{"id":69577,"date":"2023-12-07T09:50:26","date_gmt":"2023-12-07T14:50:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-practices\/"},"modified":"2025-09-09T13:40:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T17:40:29","slug":"spiritual-practices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-practices\/","title":{"rendered":"3. Spiritual practices"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asking about people\u2019s activities, habits and rituals is one way to explore how abstract concepts such as spirituality and religion show up in everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-80698\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-practices\/pr_2023-12-07_spirituality_3-01-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"ebeff1\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #ebeff1;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-01.png?resize=480,385 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-01.png?resize=782,627 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-01.png?resize=840,674 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"337\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-01.png?w=420\" alt=\"Chart shows Americans pursue a range of activities to foster connection\" class=\"wp-image-80698 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this survey, we asked respondents to tell us whether they pursue a variety of activities \u2013 such as meditating and spending time in nature \u2013 for reasons that might be considered spiritual, such as to make a connection with something bigger than themselves or to connect with their \u201ctrue self.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We also asked whether they possess a range of things \u2013 such as a cross, a home altar or crystals \u2013 for spiritual purposes. And we asked whether they are involved in religious and spiritual communities and, if so, how important those involvements are to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We found that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>14% of Americans say they are involved in a spiritual community, including 8% who say they\u2019re involved in a spiritual community and that it\u2019s extremely or very important to them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>36% have a cross for spiritual reasons. Fewer say they possess jewelry (19%), crystals (12%) or a tattoo or piercing (9%) for spiritual purposes. Religiously unaffiliated Americans are more likely than religiously affiliated adults to own crystals for spiritual purposes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>64% of U.S. adults say they spend time each month looking inward or centering themselves. Most of them \u2013 44% of all U.S. adults \u2013 say they do this primarily to feel connected with their \u201ctrue self,\u201d with something bigger than themselves or with other people.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This chapter explores these questions in more detail. For the related topic of spiritual experiences, jump to <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-experiences\/\">Chapter 4<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;spiritual-and-religious-communities&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"spiritual-and-religious-communities\">Spiritual and religious communities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-80702\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-practices\/pr_2023-12-07_spirituality_3-02-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f4f4f4\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f4f4f4;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-02.png?resize=480,1154 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-02.png?resize=620,1490 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"745\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-02.png?w=310\" alt=\"Table shows more Americans are involved in a religious community than a spiritual one\" class=\"wp-image-80702 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">About four-in-ten U.S. adults say they are involved in a religious community, such as a church or religious congregation. This includes 54% of religiously affiliated Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By comparison, relatively few Americans say they belong to a spiritual community, such as a group that helps them find a connection with something bigger than themselves, with nature or with other people (14%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most of these people \u2013 10% of all U.S. adults \u2013 say they are involved in <em>both<\/em> a religious community and a spiritual community. Indeed, it is possible that some respondents are describing <em>the same community<\/em> as both religious and spiritual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just 4% of U.S. adults say they are involved in a spiritual community and not also in a religious community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. adults who are affiliated with a religion are much more likely than religiously unaffiliated Americans (sometimes called \u201cnones\u201d) to be involved in a religious community (54% vs. 7%). The same is true of spiritual communities, though the gap is much narrower: 17% of religiously affiliated adults say they are part of a spiritual community, compared with 8% of \u201cnones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-80710\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-practices\/pr_2023-12-07_spirituality_3-03-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f3f3f3\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f3f3f3;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-03.png?resize=480,875 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-03.png?resize=782,1426 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-03.png?resize=840,1532 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"766\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-03.png?w=420\" alt=\"Table shows 15% of members of historically Black Protestant churches say being involved in a spiritual community is extremely or very important to them\" class=\"wp-image-80710 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And among U.S. adults who are involved in a spiritual community, those who have a religion are more likely than those who are religiously unaffiliated to say that being part of such a community is either extremely or very important to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among religiously affiliated adults, 11% are involved with a spiritual community and say this is extremely or very important to them. The comparable figure among religious \u201cnones\u201d is 3%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;having-things-for-spiritual-purposes&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"having-things-for-spiritual-purposes\">Having things for spiritual purposes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many Americans say they have one of the following items for spiritual purposes: a cross (36%), jewelry (19%), a shrine, altar or icon in their home (15%), crystals (12%) or a tattoo or piercing (9%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Catholics are especially likely to own a cross: 72% say they have a cross for spiritual purposes, compared with 42% of Protestants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, 18% of U.S. adults who describe their religious identity as \u201cnothing in particular\u201d say they have a cross for spiritual purposes, as do very small shares of agnostics (6%), Jews (6%) and atheists (1%).[6. numoffset=&#8221;6&#8243; Readers wondering why Jews would have a cross for spiritual purposes should note that the survey\u2019s sample of Jews is small, with a correspondingly high margin of sampling error of plus or minus 9.8 percentage points. In addition, about one-third of Jews (defined by religious self-identification) who are married say their spouse is not Jewish (32%), according to the Center\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2021\/05\/11\/jewish-americans-in-2020\/\">2020 survey of Jewish Americans<\/a>.] <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-80714\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-practices\/pr_2023-12-07_spirituality_3-04-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f5f5f5\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f5f5f5;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-04.png?resize=480,833 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-04.png?resize=782,1357 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-04.png?resize=840,1458 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"729\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-04.png?w=420\" alt=\"Table shows roughly 7 in 10 U.S. Catholics own a cross for spiritual purposes\" class=\"wp-image-80714 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Catholics are also more likely than others to have a shrine, altar or icon in their homes (33%), or to have jewelry for spiritual purposes (30%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are also some differences by race and ethnicity. About half of Hispanic Americans (47%) say