6 Very Cool Things Yoga Can Do For Your Body + LOVE YOUR HAIR Book Giveaway!

Hey guys! Today is a going to be a particularly fun and exciting day because today you’ll be 1) learning about some very cool, and not so commonly known benefits of yoga, and 2) you’ll be getting a chance to win an autographed copy of my awesome new children’s book Love Your Hair! – which by the way, since yesterday, just hit #1 in New Releases for African American Children’s Books! *Insert big smile and happy dance*

So let’s first start things off with yoga, and then I’ll share more about the Giveaway and how to grab yourself an autographed copy for you and your little brown beauty!

Now if I were to ask you to name some health benefit of yoga, you’d most likely say something like it “improves flexibility,” or that yoga “reduces stress.” And then of course, you’d receive an enthusiastic fist bump from yours truly because you’d certainly be right on both accounts!

That said, you should also keep in mind that the perks of yoga do go waaaaaay beyond just becoming more Zen while also being able to bend yourself into a pretzel. For example, yoga can:

1. Make you taller

Yes, this is a fact! There are certain poses, as well as a special form of yoga called Antigravity® yoga that focuses on zero compression inversions (i.e. hanging upside down from silk hammocks), which then helps decompress the spine and vertebral discs. Result: You are then able to decompress, both figuratively and literally while your body extends to its true natural height – which can be a vertical boost between ¼” to 1 ½” inches!

2. Spice up your sex life

Now surely I don’t have to tell you that the practice of yoga – and all that bending, twisting, and downward-facing dogging from a strictly visual standpoint can be quite sensual, especially for the person behind you. And in addition to that, studies – like this one and this one – have found that practicing yoga on a regular basis can help spice up your sex life since practicing certain poses and breathing techniques increases blood flow to the pelvic region, which heightens genital sensitivity and erection; improves flexibility and muscle strength, which promotes greater stamina; and also enhances mental tranquility, which is key to experiencing orgasm.

Plus, a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found yoga to seriously enhance a woman’s experience in the bedroom via greater lubrication, and more powerful orgasms as a result of strengthened pelvic floor muscles. Can I get a Health yeah!

3. Fight food cravings

For those of you who battle with emotional eating, 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. How so? Well it seems that the regular practice of yoga is associated with less emotional eating and more mindful eating due to yoga’s ability to strengthen the mind-body connection. So when individuals practice yoga they become more in tune with not just their physical bodies, but also with the emotional sensations associated with food cravings, and can thus make better choices when hunger and food cravings strike.

4. Improve digestion

Think back to how great you feel after a really good massage. Well, your digestive system pretty much feels much the same after performing certain yoga postures. All day long your body’s digestive system is working hard to digest food, and sometimes if things don’t run smoothly, you might experience unfortunate and uncomfortable complications like indigestion, acid reflux, bloating, pain, or constipation. Fortunately, there are many simple yoga postures, such as twists, that you can easily incorporate into a regular practice to help massage the internal organs and keep your body’s natural plumbing system humming and moving along happily.

5. Boost brain power

I’m sure most, if not all of you have already heard about the brain-boosting benefits of exercise in general, but yoga specifically has some very cool effects on brain function that are exceptional and definitely worth mentioning. For example, a study in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health found that just 20 minutes of Hatha yoga stimulates brain function more than walking or jogging for the same amount of time. And it doesn’t stop there! Research has even shown that yoga may help in the treatment of migraines.

6. Boost immunity

Last but not least, according to a study published in the journal PlosOne, yoga can help give your immune system a jump start due to the fact that yoga teaches us to practice deep breathing techniques that help get more oxygen-rich blood to our lungs and other organs. In addition, deeper breathing also helps to lower stress, which can directly compromise our health and make us more prone to getting sick. Basically, as you learn to breathe deeper, your body’s natural defenses will become stronger, and even better, this boost in immunity occurs rather quickly – like while you’re still on your yoga mat!

So as you now see ladies and gents, yoga is truly one of those wonderful fitness gifts that keeps on giving, and I highly recommend making it part of your regular fitness regimen! And on that note, I’d like to present little Miss Phoenyx – aka the star of my latest children’s book, Love Your Hair! – who has also decided to get in the spirit of today’s post by getting her yoga on too!

And I know exactly what you’re about to say – Oh my goodness! She’s sooooooo cute! How do I get my hands on this adorable book?! Well the rules are very simple!

Love Your Hair! Giveaway Rules:

1. Share this post with a friend.
2. Leave a comment below letting me know if you practice yoga and why you should win a copy of Love Your Hair! (Deadline to enter Giveaway is April 26, 2015).
3. One winner in the continental US will be chosen to receive a special autographed copy of Love Your Hair! *Winner will be announced on April 27 and will also be contacted via the email address you use to comment on my blog.

Good luck guys and Namaste! – Doc