Improving Sexual Function through Yoga Practices: Exploring the Connections
The ancient practice of yoga, increasingly popular for its numerous health benefits, has been credited with enhancing sexual function in both men and women. Some of the conditions yoga allegedly helps alleviate include depression, stress, anxiety, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid problems.
Recent studies have delved into the underlying mechanisms behind these benefits, shedding light on how yoga can lower the body's inflammatory response, counter the genetic expression responsible for stress, reduce cortisol levels, and boost the production of a protein that promotes brain growth and maintenance.
One study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that yoga can indeed improve sexual function – particularly in women over the age of 45. In the 12-week study, 40 women over 45 reported a significant improvement in their sexual function across all sections of the Female Sexual Function Index. 75 percent of participants reported an improvement in their sex life after yoga training.
The participants were taught 22 poses, or yogasanas, believed to improve core abdominal muscles, digestion, pelvic floor strength, and mood. Some poses included trikonasana (triangle pose), bhujangasana (the snake), and ardha matsyendra mudra (half spinal twist).
Another study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, examined the effects of a 12-week yoga program on the sexual satisfaction of men. At the end of the study period, the participants reported a significant improvement in their sexual function, as evaluated by the standard Male Sexual Quotient.
A comparative trial carried out by the same team of researchers found that yoga is a viable and non-pharmacological alternative to fluoxetine (Prozac) for treating premature ejaculation. The yoga session included 15 poses, ranging from the relatively easy Kapalbhati to the more challenging dhanurasana (the bow pose).
Yoga is thought to improve sexual function by regulating attention and breathing, reducing anxiety and stress, and activating the part of the nervous system that induces relaxation. This, in turn, may be linked to improvements in sexual health.
A review of existing literature led by researchers at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, helps elucidate some of the sex-enhancing mechanisms of yoga. The review points to the role of Moola bandha, a perineal contraction that innervates the gonads and perineal body/cervix, in stimulating the sensory-motor and autonomic nervous system in the pelvic region.
Some studies quoted by the researchers have suggested that practicing Moola bandha relieves period pain, childbirth pain, and sexual difficulties in women, as well as treating premature ejaculation and controlling testosterone secretion in men. Moola bandha may also help ease symptoms of vaginismus, a condition characterized by involuntary vaginal muscle contractions that prevent penetrative sex.
Despite the promising findings, it is essential to approach yoga's sexual benefits with caution. The literature is still sparse, and most studies have relatively small sample sizes and lack a control group. More research is needed to establish a definitive causal link between yoga and enhanced sexual function in both men and women.
For the time being, incorporating yoga into one's daily routine remains a promising complementary practice for maintaining sexual health and well-being. Yoga has been shown to improve factors related to sexual function, such as stress, pelvic floor health, and body awareness – particularly in women.
- The ancient practice of yoga, known for its numerous health benefits, has been linked to sexual health improvements in both men and women.
- Recent research suggests that yoga can lower the body's inflammatory response and boost the production of a protein promoting brain growth, which may contribute to sexual function improvements.
- A study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that yoga can significantly improve sexual function, particularly in women over 45, with 75% reporting an improvement in their sex life.
- Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist, led a study showing that a 12-week yoga program improved the sexual satisfaction of men.
- Moola bandha, a yoga technique, is thought to stimulate the sensory-motor and autonomic nervous system in the pelvic region, potentially helping relieve period pain, childbirth pain, sexual difficulties, premature ejaculation, and symptoms of vaginismus.
