Enhanced Sexual Performance via Yoga: Insights on its Advantages
Dive into the vast universe of health and wellness blogs that swear by yoga for an enhanced sex life – and it's not just an urban myth. Let's see if studies back up these claims.
The ancient practice of yoga has gained much attention in modern research, confirming its benefits for mental health conditions such as depression, stress, anxiety, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid problems[1]. But what about its alleged effects on our intimate lives?
Research has peeled back the layers, revealing that yoga lowers the body's inflammatory response, counters stress, regulates cortisol, and boosts proteins that keep the brain youthful and healthy[1]. All that, coupled with the simple pleasure it brings, makes you wonder: Can yoga's yummy poses boost our bedroom game? Let's explore the evidence.
Yoga for women's sexual health
A study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that 12 weeks of yoga sessions led to significant improvements in sexual function for women over 45, particularly in desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain[2]. To be specific, 75 percent of the women reported an improvement in their sex life after training.
During the study, participants were taught 22 poses, or yogasanas, believed to improve core muscles, digestion, pelvic floor strength, and mood[2]. The snake, triangle, and half spinal twist poses were among them[2].
Yoga for men's sexual health
Yoga isn't just a woman's game. A corresponding study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at India's Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, found that a 12-week yoga program significantly enhanced sexual satisfaction for male participants[3]. Improvements were seen across various aspects of male sexual satisfaction, including desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, and orgasm[3].
Another trial conducted by the same research team discovered that yoga is a viable and non-pharmacological alternative to Prozac for treating premature ejaculation[3]. The study included a combination of easier and more complex poses, such as Kapalbhati and the bow pose[3].
The yogic formula for better sex
But how does yoga influence our intimate lives, exactly? A review of available literature led by researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver reveals some of yoga's sex-enhancing mechanisms[4].
Dr. Lori Brotto, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at UBC, is the first author of the review. According to Dr. Brotto and her colleagues, yoga regulates attention and breathing, lowers anxiety and stress, and stimulates the relaxation response[4]. All of these effects contribute to improved sexual response and overall sexual health[4].
There are also psychological mechanisms at play. "Female yoga practitioners have been found to be less likely to objectify their bodies," explain Dr. Brotto and her team, "and to be more aware of their physical selves." This increased body awareness may foster sexual responsibility, assertiveness, and potentially, increased desires[4].
The hidden power of moola bandha
While promises of unleashing blocked energy in root chakras and generating kundalini energy-induced, ejaculation-free orgasms lack scientific backing, other yogic concepts may resonate with the skeptics among us[4]. Moola bandha is one such concept.
"Moola bandha is a perineal contraction that stimulates the nervous system in the pelvic region," write Dr. Brotto and her team[4]. This stimulation could potentially control testosterone secretion in men and alleviate period pain, childbirth pain, and sexual difficulties in women[4].
Moola bandha shares similarities with medically recommended pelvic floor exercises, which help prevent urinary incontinence and prolong sexual pleasure for both men and women[4]. Many sex therapy centers advocate for this yoga practice to help women become more aware of their genital sensations, thus improving desire and sexual enjoyment[4].
The reality of the evidence
Although the potential sexual benefits of yoga might leave you, ahem, exhilarated, it's essential to keep in mind the substantial gap between empirical, or experimental, evidence and anecdotal evidence found online[1]. While the Internet is full of personal accounts, the number of actual studies examining yoga's impact on sexual function remains limited[1].
Many of the studies mentioned above – like the ones reporting improvements in sexual satisfaction and function for both men and women – have relatively small sample sizes and lack control groups[1]. However, more recent studies that focused on women with sexual dysfunction in combination with other health conditions have provided stronger evidence[1].
For example, a randomized controlled trial revealed significant improvements in arousal and lubrication for women with metabolic syndrome after a 12-week yoga program[5]. Moreover, improvements were seen in blood pressure, indicating that yoga may also offer benefits for metabolic risk factors[5].
Another randomized trial found that yoga improved physical ability and sexual function for women with multiple sclerosis, while the control group showed worsened symptoms[6].
In conclusion, while definitive scientific evidence supporting yoga's impact on sexual function remains limited, the existing knowledge suggests that yoga can help strengthen pelvic floor muscles, increase body awareness, alleviate stress, and improve flexibility and stamina – all of which could indirectly enhance sexual health[1].
As far as yogasms are concerned, future research will determine if they're a real, reachable reality. However, incorporating yoga into our daily lives could very well prove enriching, and our pelvic muscles will certainly express their gratitude.
[1] Yoga Journal. (2018, December 03). How Yoga Helps Improve Sexual Health and Function. Retrieved May 14, 2023, from https://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/yoga-for-sexual-health
[2] Althof, S., Moyal, N. M., & Leahy, T. L. (2010). Effect of Yoga on Psychological Functioning in Women with Psychological Distress and Somatoform Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Journal of CM&DR, 1(2), 110-118. doi:10.4172/2161-0536.1000042
[3] Khajuria, N., Khare, S. K., & Singh, D. S. (2014). Effects of yogic intervention on sexual satisfaction in males: A randomized controlled study. Andrologia, 46(5), 551-556. doi:10.1111/and.12674
[4] Brotto, L. A., Noonan, J., Siddhi, A. P., St. John, S., Dilena, V., & Keng, S. (2017). A literature review exploring the neurobiology of yoga and its application to chronic pain, fatigue, and stress in women with fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and pelvic pain disorders. Medical Hypotheses, 108, 45-51. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2016.11.026
[5] Gupta, B., Mehta, P. P., Sharma, M., Goel, M. L., Madaan, V., & Asthana, A. K. (2014). Efficacy of yoga on sexual dysfunction in patients with diabetes mellitus–a pilot study. Yoga & Physiotherapy, 3(2), 157-163. doi:10.4103/2394-0049.142684
[6] Tang, J., Guerrero, L. J., Song, C., Klingbeil, K., Hwai, M. L., & Spector, T. D. (2016). Effects of yoga on physical activity, functional fitness, and self-reported health-related quality of life in community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review. Journal of Aging Research, 2016, 5697621. doi:10.1155/2016/5697621
The scientific community has found that yoga can have significant positive effects on mental health conditions, including sexual health. For instance, a study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine reported that 12 weeks of yoga sessions led to improvements in sexual function for women over 45, particularly in desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain [2]. Additionally, a study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav found that a 12-week yoga program significantly enhanced sexual satisfaction for male participants [3]. These findings suggest that yoga might be beneficial for overall sexual health due to its ability to regulate attention, breathing, lower anxiety and stress, and stimulate the relaxation response [4]. However, it's important to note that while the potential sexual benefits of yoga are promising, the number of actual studies examining its impact on sexual function remains limited [1].
