The Most Popular Exercise in India, Ranked

Choose the exercise you think is the most popular!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on Apr 21, 2024 07:04
In a nation as diverse as India, where the culture and lifestyle vary dramatically from one region to another, finding common ground in exercise preferences can be both fascinating and challenging. As people from different backgrounds share their favorite ways to stay active, a clearer picture of the nation's collective fitness habits begins to emerge. This insight is not only interesting but also beneficial for those looking to embrace the most beloved workout routines. By participating in this live ranking, every individual has the chance to contribute their voice and see how their preferences compare with those of others across the country. This ongoing tally offers a real-time snapshot of trending exercises, helping newcomers and fitness enthusiasts alike to identify which routines might best suit their personal health goals. The more votes that are cast, the more accurately the ranking reflects the current exercise zeitgeist of India.

What Is the Most Popular Exercise in India?

  1. 1
    59
    votes
    Yoga is the most popular exercise in India. It is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India. It has gained worldwide popularity for its health benefits and stress-relieving properties.
    Yoga is a popular form of exercise that focuses on strength, flexibility, and mindfulness. The practice combines physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation to promote overall well-being and harmony. Yoga can be practiced by people of all ages and fitness levels, making it a versatile and inclusive activity. It offers numerous benefits such as improved flexibility, increased muscle strength, better posture, stress reduction, and enhanced mental clarity.
    • Hatha Yoga: A foundational style of yoga that focuses on physical poses (asanas) and breathing techniques (pranayama). It helps improve strength, flexibility, and balance.
    • Vinyasa Yoga: A dynamic style of yoga that synchronizes breath with movement. It involves flowing sequences of poses, promoting strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance.
    • Ashtanga Yoga: A vigorous and disciplined form of yoga characterized by a specific sequence of poses. It builds strength, flexibility, and stamina.
    • Bikram Yoga: A style of yoga performed in a heated room (around 105°F). It consists of a consistent sequence of 26 poses and two breathing exercises.
    • Yin Yoga: A slow-paced style of yoga that involves holding poses for an extended period (typically 3-5 minutes). It targets the connective tissues and promotes deep relaxation.
  2. 2
    26
    votes
    Cricket is the most popular sport in India. It is a bat-and-ball game that is played between two teams of eleven players each. It has a massive following in India, and the Indian cricket team is one of the most successful teams in the world.
    Cricket is a popular bat-and-ball sport played between two teams, each consisting of eleven players. It is commonly referred to as a gentlemen's sport with a rich history and a strong following in countries like India, England, Australia, and Pakistan. The game primarily takes place on a grass field, known as a cricket ground, where the two teams take turns batting and bowling. The objective is to score more runs than the opponent by hitting the ball and running between two sets of wooden wickets.
    • Number of players: 11 players per team
    • Playing surface: Grass field
    • Equipment: Ball, bat, wickets, protective gear
    • Scoring system: Runs, wickets, overs
    • Match format: Test matches, One-Day Internationals (ODIs), Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is)
  3. 3
    14
    votes
    Kabaddi is a popular contact sport that originated in ancient India. It is played between two teams, and the objective is to raid the opponent's territory and touch as many players as possible without getting caught. It has gained popularity in recent years due to the Pro Kabaddi League.
  4. 4
    12
    votes
    Walking is a popular exercise in India, especially among the elderly. It is a low-impact exercise that can be done anywhere, and it provides several health benefits, such as improving cardiovascular health and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.
    Walking is a low-impact aerobic exercise that involves deliberate movement of one's legs, typically at a brisk pace. It is a popular form of exercise that can be easily incorporated into daily routines and requires no special equipment. Walking can be performed both outdoors and indoors, making it accessible to people of all fitness levels.
    • Low-impact: Does not put excessive strain on joints
    • Accessible: Can be done anywhere and by people of all fitness levels
    • Cardiovascular benefits: Improves heart health and increases endurance
    • Weight management: Helps in burning calories and aids in weight loss
    • Bone health: Strengthens bones and reduces the risk of osteoporosis
  5. 5
    18
    votes
    Swimming is a popular exercise in India, especially among children. It is a low-impact exercise that provides several health benefits, such as improving cardiovascular health, building muscle strength, and reducing stress.
    Swimming is a challenging individual sport that involves propelling oneself through water using the arms and legs. It is a highly demanding physical activity that requires strength, endurance, and technical skill. Swimming can be performed in various styles, including freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. It is not only a competitive sport but also a recreational activity enjoyed by people of all ages. Swimmers strive to improve their speed, technique, and efficiency in order to achieve their best performance in the water.
    • Equipment: Swimsuit, goggles, swim cap
    • Pool Length: Olympic-sized pools are typically 50 meters long, but other lengths are also used for competitions.
