Improved Sexual Health Through Yoga Practice: Unveiling the Advantages of this Ancient Practice on Intimacy and Libido
The internet is filled with health blogs advocating yoga for a better sex life, with personal accounts suggesting significant improvements. But does the research back these claims? Let's dive in.
Modern research is just beginning to explore the numerous health advantages of yoga, an ancient practice. Among the conditions it reportedly helps with are stress, depression, anxiety, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid problems.
Recent studies have delved into the mechanisms behind these benefits, revealing that yoga helps lower inflammation, counters stress-related genetic expression, reduces cortisol levels, and increases a protein that promotes brain growth and health [1][2][3].
But can yoga's casual poses boost our intimate lives? Let's dissect the evidence.
Yoga for Women's Sexual Health
A study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that yoga could indeed enhance sexual function, especially in women over 45 [4]. Over 12 weeks, the women's sexual function improved across all sections of the Female Sexual Function Index: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. As many as 75% of the women reported improved sex lives after yoga training.
The women were taught 22 poses believed to strengthen the pelvic floor, improve digestion, and boost mood - including trikonasana (the triangle pose), bhujangasana (the snake), and ardha matsyendra mudra (half spinal twist) [4].
Yoga for Men's Sexual Health
Men too can benefit from yoga. A 12-week study by neurologist Dr. Vikas Dhikav found an improvement in sexual satisfaction for the participants. They reported significant gains in all aspects of sexual satisfaction, including desire, orgasm, and ejaculatory control. The study also found yoga to be a viable and nonpharmacological alternative to fluoxetine (Prozac) for treating premature ejaculation [5].
Mechanisms for Enhanced Sexual Function
How does yoga achieve these sexual health benefits? A literature review led by researchers at the University of British Columbia helps clarify some of its mechanisms [6]. Yoga regulates attention, breathing, and lowers anxiety and stress, all contributing to improvements in sexual response. It also fosters a better body awareness among women, which may lead to increased sexual responsibility and desires.
One concept to make skeptics take notice is Moola bandha. This contraction in the perineal area activates the pelvic region's nerves, potentially aiding in relaxation, pain relief, and sexual difficulties [6]. Practicing Moola bandha is suggested to help women improve their sexual experiences and was once even recommended in certain sex therapy centers [6].
The Evidence: Reliable or Not?
While the potential sexual benefits of yoga are exciting, it's essential to remember the substantial discrepancy between empirical (experimental) and anecdotal evidence. The internet is flooded with anecdotes, but validated studies investigating yoga's effects on sexual function remain scarce [6]. More research, especially with larger sample sizes and control groups, is needed to definitively support yoga's efficacy [6].
For now, the evidence is promising, and incorporating yoga into our daily routines could be enriching, providing countless other well-documented benefits. And we're pretty sure our pelvic muscles would appreciate it too.
Enrichment Data:
- General benefits: Yoga's focus on mindfulness, body awareness, and muscle strengthening can indirectly improve sexual function by enhancing overall well-being and potentially reducing stress and anxiety [5][6].
- Pelvic floor strengthening: Yoga is recognized for strengthening pelvic floor muscles, which can improve bladder control and potentially enhance sexual function by improving muscle tone and awareness [5].
- robust scientific research: More research is needed to fully support the direct sexual benefits of yoga, especially for men [1]. Comprehensive studies examining the efficacy of various yoga poses, techniques, and their long-term effects are needed [1].
- anecdotal evidence: Although personal accounts report positive effects of yoga on sexual function, scientific evidence is limited, and further research is needed to validate these claims [6].
- tantric sex techniques: While related to yoga in terms of breathing and mindfulness, tantric sex techniques are not thoroughly scientifically validated. They mainly focus on mental and emotional aspects [2].
- The research in the field of sexual health has started to investigate the impacts of yoga, revealing that yoga could improve sexual function, especially in older women, as reported in a study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine [4].
- Yoga, through its regulation of attention, breathing, and reduction of stress and anxiety, contributes to improvements in sexual response, as explained in a literature review led by researchers at the University of British Columbia [6].
- While more robust scientific research is needed to fully support the direct sexual benefits of yoga, especially for men, incorporating yoga into our daily routines could indirectly improve sexual function by enhancing overall well-being and potentially reducing stress and anxiety [5][6].
