12x why you should start doing yoga now
If you want to be friends with me, you know that you either have to put a banana cake with a dollop of nut butter in front of my nose or take me along for a trial lesson of some sort (sport-related, yes). So the latter happened. I was asked if I wanted to join a Hot Yoga class. Sure, I do. Because to be honest? I know that I greatly benefit from the yoga mat. Something about a lot of chaos in my head that often ends in a ceiling star session in the middle of the night. But this time, I won't stop at just one trial lesson. I'm going to do yoga. For real this time. Because yoga has even more benefits than just relaxation. Here are the 12 reasons why you should also plop down on that mat.
1. Less stress
After an hour on the yoga mat, you'll immediately notice that you feel a lot calmer and less tense. This is partly because you bring your attention to your breathing and are ‘in the moment’, which essentially empties your head. Additionally, research shows that your serotonin levels rise, the cuddle hormone is stimulated, and the production of cortisol (yes, the stress hormone) is inhibited..
2. Better sleep
There are various yoga exercises that positively affect sleep. Lying positions and forward bends are calming and relaxing, just like meditation.
3. More flexible
One of the most well-known benefits is that you become a lot more flexible from yoga, which is of course positive for your life in the bedroom. The poses help your muscles and tendons to lengthen and make your body more agile. But also mentally, yoga increases your flexibility and you learn to cope better with stress and have a more positive outlook on life.
4. More strength
You build muscle mass between the dumbbells and in the squat rack; you know it, I know it. But you also get stronger on the yoga mat. Just try spending a few minutes every day in plank position or in the side plank. Just wait and see how quickly those lines appear.
5. Boost your immune system
With the help of yoga, you learn to breathe better, move, and improve your blood circulation. Together, this ensures that your organs function better, making you less likely to get sick. Norwegian research even shows that yoga causes changes in gene expression, strengthening your immune system at the cellular level. Complicated story, I know. I'll stop now.
6. Better posture
As your back muscles get stronger, you automatically start walking straighter and your posture improves, which positively affects the reduction of neck and back pain. We'll keep that last part to ourselves, because that massage from your loved one is always welcome.
7. Lower blood pressure
As your heart rate drops, your blood pressure also decreases. People with high blood pressure should spend more time lying on a mat. The variation in exercises ensures good blood circulation because you exert yourself. Additionally, certain exercises ‘massage’ organs, improving their blood flow.
8. More energy
One of the most important elements of yoga is breathing. By consciously and deeply breathing, the full capacity of your lungs is utilized, allowing your body to absorb more oxygen. And that has a beneficial effect on your energy levels.
9. More focus
Yoga brings you into the present and helps you keep your attention on the moment. It leads to improved concentration, coordination, and better memory.
10. More balance
Especially the balance poses literally ensure that, you guessed it, your balance and coordination improve. But also the balance between body and mind gets a boost.
11. Better sex
Yoga is all about breathing and training certain muscles that you probably didn't even know you had: your pelvic floor muscles. This allows you to become great at stimulating powerful orgasms. Where's that mat?
12. Fewer snack attacks
At the moment your body and mind are more deeply connected and you are more focused on your breathing, you also eat more consciously. When you become aware of your emotions, you can do breathing exercises instead of sprinting to that snack drawer.
