Generation Z, those born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, is carrying an emotional load heavier than most realise. Climate anxiety, economic instability, social media comparison, and constant visibility have left many young people feeling burnt out and overwhelmed. Rates of anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts are highest among those aged 18–29 globally. In India, where academic demands and societal pressures add more pressure, mental health is fraying at alarming rates.
In the midst of this madness, yoga is not only a fitness fad, but a critical mental health solution, yet it goes unnoticed. While Gen Z races toward gyms and HIIT classes that echo their external stress, yoga offers something different: a path to inner balance, harnessing breath, movement, and mindfulness to strengthen mental resilience, according to Harvard Health. We spoke to Prakriti Poddar, Global Head Of Mental Health And Wellbeing, Roundglass Living, who explained the importance of yoga in promoting mental health in Gen Zs.
Why Gen Z Needs More Than Another Workout
For many young adults, exercise has become a coping mechanism, but high-intensity training often mirrors the pace of their external stress. Yoga, by contrast, slows everything down. “Through intentional breathwork and gentle, mindful movement, it activates the parasympathetic nervous system, the body’s ‘rest and digest’ state, which can counter chronic fight-or-flight activation. Over time, this can diminish anxiety, enhance sleep, and provide the clarity of mind to make solid decisions even in uncertainty,” said Poddar.
Yoga has been proven in studies to reduce cortisol (the stress hormone), enhance emotional balance, and decrease symptoms of depression and generalised anxiety. It's not merely a spiritual practice or exercise fad, it's a science-based treatment for anxiety that can assist Gen Z in managing a chaotic world with stability. A systematic review and meta-analysis found yoga significantly reduces symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, and lowers cortisol, the stress hormone.
Beyond Poses: Yoga as a Shift in Perspective
What makes yoga especially relevant for Gen Z is not just what it does for the body, but what it teaches the mind. This is a generation that has grown up in a culture of comparison, where social approval and performance are what determine self-value. Yoga offers a radically different lesson: that value isn’t tied to likes, grades, salaries, or titles.
"Its spiritual origins prioritise discipline (tapas), integrity (satya), empathy (karuna), and equilibrium (brahmacharya). These values promote youth to gauge success not merely on the outside but in balance inside as well. Techniques, such as sakshi bhava, acknowledging one's mind without identification, can disrupt patterns of self-blame and rumination, substituting them for observance and acceptance," added Poddar.
A Generation Shaping Culture
Gen Z is not merely sitting back and tolerating the stresses of contemporary life; they are defining culture. They're social media's trendsetters, voices for change at work, and campaigners for making therapy and self-care a norm.
By embracing yoga, they could catalyse another cultural shift, one that celebrates rest as much as hustle, presence as much as productivity. Such a shift wouldn’t just benefit individuals; it might extend to how organisations, communities, and even policymakers think about mental health, setting the stage for spaces that promote balance rather than burnout.
From Hashtag to Healing
Poddar concluded, “Yoga is often viewed in the light of social media asanas and mantras; flexible poses and inspirational quotes, but its real gift to Gen Z lies beyond the hashtags. It's a survival kit, a source of resilience, clarity, and a reminder that self-worth isn't earned, but remembered. For a generation of reconciling individual aspiration with shared ambiguity, yoga is not merely an escape from the frenzy, but a sustaining path through it.”
[Disclaimer: This article contains information provided by an expert and is for informational purposes only. Hence, we advise you to consult your professional if you are dealing with any health issue to avoid complications.]