Dating someone who practices yoga can be a positive and trans-formative experience. That’s because yoga is much more than a physical form of exercise, it is a way of life. Many practice yoga as a means to facilitate a journey of self-discovery-to heal, to love, and to hope. Those who have found happiness in the arms of practicing yogi’s know the power that this way of life has in helping contribute to overall wellness.
It was Rumi Godden who said that each person has different rooms of their personality, and they must visit them every day in order to remain whole-if only to air out the windows. There are many different aspects to our well-being which yoga covers, which can help to improve your romantic relationship. However, there are five aspects of dating a yogi which stand out as the most powerful indicators of happiness and health including physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual factors. Dating someone who practices yoga and pays attention to these five factors can help to keep your relationship healthy and on the right track for long term success.
Physical Health
One cannot underestimate the power of physical health in relation to mental and social health. As a supportive partner, you want to make sure your partner is physically there for the long run. Regular exercise and stretching through yoga can drastically improve your cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, strength, and emotional positivity. Encouraging or participating in exercise with your partner is also a great way to strengthen your bond while also bettering your individual health. Yoga is also an excellent practice to incorporate into an eating disorder recovery, so you should take this into consideration if your partner is struggling from anorexia or other eating disorders. And unlike other forms of exercise, Yoga is very versatile and can be indulged in at any time, in almost any place. That means that your partner doesn’t have to interrupt their holistic health routine while traveling, working odd hours, or in the company of friends. Whether you’re interested in attending a class together or stretching silently at home, the health benefits of yoga can be felt in almost every aspect of your relationship.
Intellectual Priorities
One of the biggest perks of dating someone who practices yoga is their capacity for self-discipline. They know what they believe in and where their priorities lie, thus giving them a confidence to then go out and make it come true. Many people who practice Yoga also practice other forms of sustainable and peaceful living, including minimalism, veganism, and off-grid living. That’s because practicing Yoga and its simplistic way of life can leak into other aspects of your character, making you re-evaluate the sources from which you find joy and peace. So if you’re looking for someone who is in tune with their bodies, nature, and humanity-you’re going to want to lock down a Yogi pretty quick.
Emotional Flexibility
We all know that the added flexibility you receive from yoga can improve sexual performance and excitement in the bedroom. But Yoga is more than just a physical act, it is an emotional journey as well. Yoga is first and foremost a state of mind, a practice of being in relation to your surroundings and common man. This means that as you move through the poses, you also move to clear your mind of labels, fear, expectations, and resentments. In essence, you are becoming more flexible to the mysteries of the universe, and the mess we make of it as humans. Having a partner who regularly practices this emotional flexibility and disattachment can help you to communicate better when issues come up in your relationship, without ego and pride getting in the way of a true resolution. Your partner is then not only a great catch in the bedroom, but is also an invaluable asset to have when it comes to communication and open mindedness.
Social Openness
Making sure that you maintain close and meaningful relationships outside of your romantic one is very important for a successful pairing. And despite conjuring the image of bald-headed solitary monks on mountain peaks, Yoga is in fact a very social exercise. In both the East and West, yoga studios have opened up to help foster a sense of community around the practice. The rush of endorphins from working out can then help give you the confidence to make new friends and try new social activities. And more often than not, these centers have a more loyal following than your standard gym-rat crowd meaning that you can develop deeper friendships and connections beyond a strict work-out or diet regimen. Varying subcultures of yoga have helped expand Yoga’s social popularity even further so that now you can participate in branches like hot yoga, beer-drinking yoga, or even dating yoga. So get out there, meet new people, and make new friends through your partner’s Yogi crowd.
Spiritual
Yoga is undeniably an Eastern tradition with deeply spiritual roots in Buddhist philosophy. But that doesn’t mean you have to convert for your new partner. Not everyone who practices yoga considers themselves religious, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get the full spiritual benefits out of practicing yoga. Spirituality can mean lots of different things–from learning techniques to help anger management, to focused breathing and meditation helpful in personal reflection. All of this can be done without any permanent commitment to an organized religion. In this way, many people use Yoga to complement their current belief system and broaden feelings of unity and connection to their partner.
Related: Spa Travel Gal’s Yoga Retreat Goblet List (aka Bucket List)
