5 Unlikely Benefits of Yoga
Of course yoga makes you bendy and gives you a rockin' bod. The benefits of this ancient practice stretch far beyond giving you a booty that don't quit. I've listed 5.
1. Gives You Eternal Life
Right. So obviously there is no fountain of youth or eternal-life-flower outside of Disney movies. That being said, yoga has been proven to boost immunity by reducing stress and cleansing certain vital organs. That's right my friends, yoga poses like the headstand, can serve as physical cleanses of your organs by flooding new blood and oxygen through the body.
With consistent practice, yoga can renew cells and improve body functions including your immune system. As we're all aware, the immune system is responsible essentially for keeping us well. The better the engine the longer the car lasts right?
2. Makes you Happy
With all of these political atrocities, religious exploits and everything else that pops up in our newly digital absorbed lives, it's easy to get stressed out about the bleakness of the world.
The most beneficial, in my opinion, aspect of yoga is the presence it forces on you and the sheer focus you start to possess through practice, this may be amazing to me because I have the attention span of a kitten.
Yoga almost traps you in the present moment to where you're unable to think of anything but what's an inch away. The magic of this benefit is that it slows your heart rate and allows your mind to relax while your physical body is challenged. So, not only are you away from the craziness of the world but you're strengthening your ability to handle stress of any kind by controlling your breath and teaching your mind to process before reacting. AMAZING.
3. Makes you Think You're Hot and also Makes you Hot IRL
I've written about how easy it is to fake confidence but the most important issue here is how difficult it is to actually possess confidence. Because yoga is a practice that increases the flow of oxygen to your brain and organs, it lessens the probability of mental fatigue which is directly tied to depression and stress.
So there's the chemical-y part of it.
The part that I relate to on a less, atom-deep way is that yoga teaches the basic principle of letting go of expectations, which will ring especially true in the next benefit. In this case, you're finally able to stop placing ridiculous expectations on yourself, which for me personally, is a constant struggle. When you have true self confidence, there are no expectations because you are well aware that you are capable of whatever the H you want. Oh and you'll have a sexy body on the outside too, which helps.
4. Makes you a Master of Relationships
I have to admit that I'm not the best person to give relationship advice. That being said, I've come a long way and I have yoga to thank for teaching me some lessons that I was less than eager to learn. Lesson #1 that translated flawlessly into yogi-relationship-help was to be open to new ideas and experiences. Thinking that you're always right is sure fire way to drive someone away. In yoga we are taught to allow new thoughts to come like a wave, and then watch them fade or allow them to stay if they're meant to. Thinking this way when it comes to relationships has made it so much easier to accept nuances and people for who they are.
The most relationship-focused lesson I've learned from yoga is to let go of expectations. I have not perfected this yet and I don't expect to (see what I did there?). Yoga teaches progress, there is not destination. Yes you should have goals just as in a relationship it's vital to have goals both independently and as one love unit.
The way expectations destroy us is when we place those expectations on our partner and become a ball of fury when they don't meet them. Set aside all your expectations for yourself and for your partner and allow for surprises and mistakes to arise without assuming that it means something sinister. This will allow for you to bask in each others imperfections and learn from one another, As lovers do.
5. Makes you better in bed
Alright all you 12-year-olds who for some reason have access to the internet un-monitored! Go outside and play. Phew, glad they're gone amirite? Now to the business.
Flexibility is not a requirement of yoga but it is an outcome of it. I don't want to know what you guys are doing with the doors closed but increased flexibility also increases oxygen flow through your body allowing for more exceptional um.. good feelings? I'm not sure how to say orgasm without saying orgasm. <---- That.
Also, because your confidence is sky high and you're happy in your relationship because you've let go of your expectations, your bedroom time will automatically be awesome. If your relationship outside is healthy, the sex part will follow. You are all welcome. Do yoga. Or don't, I expect nothing.
