s a large body of research which highlights the proven health benefits of regular yoga practice on a wide range of conditions, from depression and stress to sleep quality, detoxifying the body to lowering your risk of Alzheimer’s and diabetes.

And the great thing is, whether you’re a health club or an individual looking to do yoga in your living room, you don’t need a lot of equipment to get a great workout.

The first thing you’ll need is a great mat – something like our signature Physical Performance Mat, which was created in collaboration with yoga professionals for the best possible user experience.

That may be all you need, but you might like to consider a few other small investments. Yoga straps, for example, are an excellent tool to have close to hand during any yoga workout. Used mainly to increase range of motion when stretching, straps can also help improve your balance, allowing you to execute more challenging yoga poses. Check out our Cotton Yoga Straps here.

You might also like to invest in some very affordable Yoga Blocks and Bricks, which can be incorporated into numerous yoga poses to make them more accessible, to act as support or to add a challenge to develop strength.

You’ll find our full range of yoga equipment at www.physicalcompany.co.uk/mind-body

The long and short of it: Yoga is here to stay, meets the needs of a wide audience, and the equipment requirements are few.

For whatever kit you do need, there’s Physical.