Isn't it true that if you practice yoga five days a week, you'll turn into a Gumby doll? Maybe, eh.

Though regular yoga practice improves flexibility and strengthens and lengthens muscles, there are a few less obvious benefits to getting your "om" on on a regular basis. You might be surprised at what a little time on the mat can do for you, from better bowel movements to steamier sex.

There are plenty of high-fiber and probiotic-rich foods that can help your digestive system move along, but yoga can also help. "Many postures, especially twists, are designed to massage the internal organs and keep food moving," says Jen Kluczkowski, co-founder and yoga director of Yoga Means Business. "Easier digestion means the body has more energy." In yoga, we always twist right first, then left in yoga to follow the digestive system's path. "

You can't help but shove food into your mouth at times, especially after a workout when your body is starving for fuel. Yoga, on the other hand, can strengthen your defenses against the temptation to go overboard. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, regular yoga practice is linked to mindful eating, especially through breath awareness, which strengthens the mind-body connection. "What is going on in the body is reflected in the quality of the breath."

You may have heard that exercise can help your brain function, but yoga has some very specific mental advantages. Kluczkowski explains, "Yoga uses the body and breath as tools to create equanimity and clarity in the mind." "We feel less stressed and can focus better when we sync movement with steady, conscious breath." According to a study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 20 minutes of Hatha yoga stimulates brain function more than 20 minutes of treadmill walking or jogging.

According to a study published in the journal PLoSOne, yoga has been found to boost immunity at the cellular level through changes in gene expression. These benefits, according to the research, can be felt right away—while you're still on the mat. Yoga can also strengthen your internal defense system simply by improving your overall health.

That's right, you read it correctly. Spending time on the mat can help you spend more time between the sheets. Yoga can help you improve your sex life in a number of ways. One, it allows you to be more adaptable—needless to say. Two, it aids in the reduction of anxiety while also increasing body awareness and confidence. Finally, on a physical level, it increases blood flow to the genital area, which is important for erections, and speeds the release of hormones that increase arousal. Check to see if she practices yoga as well. Yoga, according to a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, significantly improves a woman's experience in the bedroom by increasing lubrication and producing more powerful orgasms by strengthening the pelvic floor muscles.

"It's becoming more widely recognized that giving yourself space and stillness is the only way to get insights, creativity, and ideas," says Kluczkowski. "In today's business world, yoga and meditation are becoming increasingly important. Yoga is a form of exercise that moves the body, creating physical space and releasing energy. Then, as we sit in meditation, we notice how that energy settles, resulting in a deep sense of stillness. "Having more 'head space' allows you to make better decisions, have better work relationships, and be more productive."

According to Gilbreath, "one of the biggest benefits of yoga is that it can activate the parasympathetic nervous system." This counteracts sympathetic nervous system-induced fight-or-flight responses. "Yoga also helps to lower cortisol levels, which is a stress hormone. Most people have too much stress in their lives, and as a result, their bodies have too much cortisol. Excess cortisol can affect thyroid function, muscle tissue, blood pressure, immunity, and inflammatory responses." As a result, practicing yoga helps to counteract these effects.