6 Reasons Yoga Rocks Your Mind, Body and Sex Life
Most people know that yoga can improve flexibility and reduce stress – and while those benefits are certainly powerful reasons to start practicing yoga regularly, there are indeed a few other health perks of yoga that go far beyond becoming more Zen and bending yourself into a pretzel. In fact, here are six very cool reasons to get some yoga in your life!
1. It’ll spice up your sex life.
Studies have found that yoga can improve the sex lives of both men and women due to the fact that certain poses and breathing techniques increase blood flow to the pelvic region, which then works to heighten genital sensitivity. In addition, there are countless yoga poses that can help improve flexibility and mental tranquility over time, which can then promote greater sexual stamina and more intense orgasm.
2. It can help you fight food cravings.
For all the emotional eaters out there, here’s a very good bit of news to chew on:
A study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that yoga may be a formidable ally in the war on emotional eating, due to its ability to strengthen the mind-body connection.
In other words, yoga enables you to truly listen to your body so that if or when you do experience stress or emotional sensations associated with food cravings, you’ll be better able to re-focus and ultimately make better choices when stress and food cravings strike.
3. Your digestion will improve.
Remember how great you felt after a really good massage? Well, your digestive system pretty much feels much the same after performing certain yoga postures! In addition, there are many simple yoga postures, such as twists, that can help “massage” your body’s digestive system and soothe uncomfortable ailments like indigestion, acid reflux, bloating, pain, or constipation. Conclusion: Practicing yoga regularly can help lead to a very happy belly and colon.
4. You’ll get a boost in brain power.
It’s really a no-brainer (*pun intended*) that regular exercise can be a great brain booster. That said, a study in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health found that just 20 minutes of yoga can stimulate brain function more than walking or jogging for the same amount of time. And it doesn’t stop there — research has also shown that yoga can help relieve migraines.
5. It strengthens your immune system.
When it comes to yoga, stress-busting, and your immune system, the effect is pretty straightforward and here’s how it works: With yoga as you learn to breathe deeper, you’ll help get more oxygen-rich blood to the lungs and other organs, your body’s natural defenses will become stronger, your overall level of stress will decrease, and you’ll give your immune system a nice boost — all while you’re laying comfortably on your yoga mat!
6. You could add some height.
Yup, it’s true! There are certain poses which can help decompress the spine and vertebral discs. In fact, Antigravity Yoga is a special form of yoga practice which focuses on zero-compression inversions while you hang upside down from a silk hammock. End result: Your body decompresses, both figuratively and literally, while also extending in length and some people have reported a vertical boost of up to half an inch!
Dr. Phoenyx Austin, M.D. is a Sports Medicine Specialist, Bestselling author, communications consultant, and founder of the “FitBeauty” movement where she shares awesome advice and products for women who love natural hair, fitness, and healthy living. Find Dr. Phoenyx on her website, YouTube , Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
