Originating in India about 5000 years ago, the practice of Yoga (Sanskrit, for Union) with its philosophical basis in the Yoga School of Thought embodies a holistic approach to physical, spiritual and mental well-being. Yoga is an ancient gift that the world has received from India, a country on whose proposal the UN decided to mark 21st June as the International Yoga Day.
We live in a world where over half of the 200 million Yoga practitioners are of Indian origin, in a global yoga market whose size was US$ 37.5 billion, as of 2019. This figure is projected to reach US$ 66.2 billion by 2027. Indian destinations like Rishikesh, Auroville, Dharamshala and Varanasi have witnessed a surge in Yoga tourism, where numerous yoga studios and retreats are being set up, aided by generous tax rebates and FDI inflows.
The AYUSH Industry in India with its longstanding legacy of indigenous knowledge, 100% FDI, sustained institutional support and a vast customer base is on a definitive path to exponential growth. What remains to be seen is who accompanies the industry on its surefire way to success.
