Yoga has begun to explode in popularity in the last couple of years.
Practicing yoga regularly has tons of health benefits, From weight loss to stress relief, there are a wide array of benefits come from a good yoga practice.
However apart form the obvious benefits there are some benefits of yoga which may shock you!
In this article, We narrowed down this list to the top 10 surprising health benefits of yoga that you may not know.
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1. Mindful Eating
Studies have shown that regular yoga practice is associated with mindful eating, because there?s a link between our stress levels and the food we crave.
It also helps you to have an awareness of physical and emotional sensations associated with eating.
Yoga helps lower the levels of the stress hormone cortisol; this hormone causes us to opt for high-fat, high-sugar foods.
High-sugar foods in particular wreak havoc on our adrenal glands and cause inflammation throughout the body, mirroring the effect that straight-up stress has on us.
It also increases the levels of serotonin in your body, which means that you are less likely to binge eat and more likely to feel happy.
So, if you?re trying to eat healthy, lose weight or quit sugar why not incorporate yoga into your routine.
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2. Hangover Cure
While you may not want to get out of bed when you have a hangover, experts say that doing yoga can relax, detox your system and get you feeling much better much faster.
Certain yoga poses like ?bow?, ?plow?, or ?shoulder stand? work on the thyroid gland, which improves the metabolism to kick those toxins out of your system.
Not only are you getting rid of your hangover faster, but also blasting fat and cellulite too.
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3. It Improves Your Sex Life
Yoga can improve your sex life in more ways than one.
It increases your energy, ups your sex drive, and even helps you have much stronger orgasms.
How?
Physically, yoga increases blood flow into the genital area, which is important for arousal and erections and strengthens the pelvic floor muscles.
Mentally, the breathing and mind control involved with the practice can also improve performance.
Studies into the effects of yoga on sexual experience show that both men and women who regularly practice yoga report increased arousal, better orgasm, and overall satisfaction.
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4. Helps Improve Fertility
Women’s fertility is a complicated science, but there are three simple aspects of it that yoga can help with: pelvis alignment, blood flow, and relaxation.
Certain yoga poses can boost fertility by increasing blood flow in the body, keeping participants calm and relaxed, and by correcting misaligned pelvises.
It’s a simple and all natural way to try and increase fertility, and works best if done four or five times a week.
5. Easier Labors and Deliveries
Prenatal yoga and postnatal yoga is slowly is becoming more and more popular.
There are few routines and poses that are safe for pregnant women to practice.
Researchers suggest that, as a result of well-toned muscles and breathing techniques performed during pregnancy yoga, makes women have more energy and are more relaxed.
They note that the perineum and vaginal muscles are strengthened and made more flexible through the practice of yoga, which could result in a smoother labor.
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6. Helps with Asthma
For those with asthma, yoga is a great exercise option.
Studies have shown that adults with mild to moderate asthma who practiced yoga for 8 weeks combined with their regular medication saw a marked improvement.
The deep-breathing exercises that are incorporated into most yoga practice increase the stamina of the lungs and raise awareness of how one should be breathing.
Related: Why Is Yoga The Best For Healthy Weight Loss
7. Mood Booster
Yoga and meditation have been linked with emotional health boosts.
Studies have shown that yoga and meditation help improve cognitive-behavioral performance as well as aid with mood swings, menopause , insomnia, depression, and anxiety.
Practicing yoga in a group setting also stimulates the production of the love hormone oxytocin.
It also produces higher serotonin levels, which is the happy hormone.
Combined, these hormones can dramatically improve someone?s mood.
8. It Makes You Smarter
Twenty minutes of yoga and meditation improves the brain’s ability to quickly and accurately process information and will keep your brain sharp and clear.
The mindful technique of yoga has been linked with structural changes in the brain, including growth in the prefrontal cortex, a region in the brain associated with executive function, working memory, and attention.
Simple yoga practices and breathing techniques allow you to free your mind from stress and negative
Slow breathing and yoga poses will help your memory and keep your thoughts more organized once you get rid of stress, anxiety, and negative thinking.
Reaching a place of quiet peacefulness is the key to healthy memory function.
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9. Detoxing the Body
Yoga actually works at detoxifying the body on a larger scale through it?s relaxation methods..
The deep breathing will improve hormonal balance and digestion whilst to help the body cleanse its toxins and boost the metabolism.
It stimulates the lymphatic system in the body, which helps flush the toxins out of your body.
Make sure to drink plenty of water before and after you practice yoga to ensure that the maximum amount of toxins are pushed out of your body.
Yoga will leave your body feeling lean and clean.
10. Lowers blood sugar
Yoga lowers blood sugar and bad cholesterol (LDL ) and boosts good cholesterol (HDL ).
Yoga has been found to lower blood sugar in several ways: by lowering cortisol and adrenaline levels, encouraging weight loss, and improving sensitivity to the effects of insulin.
By decreasing blood sugar levels you decrease your risk of diabetic complications such as heart attack, kidney failure, and blindness
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The Bottom Line
Since I started practicing yoga, I have seen a vast improvement in both my mental and physical health. Not to mention its great fun either on your own or with friends.
I have an abundance of energy and I fell more calmer as a person.
Why not start practicing today and enjoy the many benefits of yoga for yourself?
