Improved Sexual Function through Yoga: Uncovering the Advantages
Yo, let's dive into the steamy secrets of yoga and its impact on our bedroom exploits. Although it's often shrouded in mystique, science is starting to unravel the hidden benefits of this ancient practice.
Yoga has been found to aid multiple health conditions, such as stress, depression, anxiety, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid issues. By lowering inflammation, regulating genes associated with stress, and boosting a protein that helps keep the brain young, yoga is not only a mental health game-changer but a physical pleasure booster as well.
But can those yummy poses do more than just twist and contort our bodies? Time to flex our investigative muscles and find out.
Yoga's sexual superpowers for ladies
Remember that study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine that had everyone believing in a new secret to an enviable sex life? Well, guess what? It shows that yoga can indeed ramp up a woman's bedroom game, particularly for those who’ve hit the big 4-0.
The study focused on 40 women, who reported improved sexual function across all aspects of the Female Sexual Function Index (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain) after practicing yoga poses for 12 weeks. And here's the kicker: 75% of them experienced an improvement in their sex life!
The yoga routine included 22 poses, like trikonasana (a.k.a the triangle pose) and ardha matsyendra mudra (half spinal twist), which help strengthen the pelvic floor, improve digestion, and boost mood. You can get the complete list of asanas right here.
Yoga and the dudes' delight
Guess who else can benefit from downward dogs and warrior poses? The fellas! Dr. Vikas Dhikav from the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi led a study examining the impact of a 12-week yoga program on men's sexual satisfaction, and the results are nothing short of...well, satisfying.
By the end of the study, the participants reported significantly improved sexual function across all aspects of the Male Sexual Quotient, from desire and ejaculatory control to orgasm and sexual satisfaction.
Bonus points: these researchers also found that yoga can be a non-pharmacological alternative to Prozac for treating premature ejaculation.
How does yoga pump up the jam?
So, how exactly does twisting yourself into a pretzel improve your sex life? A review led by researchers at the University of British Columbia gives us a clue.
Yoga regulates attention, breathing, and anxiety levels, activating the nervous system to promote relaxation and improved sexual response. Psychological factors also play a role, as female yoga practitioners are less likely to objectify their bodies and more likely to be aware of their physical selves, leading to increased sexual understanding and desire.
To put it simply, some well-placed pelvic floor contractions (ahem, moola bandha) can activate the nervous system to boost blood flow to reproductive organs and relax the body, promoting a more pleasurable sexual experience. You can learn how to do it in the video below.
And let's not forget about bhekasana, the "frog pose" — it's great for strengthening those pelvic floor muscles and easing symptoms of vestibulodynia (pain in the vestibule of the vagina) and vaginismus (involuntary contraction of vaginal muscles). It's like hitting the gym for your libido!
But how solid is the evidence?
Now, while the idea of "yogasms" and the movement of "kundalini energy" might sound like something out of a sleazy self-help book, there seems to be some merit to the claims. That being said, the amount of empirical evidence supporting yoga's sexual benefits is still smaller than the internet's overflowing collection of questionable anecdotes.
What we do have, however, are a few solid studies with promising results. For example, a trial focusing on women with metabolic syndrome reported "significant improvement" in arousal and lubrication after a 12-week yoga program, while another study investigating sexual benefits for women with multiple sclerosis showed improvement in both physical ability and sexual function.
So, should we all be hitting the yoga mats?
Though the evidence isn't extensive, the data we do have points to the idea that yoga is worth a try if you're looking to spice up your love life. After all, anything that helps reduce anxiety, promote relaxation, and alleviate sexual performance anxiety has got to be good for your nether regions, right?
And hey, if nothing else, regular practice is sure to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and give your partner some bragging rights. Namaste and happy...well, you know.
Yoga's benefits extend to sexual health, particularly for women over 40, as a study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine demonstrates. After 12 weeks of yoga practice, these women reported improved sexual function across all aspects of the Female Sexual Function Index. Men can also benefit, as a study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav found that a 12-week yoga program significantly improved male sexual satisfaction. Yoga may boost sexual function for both genders by regulating attention, breathing, and anxiety levels, promoting relaxation and improved sexual response. However, while there is some empirical evidence to support these claims, the amount is not yet extensive compared to the internet's collection of anecdotes. Regular yoga practice can strengthen pelvic floor muscles and potentially enhance sexual satisfaction, making it worth considering for those seeking to improve their love life.
