The Pilates and yoga industry has grown significantly in recent years, driven by consumer demand to focus on mental health and wellbeing.
Yoga, which originated in North India, combines mental, spiritual and physical disciplines to promote good health.
Yoga is becoming so popular that according to finder.com, the Pilates and yoga industry is expected to generate UK revenue of over £895 million in 2023, with 4,800 yoga and pilates businesses based there.
However, the industry has changed dramatically over the past few years due to advancements in technology. Here we look at some of the changes that technology has brought to the yoga industry and the startups that are innovating in this space.
How has technology changed the yoga and pilates industry?
Like most fields, the yoga and pilates industry has changed with technology.
Method is as follows.
Smart Yoga Mat
Yoga mats were once simply cloth items, but today’s smart mats have many more functions.
Designed with sensors that can provide real-time feedback on your posture and position, it’s a real game-changer for anyone looking to focus on improving their form.
Not only this, Matt can also track his progress and connect to online classes to take them from home.
Online classes
Yoga studios remain popular, but more businesses are now offering options that include online sessions.
This takes away some of the community element, but gives yogis more flexibility, allowing them to attend classes whenever and wherever they want.
Wearables
Wearable technology has revolutionized nearly every area of exercise.
Whether worn on a watch, a ring or a clip-on sensor, these devices provide real-time performance data on the wearer, giving people more insight into the physical health benefits of exercise.
VR Yoga
Going a step beyond online classes, companies are starting to offer VR yoga classes, providing a more immersive at-home experience.
These VR sets transport yogis to their preferred environment and allow them to experience yoga in virtual reality.
A startup for yoga lovers
Alongside technological advancements, numerous start-ups are also coming together to innovate in the field of yoga.
YogiFi
YogiFi is a company that has developed a smart yoga mat that is powered by AI and designed to take your yoga to the next level.
The company sells its mats as individuals’ “personal yoga coaches,” providing guidance, feedback and curated classes to help you progress.
Yoganect
Yoganect is a community marketplace designed to bring like-minded yoga enthusiasts together.
Their digital hub connects people, allowing them to book yoga classes, share knowledge and build relationships with other yoga enthusiasts around the world.
XR Sweat
XR Sweat is a VR yoga experience available for download through MetaQuest.
The company enables individuals to practice yoga at home with the guidance of a virtual instructor in the environment of their choice.
This allows people to enjoy all the benefits of a real yoga instructor in the comfort of their own home.
Yoga Trail
YogaTrail is a company that allows yoga enthusiasts to follow their favorite instructors and studios.
Just like a social network, it connects people and shows them the latest classes happening near them, taught by the teachers they love the most.
The platform is free and easy to use, helping instructors expand their networks and yoga enthusiasts find the right instructor for them.
Down Dog
Down Dog is an app that gives you a studio-like yoga experience in the comfort of your own home.
The app generates new flows based on the user’s time, level and focus selections, allowing users to practice every day according to their schedule.
