We hear a lot about the physical benefits of yoga, but there are lots of benefits of a yoga practice as it relates to your looks. Yes, we’re talking about all the beauty benefits of yoga. How’s that for motivation to get up early and hit the yoga studio? Here’s how your practice is helping you be more beautiful.
You experience less stress. Yoga is often touted for its ability to alleviate stress. Your mind often won’t ruminate on things you can’t control and you become better able to handle stressors in your life. With this lighter load of stress and calmer state of being, you could experience fewer worry lines (because less stress means less scrunching up your face in frustration!).
You sleep better. Certain yoga practices, such as restorative yoga, can help calm your body and mind, which will help you ease into a good night’s sleep. And when you sleep, this is when the skin cells renew and rejuvenate. This is the time when skin cells repair from damaging factors such as the sun’s rays.
You avoid the sun. If your yoga practice takes place in a yoga studio, you’re not exposing your skin to damaging UV rays in the way someone who plays tennis or runs outdoors does. Studies have shown that marathon runners are at a higher risk for melanoma. Practice yoga indoors and you help your skin’s health.
You’ll have greater presence. The flexibitiy and core strength you develop when you practice yoga regularly will help you stand tall. Good posture will give you a stronger and more attractive presence compared to the slouching non-yogi.
You get your blood flowing. Yoga is fantastic for improving your circulation and when you get your blood flowing, that increased blood flow to your scalp will nourish your follicles with oxygen and nutrients. The same goes for your skin: with better blood flow bringing oxygen and nutrients to your skin (and taking away any toxins), your complexion will glow.
You lower the level of toxins in your body. Yoga practice can help you release toxins that have built up in your body. You can do this through a variety of poses that incorporate twists and inversions and also from the sweating you do during a yoga session. The poses help to stimulate your circulatory, digestive and lymphatic systems; think of it as giving them a little nudge, which reminds them to let go of the toxins.
