Enhanced Sexual Performance Through Yoga: Insights into the Positive Impacts of Yoga Practices on Sexual Functions
Sex, Yoga, and the Flexible Union
Welcome to the realm of ancient practices and modern advantages, where the internet is brimming with wellness bloggers who swear by yoga for a mind-blowing intimate life. But does science back up these claims? Let's dive in.
In today's bustling world, yoga has proven promising benefits for an array of health issues, including stress, anxiety, metabolic conditions, and even mood disorders. But can it elevate our bedroom experiences? Let's investigate.
Yoga performs magic, indeed. It lowers inflammation, checks genetic predispositions for stress, reduces cortisol levels, and boosts brain-friendly proteins. It even has the potential to feel fantastic. Some refer to it as the mythical "coregasm." Touching base with your body can feel revitalizing, rejuvenating, and physically pleasurable. So, can the yummy poses of yoga help us in between the sheets? Let's find out.
Yoga: A Cheerleader for Women's Sexual Function
One research study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine caught our eye. Examining 40 women aged 45 and over, it revealed that 12 weeks of yoga practice improved their sexual function, particularly in desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. A whopping 75 percent reported improvements in their sex lives after yoga training.
The study had the participants trained on 22 yogasanas, or poses, that reportedly help core muscles, improve digestion, strengthen the pelvic floor, and enhance mood. You can check out the list here.
Yoga: A Helping Hand for Men
Men, don't be left out! Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, led a study examining the effects of a 12-week yoga program on male sexual satisfaction. At the study's end, the participants reported significant improvements in all aspects of their sexual lives, including desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm.
In a comparative trial by the same team of researchers, yoga was found to be a viable and non-pharmacological alternative to fluoxetine (Prozac) for treating premature ejaculation.
How Yoga Boosts Your Sex Life
Curious about the mechanics? A review of existing literature by researchers at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, sheds some light.
Yoga regulates attention, breathing, and stress levels, activating the body's relaxation response, associated with enhanced sexual response. Additionally, women who practice yoga are less likely to objectify their bodies and more conscious of their physical selves, which may lead to increased sexual responsibility, assertiveness, and desires.
The Power of Moola Bandha
While fairy tales about unblocking energy and kundalini awakenings may leave skeptics unconvinced, other yogic concepts might hold more appeal. Moola Bandha is one such concept. Practicing moola bandha stimulates the pelvic region, balances, stimulates, and revitalizes the area, potentially improving sexual health.
Moola bandha is similar to pelvic floor exercises recommended by sex therapy centers to help women become more aware of their genital sensations, boosting desire and enhancing the sexual experience.
The Evidence: A Peek Underneath the Blanket
While the potential sexual benefits of yoga may seem intriguing, it's crucial to remember the significant gap between empirical, or experimental, evidence and anecdotal evidence. The internet abounds with anecdotes, but experimental studies examining the benefits of yoga for sexual function remain scant.
That being said, recent studies focusing on women with sexual dysfunction in addition to other conditions have yielded stronger evidence. For example, a 12-week yoga program for women with metabolic syndrome improved arousal and lubrication, while no such improvements were observed in the women who didn't practice yoga.
A study on women with multiple sclerosis also demonstrated improvements in physical ability and sexual function for those who underwent 3 months of yoga training.
While we need more scientific evidence to determine whether "yogasms" are a real, achievable thing, there's enough juice to warrant incorporating yoga into our daily routines. Dive in, and your pelvic muscles might just thank you for it!
- The journal article in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that 12 weeks of yoga practice significantly improved sexual function in women aged 45 and over, particularly in desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain.
- Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist in New Delhi, India, led a study showing that a 12-week yoga program resulted in significant improvements in all aspects of male sexual satisfaction, including desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm.
- A review of existing literature by researchers at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, states that yoga can enhance sexual response by regulating attention, breathing, and stress levels, activating the body's relaxation response.
- Moola Bandha, one of the yoga concepts, stimulates the pelvic region and can potentially improve sexual health. The practice of moola bandha is similar to pelvic floor exercises recommended by sex therapy centers to help women become more aware of their genital sensations, boosting desire and enhancing the sexual experience.
