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An Arizona State University-led study of more than 55,000 U.S. adults found that yoga and Pilates participation were associated with lower risk of death during roughly a decade of follow-up. The observational findings do not establish that either practice extends life, and researchers say other differences between practitioners and non-practitioners could explain some or all of the association.
An analysis led by Arizona State University researchers found that adults who reported practicing yoga or Pilates had a lower risk of death during about a decade of follow-up than people who did not report those practices. The study examined 21 alternative health practices using data from more than 55,000 U.S. adults, but it shows an association—not proof that yoga or Pilates cause people to live longer.
According to Athletech News, researchers linked nationally representative survey data for more than 55,000 U.S. adults to mortality records and followed deaths over roughly a decade. Of the 21 practices examined, yoga and Pilates were the only ones reported as associated with a significantly lower risk of death. The analysis found a 27% lower risk for yoga and a 36% lower risk for Pilates among practitioners compared with non-practitioners, as described in the report.
The researchers accounted for several factors that can affect health, including income, education, exercise, smoking, body mass index and participants’ self-rated health, the report said. Statistical adjustment can reduce the influence of measured differences, but it cannot eliminate all possible confounding factors or establish that the practices themselves changed mortality risk.
Study co-author Connor Sheehan, an ASU associate professor, said the results stood out because the two practices with the clearest signal involve physical movement. He also cautioned that people who are too ill to participate may be less likely to practice yoga or Pilates, which could make the practices appear protective. The source report does not provide the study’s full methods, publication details or absolute death rates, so the percentages should be read as relative associations rather than a measure of how many deaths were prevented.
Movement Practices and Mortality
The findings offer a data point in a field where many wellness practices are promoted for health or longevity but have limited long-term evidence. The study’s comparison of 21 practices makes its reported result relevant to consumers weighing different options, while the association for two movement-based practices does not validate the wider range of alternative therapies.
Yoga and Pilates can involve physical activity, balance and strength work, and classes may also provide social contact. Sheehan suggested these features could be relevant to health, but the study described in the report did not establish which elements, if any, account for the mortality association. For readers, the practical takeaway is narrower: these practices may be worthwhile forms of activity, but this study cannot promise a longer life or replace individualized medical advice.
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A Study of 21 Practices
The research was prompted by the growing use of complementary and alternative health practices and a lack of long-term evidence about how they relate to mortality. Sheehan told Athletech News that more than 40% of U.S. adults use at least one such practice, ranging from acupuncture and chiropractic care to specialized diets. That figure reflects the source report’s description; it does not mean all users seek longevity benefits.
The analysis is observational: researchers compared reported practices with later mortality records rather than assigning people to take yoga or Pilates. That design can identify patterns across a large group, but participants may differ in health, resources, access to care and other behaviors. The report notes possible influences such as healthcare access, genetics and economic circumstances, as well as a general tendency for some people to take better care of their health.
“Of all the alternative health practices out there, the two with the strongest longevity signal are ones rooted in physical movement, not the more exotic-sounding therapies.”
— Connor Sheehan, ASU associate professor and study co-author
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Association Is Not Cause
The study, as described in the source report, cannot show that yoga or Pilates directly lowers mortality. People who practice may differ from those who do not in ways the analysis did not measure or fully account for, including baseline health, healthcare access, genetics and economic conditions. Reverse causation is also possible: people in poorer health may be less able to take part.
The report does not state the absolute death rates in each group, the exact follow-up period for each participant, or how often and how long participants practiced. It also does not provide enough methodological detail to assess the precision of the estimates or whether particular forms of yoga or Pilates were associated with the results. The findings therefore do not establish that beginning either activity will lower an individual’s risk of death.
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More Long-Term Evidence Needed
The next step is further research that can test whether these associations hold across different populations and clarify how practice frequency, duration and type relate to health outcomes. Researchers could also examine whether factors such as physical activity, stress management or social participation help explain the pattern, rather than assuming one mechanism based on this analysis.
Sheehan called for more study of rapidly changing wellness behaviors, including practices such as cold plunging, red-light therapy and supplements. The source report does not identify a follow-up study or a date for additional results. Until more evidence is available, the mortality figures should be treated as observational findings, not as a prescription or a guaranteed longevity benefit.
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Key Questions
Did the study prove yoga or Pilates make people live longer?
No. It found an association with lower risk of death in observational data. The analysis cannot establish that either practice caused the difference.
How many people were included?
The report says researchers used nationally representative data from more than 55,000 U.S. adults, linked to mortality records covering about a decade.
What mortality differences did the report give?
It reported a 27% lower risk for yoga and a 36% lower risk for Pilates among practitioners. These are relative figures; the source report does not give absolute death rates for the groups.
Could other factors explain the findings?
Yes. Researchers adjusted for several factors, but differences in baseline health, healthcare access, genetics and economic circumstances may still affect the results. People in poorer health may also be less able to practice.
Should people start yoga or Pilates based on this study?
The study does not establish that starting either practice will extend life. People considering a new exercise routine can choose an activity suited to their abilities and discuss relevant health concerns with a qualified clinician.
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