    • Distance Events: Swimming events range from short distances like 50 meters to long distances like 1500 meters.
    • Strokes: Freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly are the four primary strokes used in competitive swimming.
    • Turns: Efficient turns, such as flip turns, are crucial for maintaining speed and efficiency during races.
  6. 6
    11
    votes
    Running is a popular exercise in India, especially among fitness enthusiasts. It is a high-impact exercise that provides several health benefits, such as improving cardiovascular health, building muscle strength, and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.
    Running is a popular aerobic exercise that involves moving at a fast pace by alternating your legs in a running motion. It is a common form of exercise for improving cardiovascular health, endurance, and overall fitness. It can be done on various surfaces, such as roads, tracks, or trails, and can be performed both indoors on a treadmill or outdoors. Running is a versatile form of exercise that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and fitness levels.
    • Caloric Burn: Burns around 600-800 calories per hour for an average adult
    • Cardiovascular Benefits: Improves heart health and lung capacity
    • Muscle Engagement: Engages various muscle groups, including leg muscles, core muscles, and upper body muscles
    • Weight Management: Helps in weight loss or weight maintenance
    • Bone Strength: Increases bone density and strengthens bones
  7. 7
    12
    votes
    Cycling is a popular exercise in India, especially among urban dwellers. It is a low-impact exercise that provides several health benefits, such as improving cardiovascular health, building muscle strength, and reducing stress.
    Cycling is a popular aerobic exercise that involves riding a bicycle to improve cardiovascular health, build endurance, and strengthen lower body muscles. It can be done both outdoors and indoors on stationary bikes. Cycling is enjoyed by people of all ages and fitness levels.
    • Cardiovascular Benefits: It helps improve heart health and increase lung capacity.
    • Muscle Strengthening: It targets the muscles in the legs, thighs, hips, and buttocks.
    • Low-Impact Exercise: Cycling is gentle on the joints and reduces the risk of injury.
    • Calorie Burn: It is an effective way to burn calories and lose weight.
    • Improved Coordination: Cycling requires balance and coordination, enhancing motor skills.
  8. 8
    9
    votes
    Football is a popular sport in India, especially among the youth. It is a team sport that involves kicking a ball to score goals. It has gained popularity in recent years, and the Indian football team is making strides in international competitions.
    Football, also known as American football, is a highly intense and physically demanding sport played primarily in the United States. It involves two teams of eleven players each, aiming to score points by advancing an oval-shaped ball into the opponent's end zone. The game is known for its strategic complexity, physicality, and emphasis on both individual skill and teamwork.
    • Field dimensions: 100 yards long and 53.3 yards wide
    • Game duration: 60 minutes (divided into four 15-minute quarters)
    • Scoring methods: Touchdown (6 points), field goal (3 points), extra point (1 or 2 points), safety (2 points)
    • Playing surface: Grass or artificial turf
    • Positions: Offense (quarterback, running backs, wide receivers, etc.) and defense (defensive linemen, linebackers, cornerbacks, safeties, etc.)
  9. 9
    5
    votes
    Badminton is a popular sport in India, especially among the middle class. It is a racquet sport that is played between two players or two pairs of players. It provides several health benefits, such as improving cardiovascular health, building muscle strength, and reducing stress.
    Badminton is a popular racket sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. It can be played as singles (one player per side) or doubles (two players per side). The objective of the game is to score points by making the shuttlecock land within the opponent's court and preventing it from landing in one's own court.
    • Equipment: Rackets and shuttlecocks
    • Court dimensions: 13.4 meters long and 6.1 meters wide for singles, 13.4 meters long and 9.1 meters wide for doubles
    • Net height: 1.55 meters
    • Scoring system: Best of three games, with each game played to 21 points (rally scoring)
    • Serve: Alternate serves between players and below the waist
  10. 10
    3
    votes
    Weightlifting is a popular exercise in India, especially among fitness enthusiasts. It is a high-impact exercise that provides several health benefits, such as building muscle strength, improving bone density, and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.
    Weightlifting is a popular exercise in India that involves lifting heavy weights to improve strength and muscle mass. It is a competitive sport as well as a form of strength training. Weightlifting mainly focuses on two types of lifts - the snatch and the clean and jerk. These lifts require the lifter to lift a barbell loaded with weights from the floor to an overhead position.
    • Olympic Sport: Weightlifting is an Olympic sport since the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens in 1896.
    • Snatch: The snatch is one of the two main lifts in weightlifting, where the lifter lifts the barbell in one swift motion from the ground to overhead.
    • Clean and Jerk: The clean and jerk is the second major lift in weightlifting, involving two distinct movements. First, the lifter brings the barbell to the shoulders (clean), and then raises it above the head (jerk).
    • Weight Classes: Weightlifting competitions are divided into various weight categories to ensure fair competition.
    • Maximum Weight Lifted: Weightlifters compete to lift the maximum amount of weight in their respective weight class.

