Yoga Alone Doesn’t Change Your Life: Why Forming Healthy Relationships Is an Essential Part of Wellness
There are many aspects of a healthy, fulfilled life. Nutrition and exercise are clearly among them. But if you really want to live well, simply focusing on yourself won’t do the whole job. People are social animals, and we all need relationships to be truly fulfilled. This means several things: having a supportive family, maintaining strong friendships, and finding compatible life partners. We know, some people think that last one isn’t necessarily for everyone, but let’s be honest. Wouldn’t we all be happier if we found that special someone to share our life with?
It’s not impossible. And research shows that there are multiple reasons why having a partner is essential for your emotional and physical well-being. Whether you consider a potential mate to be someone who is aligned with your recreational interests, or someone with whom you have career goals in common (in which case you should check out a professional dating service), you should give serious thought to finding someone who can complement you and make your life as rich as it should be. In the sections below, we will explain why this is so essential.
Physical and emotional benefits of having a partner
Ok, let’s take a hard look at the facts. We won’t get into the nitty-gritty of what type of people are compatible with which other types, etc, because that is a different subject. But we can provide several hard truths about the value of being in a relationship:
- People in relationships are less stressed. When you come home at the end of the day, you want someone to talk to who understands you and is going to help you feel better. This isn’t just speculation; it is scientifically proven that cortisol levels go down when people have a supportive ear for their problems.
- People who have partners are in better physical condition. Not only do partners push each other to go to the doctor when they clearly need to, but they tend to have lower blood pressure and overall better fitness levels because going places with someone else is usually more appealing than going alone. It can be hard to motivate yourself to move when you’re sitting on the couch by yourself. But if you plan with someone else, you have a much greater incentive to get out and explore.
- Married couples almost always eat healthier than unmarried people do. We all know the stereotypes about bachelor life. Takeout/delivery, endless fast food, etc. And this applies just as much to unmarried women as it does to men these days. But when you’re married, you plan meals together, think more carefully about the benefits and drawbacks of different kinds of foods, and are able to talk out different options, which helps to hone in on the best choices.
- Married people have stronger immune systems. Aside from improved nutrition and higher exercise levels, people who are married tend to have stronger immune systems than their unmarried counterparts. It has been quantifiably proven that feeling loved helps to release oxytocin (otherwise known as the “love hormone”), which has powerful anti-inflammatory effects on the body. This, in turn, helps to strengthen the immune system.
- Married people live longer than single people do. This is simply a fact. If you put all the above reasons together, you get a perfect recipe for comparative longevity. Married couples offer each other support, guidance, and strength day after day for many years. And this is invaluable.
You will also be happier
The bottom line is that you will simply be happier if you find the right partner. We are by no means suggesting that you should ditch the yoga and nutrition classes as these are important, too. But the world can be a tough place, even for the strongest among us. And the fact is that people in relationships are generally much happier. So what are you waiting for? Get online and check out Soulmatcher app today. It may very well change your life.
Amélie is a health and wellness junky. Certified yoga instructor with Yoga Alliance in the Vinyasa and Ashtanga styles, she has a Yoga Instructor Certification – Level I (300 hours) and Yoga Instructor Certification – Level II (200 hours) under her belt. She also has a certified Open Water Diver certification with PADI and SSI Scuba Schools International Freediving Level I certification with SSI Scuba Schools International. She’s been vegan for over 15 years and is obsessed with anything wellness-related.