ExerciseNZ celebrates International Yoga Day 2025

With today (Saturday 21st June) marking International Yoga Day, the Exercise Association of New Zealand (ExerciseNZ) is encouraged that the nation's participation remains steady, which it sees as a reflection of its lasting appeal and value.

ExerciseNZ recognises that - as one of the most effective, accessible and sustainable paths to overall well-being - the true benefits of yoga unfold through consistent, ongoing practice.

A global celebration of one of the world’s oldest and most holistic forms of movement and mindfulness, yoga's origins go back over 5,000 years in India, transcending borders and generations to become a powerful global movement with over 300 million people practising worldwide today.

Research-based evidence continues to grow, supporting the notion that yoga benefits all aspects of our overall well-being, including mental, emotional, social and physical health.

ExerciseNZ sees that yoga offers long-term rewards for those who embrace it as part of their lifestyle. With different styles and methods of practice, it is a modality that can be incorporated into any life stage or capacity. International Yoga Day is a wonderful starting point and an invitation to make yoga a regular, enriching part of everyday life.

Research consistently promotes the potential health benefits related to the regular practice of yoga, such as improvements in mood, focus and resilience.

A Harvard Medical School article notes that yoga can be as effective as standard exercise in reducing anxiety and depression symptoms, with added benefits to brain function, heart rate variability, and emotional balance. The same review highlights how yoga practice increases thickness in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, areas of the brain tied to memory and learning. Additionally, further research in Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience confirms yoga’s positive effects on brain structure and function, particularly in areas related to self-awareness and emotional regulation.

Why Yoga Works: Evidence-Based Benefits

• Yoga can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety by up to 40%
• Regular practice improves sleep, focus, and heart rate variability
• Yoga enhances flexibility, balance, and core strength, reducing the risk of injury
• Long-term practice supports emotional regulation and mental clarity
• Yoga may increase brain volume in key areas related to cognition and memory

This International Yoga Day, ExerciseNZ and YogaNZ invite people to go beyond a single day of practice and consider how yoga could become a lasting part of their life.

Image credit: Shutterstock.