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Ranking factors for popular exercise

  1. Cultural influence
    India has a strong cultural history in various forms of exercises such as yoga, traditional dance, and martial arts. Therefore, it is essential to consider the impact of cultural preferences on the popularity of an exercise.
  2. Accessibility
    The ease with which people can access facilities, resources or training for a particular type of exercise is a key factor. Exercises that require minimal equipment, such as bodyweight exercises or jogging, could potentially be more popular as they can be performed by a larger portion of the population with ease.
  3. Affordability
    The cost of participating in a specific type of exercise plays a significant role in its popularity. Relatively low-cost exercises like walking and running would likely be more popular compared to those which require expensive equipment or gym memberships.
  4. Awareness and education
    The level of information and awareness about various types of exercises is essential. Exercises that have greater visibility and coverage in the media, educational curriculums, or community programs would likely be more popular.
  5. Health benefits
    The perceived health benefits of an exercise play a crucial role in determining its popularity. Exercises that are known to provide functional fitness, weight loss, stress relief, or improved overall health could be more popular.
  6. Social factors
    Exercises which have a social component, like group classes, dance, or sports, would arguably be more popular as they provide an opportunity for people to connect and build relationships.
  7. Age and gender preferences
    Different exercises may be more popular among specific age groups or gender demographics. For example, children may prefer sports and games, while adults may lean towards yoga or gym workouts.
  8. Climate and geographical factors
    Regional factors like the climate, environment, and availability of outdoor spaces can impact the popularity of certain exercises. For example, exercises that can be performed indoors or in smaller spaces may be more popular in urban areas with limited outdoor space.
  9. Adaptability
    The ease with which an exercise can be scaled for various skill levels, fitness levels, and age groups will affect its popularity.
  10. Trends and evolving preferences
    Lastly, it is crucial to consider the impact of current fitness trends and the evolving preferences of people towards different types of exercises.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular exercise in India. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or exercise is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 1978 views
  • 167 votes
  • 10 ranked items

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Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each exercise once every 24 hours. The rank of each exercise is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most popular exercise in india

India is a country known for its diverse culture and traditions. When it comes to fitness, Indians have a long history of practicing yoga, which is believed to have originated in the country thousands of years ago. However, in recent years, there has been a surge in the popularity of other forms of exercise, such as running, cycling, and strength training. With the rise of fitness culture and awareness about the importance of staying active, people in India are exploring different ways to stay fit and healthy. In this article, we'll explore the most popular exercise in India and what makes it so appealing to fitness enthusiasts across the country.

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