Prevalence and predictors of yogic breathing and meditation use - A nationally representative survey of US adult yoga practitioners

Introduction: Yoga practice in common usage is often confined to the physical aspects of the comprehensive practice. The purpose of this study was to examine the use of two additional aspects of yoga as part of yoga practice, i.e. yogic breathing and meditation (YoBaM). Prevalence and predictors of YoBaM use among yoga practitioners in the US general population were analyzed.

Method: Cross-sectional data from the 2012 and 2017 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) (N = 61,267) was used. 12-month prevalence of yoga use and YoBaM use among yoga practitioners were analyzed descriptively for the two cohorts respectively. Logistic regression analyses were used to analyze sociodemographic and health-related predictors of YoBaM use among yoga practitioners.

Results: 12-month prevalence of yoga use and YoBaM use were 8.9 % and 4.8 % respectively in 2012. In 2017, 13.3 % had practiced yoga in the past 12 months and 7.0 % had used YoBaM. Yoga practitioners aged between 50 and 64 compared to being 29 or younger, females, Hispanics and those experiencing mild to severe forms of psychological distress were more likely to use YoBaM as part of their yoga practice. Yoga practitioners living in the Midwest or in a relationship were less likely to use YoBaM.

Conclusion: In recent years, the number of yoga practitioners in the US general population has considerably increased and YoBaM use is common among yoga practitioners. YoBaM use seems to be associated with age, gender, ethnicity, region, marital status and psychological distress dimensions.