Beauty of Compassion The Sanskrit word Karuna means compassion. Isn’t that beautiful? The practice of compassion is beautiful and all inclusive. Compassion is the act of truly and fully understanding. The best feeling is the feeling that you are understood and not judged, understood and still respected, understood and still loved, understood and celebrated. To truly understand is to have compassion for the self first before we can offer it up to those around us.
Beauty truly comes from the inside out, but radiating compassion and health are both true benefits of yoga. The good news is that Yoga also supports the beauty people see when they first meet you, before they see your heart or experience your compassion-
Micha de Jesus recently wrote (as quoted) for Yogatimes.com that yoga does so much to support that outer glow;
“1. Creates a rosy glow
There are certain asanas or postures that increase the flow of blood to your face and upper extremities. These include shoulder stand, fish pose, child’s pose, plow pose, and triangle pose, which all enhance circulation underneath your skin.
Improved blood circulation provides a rosy glow to your skin since blood delivers nutrients and oxygen, as well as flushes out waste from your skin cells.
2. Heals damaged skin cells
Pranayamas, or breathing exercises, are effective routines that can help you de-stress. It also improves body healing as it increases oxygen flow that aids in cell regeneration.
Deep breathing opens up your lungs to accommodate more oxygen, which will facilitate the delivery of blood directly to your skin cells. This oxygenated blood is rich in regenerative properties that heal skin damages caused by free radicals and excessive sun exposure.
3. Gets rid of skin impurities
While deep breathing and asanas improve the oxygen supply and blood circulation, vinyasa, on the other hand, can enhance these health benefits by energizing your body, heating up your core temperature and sweating out your impurities and toxins.
In this case, sweating is good for your skin, as it is believed to flush out toxins and dirt that build up on your pores. Plus, it kills bacteria by secreting Dermcidin, a natural antibody. And since skin blemishes and dullness are caused by these toxins and bacteria, sweating them out during your vinyasa practice can result in clearer and healthier skin.
4. Prevents acne breakouts
Having mentioned that yoga helps flush out toxins and impurities, it is good to point out that it can also prevent acne breakouts. Just as yoga stimulates detoxification, it also keeps hormone glands in check. Inverted asanas, for example, floods the head and neck with blood, which in turn aids in flushing the thyroid gland that’s responsible for the growth and healthy digestion.
5. Promotes healthy skin
If there’s one thing you should be concerned about in maintaining youthful and glowing skin, it should be your digestive health. Why? Simply because it is the place where you absorb nutrients and minerals that repair and nourish your skin, and the same place where much of the elimination of impurities and toxins takes place.
6. Fights the bad effects of stress
As we all know, all-nighters and too much stress are factors that lead to the onset of pimples. That’s because stress causes our body to release stress hormones that trigger your skin to produce more sebum, which is the number one cause of acne. Stress also makes our skin sensitive and reactive, thus making cell repair harder to attain. In short, stress makes your skin look dry and dull, plus it can trigger breakouts and other skin problems, too.
Yoga is effective in combating stress, along with its effects. Through regular practice, it can greatly reduce the stress level by relaxing the mind and soothing the body. Furthermore, it calms the mind and therefore allows you to get a good night’s sleep.
7. Tones Your muscles
Beauty won’t be complete without a toned body and face. If you want to achieve a sculpted body and a contoured face, then you should try Hatha and facial yoga. There are a number of asanas or postures that work out your muscles from your calf to thigh, and back to your shoulders and biceps. Facial yoga, on the other hand, stimulates your facial muscles to regain its natural shape and prevent sagging skin.”
These benefits as written by Micha are just the tip of the ice burg. Supporting your body’s natural beauty allows you to flow in your practice and in life, beautifully and compassionately.
