10 Benefits Of Yoga You Never Knew About

Yoga relieves stress

Nothing beats stress like controlled breathing, and that’s a major component of yoga. Learning to control your reactions and slowing your heart rate can calm anxiety. Plus, teaching yourself that kind of control will help you mentally in the long run. Practicing controlled breathing through yoga can even help you sleep better at night.

Yoga promotes brain function

Another benefit yoga’s controlled breathing is increasing the intake of oxygen. Increased oxygen stimulates your brain cells, which leads to clearer thinking processes. And being mindful and present increases your ability to function critically. Your brain is a powerful machine, and yoga is a powerful tool to keep it finely tuned.

Yoga lowers risk of illness

One of the great benefits of yoga is the effect it has on the immune system. According to a 2013 Norwegian research study, yoga is beneficial to gene expression, or the way the body makes proteins and other necessary molecules. The better your body can process itself, the better you function. By creating a faster response to disease in your body, yoga boosts your immunity.

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Yoga promotes heart health

Among other things, yoga can lead to lower blood pressure, which in addition to lowering stress levels can benefit the heart. The less physical stress you put on the heart, the better it functions. This is more important the older you get. Yoga is one of the easiest ways to contribute to your own continued heart health.

Yoga promotes comfort

Unlike a lot of other workouts, yoga has a hidden benefit in comfort. Yoga clothes are generally light, breathable, and yet close fitting. They are not prone to chafing and will keep you both cool and warm during a session. Many yoga outfits are made of material that wicks moisture away, preventing sweat from accumulating. Not to mention the fact that yoga clothes are easier to wear in daily life than other forms of workout gear.

Yoga promotes body positivity

One of yoga’s greatest benefits is that you don’t have to be super fit to practice it. Because it concentrates on breathing and stretching, anyone can do it. So, if you’re the type of person who avoids the gym because you’re dreading that judging stare, yoga is a place where you can relax. No one cares how you look while doing it. Everyone is concentrating on themselves.

Yoga promotes dating, too

Believe it or not, studies show that having “yoga” in your dating profile is seen as more attractive than not having it. Does this sound shallow? Perhaps, but if you can get yourself a new yoga partner as well as a date, it can’t be that bad. And in today’s dating climate, it’s a welcome advantage.

Yoga improves your sex life

Not only does yoga increase your dating pool, it also does wonders in the sex department. Yoga exercises key core muscles and increases flexibility, making sex more enjoyable and aiding in better and longer orgasms. What better way to tone your muscles and strengthen your body, when the results make everything just that much better?

Yoga can help you eat better

What does yoga have to do with eating? Plenty, actually. Breathing and mindfulness while eating can help with eating problems, like eating too fast or too much. Mindfulness also trains you not to eat when you’re not hungry. Yoga is not itself a diet program, but it can help a regular diet program work. Not only that but yoga stretches the abdomen and helps with problems such as constipation. Use yoga to get your body working for you, even when you’re not.

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Yoga can help you bond with your pet

Pets make everything better, but in this case this is a plus: dogs can practice yoga alongside you. They want to mimic your poses and socialize with you while you’re working out. Cats will often want to share your yoga mat with you. There are even classes where baby goats will join in a yoga session, mostly climbing all over people. Yoga can be done in groups or solo but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a furry friend along with you to make it more fun.