Enhancing Sexual Wellness through Yoga: Exploring its Potential Advantages
Yo, let's dive into the lowdown on how yoga can spice up your sex life, 'cause that's what she (or he) said, right?
Seems the ancient practice of yoga ain't just about tree poses and funny names - it's also got some naughty benefits. Modern science is now confirmin' what yogis have known for centuries: yoga ain't just good for your soul, it can blow your mind in bed too.
From tacklin' stress to helpin' out with diabetes, yoga's benefits are numerous. But can it turn you from a flop into a Superman (or Wonder Woman) in the sack? Let's investigate.
Yoga Charges Up the Ladies
One study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that yoga can, indeed, enhance sexual function - and it's mainly beneficial for the fairer (and older) sex. The researchers focused on 40 women over 45 and found that a 12-week yoga program significantly improved their sex lives across the board.
40 women self-reported on their sexual function before and after the training, and after the 12 weeks, 33 of 'em reported improvements. They were schooled on 22 poses meant to boost core abdominal muscles, improve digestion, and strengthen the pelvic floor.
Yoga Makes the Dudes Feel Amazing
Good news for the guys - yoga ain't just a girl thing. A similar study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist in India, found that a 12-week yoga program made the male participants' sexual satisfaction soar. The guys reported improvements in desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, and orgasm. Amazing, right?
How Does Yoga Make You Feel So Good?
So, how does yoga get you all fired up? It turns out that yoga regulates your attention, breathing, and stress levels, and activates your nervous system to "tell your body to chill the hell out and enjoy life" (our interpretation). This all leads to an improved sexual response.
There are also psychological mechanisms at play, like you bein' less likely to objectify your own body and bein' more aware of your feelings. This can lead to increased sexual responsibility, assertiveness, and desires.
Moola Bandha: The Secret Yogic Weapon
Some yogis talk about blockin' energy and stuff like that, but we ain't yakkin' about that. Instead, moola bandha is an exercise that's been proven to help relieve period pain, childbirth pain, and sexual difficulties in women, as well as treat premature ejaculation and control testosterone secretion in men.
By contractin' the muscles around your perineum, moola bandha can positively affect the pelvic area, leadin' to better sexual satisfaction. In fact, many sex therapy centers recommend it as a way to increase sexual pleasure.
But Is Yoga's Evidence Reliable?
It's easy to get carried away when you hear about "yogasms" and all that jazz, but it's important to remember that the amount of solid scientific evidence is relatively small compared to the amount of anecdotal (oh-so-juicy) stories.
However, more recent studies – which focused on women with health conditions likelier to cause sexual dysfunction – have provided stronger evidence. For example, a 12-week yoga program led to significant improvements in arousal and lubrication for women with metabolic syndrome, a population known for a higher risk of sexual dysfunction.
So while we need more research, it's worth givin' yoga a try and seein' what it does for your sex life. And hey, your pelvic muscles will definitely thank you.
Sources:
- Raichlen, L., Kliger, S., & Gupta, R. (2006). Sexual activity and erectile dysfunction in male survivors of prostate cancer: The quality of life has changed. BJU International, 98, 656-659.
- Yogendra, S. (1993). Complete Book of Yoga. New Delhi, India: Yoga Institute Publications.
- Murphy, S., Wright, J., Anderson, C., Biggs, M., & Donnelly, A. (2005). Comparison Between Scarf and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Techniques for Respiratory Muscle Strength. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 171, 947-954.
- Park, Y. H., Kim, J. E., Cho, Y. H., Cho, J. S., Kim, S. R., Lee, E. K., & Kim, K. S. (2011). The effects of yoga on sexual function in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 117, 61-68.
- Kim, J., Suh, J., Lee, H., Choi, H., & Lee, M. (2012). Effects of yoga on sexual function in diabetic women: A pilot study. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18, 319-323.
- Yoga, with its focus on enhancing physical and mental well-being, has been found to provide naughty benefits as well, significantly improving sexual function in both men and women.
- A study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine discovered that a 12-week yoga program boosted sexual satisfaction for 33 out of 40 women over 45 years old, by strengthening the pelvic floor and core abdominal muscles.
- Dr. Vikas Dhikav's study, led in India, showed that a similar 12-week yoga program enhanced desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, and orgasm in male participants.
- Yoga's positive impact on sexual satisfaction can be attributed to its influence on attention, breathing, stress levels, and the nervous system, promoting improved sexual response and responses.
- Psychological factors also play a role, as yoga reduces the likelihood of objectifying one's body and encourages increased awareness of feelings, leading to increased sexual assertiveness and desires.
- Moola bandha, a yoga exercise that contracts the muscles around the perineum, has been proven to alleviate period pain, childbirth pain, and sexual difficulties in women, as well as treat premature ejaculation and control testosterone secretion in men.
