Enhanced Sexual Function Through Yoga Practice: Exploring the Advantages of Yoga for Sexual Health
Down and Dirty on Yoga's Sexual Alchemy
The web is teeming with wellness blogs extolling the virtues of yoga for a better bang, supported by personal testimonies of improved sexual experiences, some even claiminglife-changing experiences. But does the science backing these claims live up to the hype? Let's dive in!
Yoga is an ancient practice that has been gaining popularity in recent times due to its numerous health benefits. From managing stress and anxiety to treating metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid problems, the list is impressive. Studies have also demonstrated that yoga decreases inflammation, lowers stress-related genetic expressions, reduces cortisol levels, and boosts a protein that helps keep the brain young and revitalized.
Beyond the obvious physical benefits, the question remains: can yoga improve our fun between the sheets? Let's explore the research.
Yoga's Sexual Magic for Women
A study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that yoga can indeed boost a woman's sexual satisfaction, particularly for those over 45. The study, which focused on 40 women, showed considerable improvement in all aspects of sexual function – desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain – after 12 weeks of yoga practice. A whopping 75% of participants reported improved sexual experiences following their yoga training.
The 12-week yoga program drilled the women on 22 yoga poses, which are believed to improve core muscular strength, enhance digestion, fortify the pelvic floor, and elevate mood. Poses such as trikonasana (also known as the triangle pose), bhujangasana (the snake), and ardha matsyendra mudra (half spinal twist) were among the 22.
Yoga for Men's Pleasure!
Guys aren't left behind in the yoga-induced ecstasy! A study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, revealed that a 12-week yoga program significantly improved sexual satisfaction for men. At the study's end, the male participants experienced improvements in all features of male sexual satisfaction – desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm.
In a comparative trial carried out by the same team of researchers, yoga was found to be an effective, non-pharmaceutical alternative to Prozac in treating premature ejaculation. The trial included 15 yoga poses, ranging from simpler ones like Kapalbhati (which involves sitting with the back straight, chest open, eyes closed, hands on knees, and stronger abdominal muscles) to more complex ones like dhanurasana (the bow pose).
Yoga's Sex-Boosting Mechanisms
So, how does yoga get us in the mood? Researchers at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, illuminate some of the techniques behind yogic sexual enhancement. The researchers explain that yoga helps regulate attention and breathing, lower stress and anxiety levels, and activate the parts of the nervous system that encourage the body to relax, digest, and enjoy pleasurable moments.
Additionally, female yogis have been found to have a more positive body image, which translates into increased sexual responsibility, assertiveness, and desires.
The Power of Moola Bandha
While tales of unblocking root chakras and sending kundalini energy zipping through the spine to unleash unimaginable orgasms lack empirical support, other yogic concepts may strike a chord with skeptics. Moola bandha is one such concept. This pelvic floor muscle contraction has been found to stimulate the nervous system in the pelvic region, leading to stronger, more intensely pleasurable orgasms.
Practicing moola bandha relieves pain associated with menstruation, childbirth, and sexual difficulties in women, while improving the treatment of premature ejaculation and testosterone secretion in men. In fact, many sex therapy centers recommend moola bandha to help women become more aware of their genital sensations, boosting desire and sexual experience.
The Reality Check on Evidence
Despite the tantalizing claims, it's essential to keep in mind that the body of empirical evidence (versus anecdotal stories) supporting yoga for sexual satisfaction is still relatively slim. Most studies on the subject have a small sample size and lack the benefits of a control group. However, recent studies with larger samples and a focus on women with sexual dysfunction and other conditions provide stronger evidence for yoga's sexual benefits.
For instance, a randomized controlled trial demonstrated "significant improvement" in arousal and lubrication among women with metabolic syndrome who underwent 12 weeks of yoga, whereas such improvements were not seen in the non-yoga group. Another randomized trial showed that women living with multiple sclerosis who undertook 3 months of yoga practice experienced improved physical ability and sexual function, while their non-yoga counterparts worsened.
In conclusion, while the direct scientific evidence linking yoga to sexual satisfaction is limited, the relaxation, stress reduction, and body-awareness enhancement benefits suggest that yoga could be an excellent complementary practice to improve sexual health and overall well-being. So, without reliable evidence yet for those "yogasms," it's time to roll out our mats and give yoga a try! Our pelvic muscles, and perhaps our partners, will thank us!
- The study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine showed significant improvement in all aspects of sexual function for women over 45 after 12 weeks of yoga practice, with 75% reporting improved sexual experiences.
- A study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav revealed that a 12-week yoga program significantly improved sexual satisfaction for men, leading to improvements in all features of male sexual satisfaction.
- Researchers at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, explain that yoga helps regulate attention and breathing, lower stress and anxiety levels, and activate the parts of the nervous system that encourage the body to relax, digest, and enjoy pleasurable moments, potentially enhancing sexual health.
