• Based on an analysis of yoga-related patents from Google Patents, the United States is the leading country in terms of the number of yoga patents filed. These patents span from the early 1980s to the present, with a noticeable surge in filings after 2000. The most common patent types are utility patents, which protect functional inventions like yoga mats with structural features, stretching straps, and automated pranayama devices. Design patents are also significant, focusing on the aesthetic appearance of yoga tools such as mats and yoga circles. A smaller number of patents cover therapeutic methods, such as kinesitherapy-based yoga practices in countries like Russia and India. The primary purposes of these patents include enhancing posture and flexibility, providing grip and alignment during practice, automating breathing techniques, and increasing accessibility, such as for visually impaired practitioners. Overall, the trend reflects a movement toward innovation in yoga equipment, integration with smart technologies, and expanding yoga’s therapeutic and inclusive potential.2020s: Rise of smart tech (AI-based pose correction, automated pranayama devices).

Patent Trends by Year

• 1980s–2000s: Basic utility tools (stretch straps, mats).
• 2010–2020: Explosion of mat designs, yoga props, wrist support devices.
• 2020s: Rise of smart tech (AI-based pose correction, automated pranayama devices).
• Top Countries Filing Yoga Patents
• 🇺🇸 United States – Most yoga patents filed, focusing on utility tools, wearable devices, and smart yoga tech.
• 🇹🇼 Taiwan – Design innovations like yoga circles.
• 🇷🇺 Russia & 🇮🇳 India – Focus on therapeutic yoga applications and computer vision tools.
• Common Purposes
• Flexibility & posture: Straps, stretchers, props.
• Stability & safety: Supportive mats, wrist savers.
• Therapeutic use: Yoga for foot disorders, rehab systems.
• Breath regulation: Automated pranayama devices.
• Smart coaching: AI-based pose correction using computer vision.

Selected Yoga Patents & Innovations

1. Stretching/Yoga Strap

• US 6,368,255 B1 (2002): A multi-loop flexible strap designed to assist yoga practitioners in stretching specific muscle groups. Includes several large loops (6–15″ apart) to hold and guide limbs during poses arxiv.org+7yogatoes.com+7patents.google.com+7patents.google.com.

2. Automated Breathing/Yoga Device

• US 10,058,732 B2 (2018): A mechanical “breath-a-healer” that automates pranayama, mimicking inhalation/exhalation cycles through motor-driven levers and pads—potentially wearable like glasses patents.justia.com.

3. Pose & Heart-Rate Sensor System

• US 10,709,933 B2 (2020): A fitness tracker combining pose recognition and heart-rate data to estimate energy expenditure during yoga—integrates with smartphones patents.justia.com.

4. Smart Yoga Instructor (Computer Vision)

• Indian patent (2022): Uses real-time camera feed and computer vision (e.g., Mediapipe) to detect keypoints, evaluate pose accuracy, and provide voice/display corrections within ~6 seconds to guide posture arxiv.org+5quickcompany.in+5arxiv.org+5.

5. Yoga Wrist-Saver Device

• US 8,460,160 B2 (2013): A prop with cushioned foam and strap designed to offload wrist stress during weight-bearing yoga poses like plank or downward dog eureka.patsnap.com+1patents.google.com+1.

6. Alignment Marker Yoga Mat

• US 9,211,437 B1 (2015): A mat with attachable colored markers to guide posture alignment, especially helpful for visually impaired users patentbuddy.com.

7. OCR / Vision-Guided Yoga System

• CN 111652078 A (~2020): A computer-vision system using image capture, skeleton tracking, cloud-based evaluation, and voice/video feedback to guide and correct yoga poses without a trainer yogatoes.com+15eureka.patsnap.com+15quickcompany.in+15.