they have a cross for spiritual purposes, compared with fewer Black (38%), White (33%) or Asian Americans (26%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asian Americans (33%) are more likely than Hispanic (25%), Black (14%) or White (11%) Americans to have a shrine, altar or icon for spiritual purposes. Similarly, <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/10\/11\/religion-among-asian-americans\/\">a recent Center survey designed specifically to collect data on Asian Americans<\/a>, conducted in 2022-2023 in five Asian languages as well as English, found that 36% of Asian Americans have a shrine, altar or religious symbol that they use for worship in their home. This includes <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/10\/11\/religion-among-asian-americans\/pr_23-10-11_asian-american-religion_00_06\/\">63% of Asian American Buddhists and 79% of Asian American Hindus<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another recent Center survey, conducted in July 2023, found that <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2023\/08\/15\/32-of-americans-have-a-tattoo-including-22-who-have-more-than-one\/\">32% of U.S. adults say they have a tattoo<\/a>, including 22% who have more than one. The July survey did not ask whether the tattoos have a spiritual purpose. But it found that among Americans who have tattoos, 69% said one reason they have a tattoo is to \u201cremember or honor someone or something,\u201d while 47% said they have a tattoo to \u201cmake a statement about what I believe.\u201d The July survey also found that&nbsp;41% of religiously unaffiliated adults have at least one tattoo, compared with 29% of those affiliated with a religion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;activities-that-create-connection&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"activities-that-create-connection\">Activities that create connection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this survey, we offered respondents a list of five activities and asked them how often they engage in each one. The activities were: spending time looking inward or centering yourself, spending time in nature, exercising, meditating, and practicing yoga.<br><br>We then asked people who engage in an activity at least a few times per month to choose the most important reason they do it. The options were: \u201cTo feel connected with something bigger than myself,\u201d \u201cTo get health benefits, including relaxation,\u201d \u201cTo feel connected with other people,\u201d \u201cTo feel connected with my true self,\u201d \u201cTo have fun and enjoy the experience\u201d and \u201cFor a different reason\u201d (which they were then asked to specify).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"looking-inward\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Looking inward<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-80718\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-practices\/pr_2023-12-07_spirituality_3-05-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"ebebeb\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #ebebeb;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-05.png?resize=480,537 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-05.png?resize=620,694 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"347\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-05.png?w=310\" alt=\"Table shows 27% of U.S. adults look inward monthly mainly to connect with their \u2018true self\u2019\" class=\"wp-image-80718 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More than four-in-ten U.S. adults say they spend time looking inward or centering themselves at least a few times a month mainly to feel some sort of connection \u2013 most commonly, with their \u201ctrue self\u201d (27%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An additional 13% say the most important reason they look inward or center themselves is to connect with something bigger than themselves.<br><br>About one-in-five adults say they look inward regularly for health, enjoyment or other reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"time-in-nature\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Time in nature<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-80721\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-practices\/pr_2023-12-07_spirituality_3-06-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"ebebeb\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #ebebeb;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-06.png?resize=480,553 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-06.png?resize=620,714 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"357\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-06.png?w=310\" alt=\"Table shows 18% of U.S. adults regularly spend time in nature mainly to connect with something bigger than themselves\" class=\"wp-image-80721 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Roughly one-in-five American adults (18%) say they spend time in nature a few times a month or more mainly to feel connected with something bigger than themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smaller shares say they do this to feel connected with their \u201ctrue self\u201d (6%) or to other people (2%).<br><br>Half of U.S. adults say they spend time in nature a few times a month or more mainly for health, enjoyment or other reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"exercise\">Exercise<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-80725\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-practices\/pr_2023-12-07_spirituality_3-07-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"eeeeee\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #eeeeee;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-07.png?resize=480,503 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-07.png?resize=620,650 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"325\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-07.png?w=310\" alt=\"Table shows relatively few U.S. adults regularly exercise mainly for connection\" class=\"wp-image-80725 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A large majority of U.S. adults who engage in exercise at least monthly cite health, enjoyment or other reasons as their main motivation (69%). Just 7% of adults say they engage in exercise monthly to feel some sort of connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"meditation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Meditation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-80728\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-practices\/pr_2023-12-07_spirituality_3-08-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"ededed\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #ededed;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-08.png?resize=480,506 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-08.png?resize=620,654 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"327\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-08.png?w=310\" alt=\"Table shows 22% of Americans meditate regularly mainly to foster some sort of connection\" class=\"wp-image-80728 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">About a fifth of U.S. adults (22%) say they meditate at least a few times a month with the primary goal of feeling some sort of connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Similar shares say they seek connection with their \u201ctrue self\u201d (11%) or with something bigger than themselves (10%). An additional 16% of American adults say they meditate regularly for health, enjoyment or other reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"yoga\">Yoga<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-80733\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-practices\/pr_2023-12-07_spirituality_3-09-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"ededed\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #ededed;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-09.png?resize=480,506 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-09.png?resize=620,654 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"327\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_3-09.png?w=310\" alt=\"Table shows Americans do yoga mainly for health and enjoyment, less for connection\" class=\"wp-image-80733 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An overwhelming majority of U.S. adults (84%) say they seldom or never practice yoga. About one-in-ten say they do yoga at least a few times a month mainly for health, enjoyment or other reasons. Another 4% of U.S. adults say they practice yoga at least monthly primarily to feel connected with their \u201ctrue self,\u201d with something bigger than themselves or with other people.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Asking about people\u2019s activities, habits and rituals is one way to explore how abstract concepts such as spirituality and religion show up in everyday life. In this survey, we asked respondents to tell us whether they pursue a variety of activities \u2013 such as meditating and spending time in nature \u2013 for reasons that might 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