I've heard that regular practice of yoga is beneficial for the skin and that for some people it is the only thing that gives them a nice "glow."
I guess its beneficial because it reduces stress and its not strenuous so you sweat slowly instead profusely, but I don't know because I don't do yoga....yet.
Do you practice yoga, and do you see any positive effects on your skin? Or do you practice other stress relieving excercises such as tai chi or meditation and see effects from that?
my godfather has been practicing tai chi his entire life, and he doesn't look a day over 40..
he's almost 60 now...
it's about the breathing and having a steady flow of chi in and out and through your body..
according to history, tai chi was taught by chinese doctors as a way to prevent illnesses.. so instead of doctors making money off treating sick people, they made money off keeping people healthy! that's what i remember from my chinese history class.. =D
A quick literature search revealed no such correlation between skin health and yoga. That doesn't mean there isn't one, it just means that no study has been done yet.
According to this study yoga can affect oxygen consumption, heart rate, skin resistance, and electroencephalograph measurements. I'm not sure if any of those would improve your skin's condition but it's possible.
I remain slightly skeptical but if I saw a good, controlled study proving positive benefits I wouldn't be surprised.
I wonder if the yoga and tai chi is just one aspect of a heathier lifestyle that ultimately leads to better skin. So much of it is genetics; I know people who treat their bodies like a garbage disposal/door mat and still have beautiful skin.