What keeps you fit and flexible, is fun to do (and sometimes a little awkward), but most of all driving more Australians overseas?
Yoga (did you guess it?).
That’s right, the remedial, physical, mental and spiritual discipline is a fast growing reason Australians are packing their mats and booking international holidays.
According to Roy Morgan research, in Australia there is some 1.8 million people practising yoga.
This has more than doubled over the last decade from 910,000.
Aussies aren’t just learning the practise of yoga, but travelling for it.
And while Australia offers a variety of schools and venues to learn and practise the physical exercise, more and more yoga-enthusiasts are seeking ‘traditional’ teachings in international destinations.
In fact, after a decade of working as a travel agent Meredith Wilks says she saw such a spike in the number of clients seeking a Yoga-themed holiday that she decided to set up Yoga Travel Solutions (YTS).
Meredith’s new business acts as a wholesaler, specialising in health & wellbeing holidays to yoga tours and retreat destinations such as India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bali.
Meredith says Varanasi in India is particularly popular amongst Australians seeking yoga escapes.
Speaking to KarryOn, Meredith said there’s so much demand for yoga holidays, that she’s already seen great interest since launching in December last year.
While health and wellbeing escapes have been buzzing amongst Aussie travellers for some time, Meredith says yoga is still niche and not catered to by the industry.
“For us at YTS it’s about offering niche services to travellers that wish to embark specially on a “yoga retreat”, which can be more educational based as opposed to booking in health resort for a just a holiday.”
Meredith Wilks, Yoga Travel Solutions Founder
“I can offer anyone, agents, travellers and yoga businesses, product solutions for yoga tours and retreats in such places as India, Sri Lanka, and Bali.”
For Aussie yoga fans, many are looking to book trips to India.
Roy Morgan research says those who practise yoga are almost 150 percent more likely than the average Australian aged 14 or more to want to go to India on holiday.
Angela Smith, Group Account Director, Roy Morgan Research says this is because holiday choices are determined by practicalities such as budget and time plus by our interests.
“Yoga is an interesting example, going beyond exercise to encompass spiritual and cultural traditions, and inspiring great devotion among its many participants.”
Angela Smith, Group Account Director, Roy Morgan Research
Meredith says within India, Varanasi and Riskikesh are particularly popular amongst Australians seeking yoga escapes as are Goa and Pondicherry.
Outside of India, Ubad in Bali is another booming spot as well as Sri Lanka and Nepal.
