Yoga: India's Global Wellness Export

How yoga became a global industry worth billions, what India earns from it through tourism and teachers, and the debate over ownership of tradition.

Yoga, originating in ancient India, has become a global industry.

Global reach

Hundreds of millions practise yoga worldwide.
In the US alone, yoga classes, clothing and equipment form a multi-billion-dollar market.
Brands like Lululemon built businesses around yoga clothing.

International Day of Yoga

The UN declared 21 June as the International Day of Yoga in 2014, following India’s proposal.

India’s benefits

Wellness tourism: visitors to Rishikesh, Mysuru and Kerala for yoga retreats.
Yoga teachers working abroad.
Soft power: yoga improves India’s image.
Certification and training programmes.

Who captures value?

Much of the global yoga economy’s revenue goes to foreign studios and brands, not India.

Ownership debates

Some debate “cultural appropriation” of yoga.
Attempts to patent yoga poses abroad led India to create the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library to protect traditional knowledge from patents.

The Rishikesh retreat

A European visitor spends a month at a yoga retreat in Rishikesh, paying for classes, lodging and food, bringing foreign exchange to the local economy.

Thinking India earns most of the global yoga economy

Much revenue goes to foreign studios and apparel brands.

Key takeaways

Yoga has become a global multi-billion-dollar industry.
The UN declared 21 June International Day of Yoga in 2014.
India benefits through tourism, teachers and soft power.
The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library protects against patents.