Practice makes---what?

I always hated playing scales. My teacher used the Segovia scale book, with the scales in different positions, up and down the fingerboard, in free stroke, in rest stroke. Every time I had to play a scale it was like getting ready to receive an injection from the dentist. But now, years later, I've begun to play them for relaxation. It's like a musical form of ommmmm or something. Every time I play a scale now I can feel my blood pressure get lower and lower...