Yoga in the 2010s: Athleisure, Accessibility, and Agency

"Throughout America's obsession with yoga the last half century, our perception and interpretation of it has changed considerably with each decade. The 2010s were a time of incredible change. More and more people were practicing yoga yet in many ways, it remained an exclusive practice due to issues related to accessibility, inclusivity, and financial considerations. By the end of the decade, tremendous progress had been made that would set the stage for the way we currently practice."

"I remember taking my first yoga class when I was studying at the University of Texas at Austin. "Why not," I figured. I needed an easy A and I was curious about a new way to move my body. It wasn't until years later that I moved from practicing yoga at home to a studio. There I found a steady practice that felt strong and affirming."

"As students continued to turn to the mat for a variety of reasons, scientific researchers continued to tout the therapeutic effects of the practice. There was evidence that yoga could reduce anxiety, stress, depression, and chronic pain; enhance sleep; improve cardiovascular function; enhance flexibility, body awareness, and balance; even support recovery from addiction. In theory, yoga could help anyone."

The 2010s saw millions adopt an Americanized form of yoga while research increasingly validated therapeutic benefits, including reductions in anxiety, stress, depression, and chronic pain. Yoga also showed improvements in sleep, cardiovascular function, flexibility, balance, and support for addiction recovery. Despite widespread interest, the practice often remained exclusive because of limited accessibility, inclusivity gaps, and financial barriers. Many practitioners moved from home practice into studios where steady, affirming routines developed. By decade's end, sustained advocacy and shifting cultural conversations led to tangible progress toward more inclusive teaching, accessibility initiatives, and broader perceptions of who can practice yoga.

Read at Yoga Journal