Yoga - A Holistic Approach to Better Skin

Yoga is a proven stress reliever; the controlled breathing and posture movements help encourage relaxation. What’s new is that experts are considering the value it may gave for your complexion, too. “When we’re stressed, blood and oxygen are shunted from skin to other more vital organs,” says Dr Diane Berson, assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.

A calm mind and body are essential to healthier skin, according to the new breed of psycho dermatologists(dermatologists or psychologists who treat the emotional causes of skin upsets). “Our bodies are reactive to stress, which can trigger a whole host of skin problems like acnem ezema and psoriasis,” explains Havard’s Dr Grossbart , also a psychotherapist who specializes in skin disorders. “But simply dealing with the stress can generally help fix the problem.”

How Yoga Helps Your Skin

“The relaxation that yoga sparks can help restore a more even blood flow through the body,” says Dr Berson. This helps correct the pale, washed-out look that comes with chronic stress. The improved circulation also helps reverse the decline in cell turnover that may result in dry, scaly skin.

Another side effect of stress is greater oil production due to persistently high levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Yoga moves and the deep breathing that accompanies them help lower cortisol levels, which in turn prevents stress-related breakouts.