Enhanced Sexual Performance: Insights into the Advantages of Yoga Practice

Improved Sexual Performance through Yoga: Insights into Yoga's Influence on Sexual Health

Yo, let's talk 'bout all the sexy benefits of doing yoga, yo! You know, that ancient practice that's supposed to help you chill out and stuff? Turns out it might actually boost your bedroom game, too. Here's the lowdown on how yoga can help you get your groove on.

First off, let's address the research. Modern studies are starting to uncover the numerous health perks of yogin' it up, like reducing stress, relieving depression, and even improving diabetes and thyroid issues. But can it make you a real-life Casanova? We dug in to find out.

Yoga gettin' those ladies (and gents) hot and bothered

A much-referenced study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that yoga can indeed spice up your sex life, particularly for women over 45. The study had 40 ladies doing 12 weeks of yoga and self-reported their sexual function before and after. The results? A significant improvement across the board, from desire to orgasm satisfaction. About 75% of the ladies reported an improvement in their sex life after the yoga sessions.

The poses they learned were believed to improve core abdominal muscles, boost mood, and strengthen the pelvic floor - trikonasana (the triangle pose), bhujangasana (the snake), and ardha matsyendra mudra (half spinal twist) were some of 'em. And, just for fun, here's the full list: [link]

For the dudes out there, don't feel left out. An analogous study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, found that a 12-week yoga program boosted male sexual satisfaction. The researchers found improvements in desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, and more.

How does yoga get you in the mood?

So, how does yoga get you in the mood, exactly? A review of existing literature led by researchers at the University of British Columbia helps us understand some of the sex-enhancing mechanisms.

Yoga regulates attention and breathing, lowers anxiety and stress, and stimulates the part of the nervous system that triggers relaxation. All of these effects are associated with improvements in sexual response.

Psychologically, female yoga practitioners are less likely to objectify their bodies and tend to be more aware of their physical selves, which may be associated with increased sexual responsibility and assertiveness.

Older women's sexual function possibly enhanced by practicing the triangle pose, according to recent findings.

Moola bandha: The pleasure powerhouse of yoga

Now, let's talk about the yogic concept of Moola bandha. This perineal contraction enforces parasympathetic activity in the pelvic region, boosting circulation and relaxing the body. Some studies suggest it can relieve period pain, childbirth pain, and sexual difficulties in women, as well as helping men control testosterone secretion and treat premature ejaculation.

Moola bandha is similar to the medically recommended kegel exercises, which are used to prevent urinary incontinence and help women enjoy sex for longer. Many sex therapy centers actually recommend this yoga practice to women, as it helps them become more aware of their sensations of arousal in the genital area, improving desire and sexual experience.

Another yoga pose that strengthens the pelvic floor muscles is bhekasana, or the "frog pose." Besides boosting your sex life, this pose may help ease symptoms of vestibulodynia (vaginal pain) and vaginismus (vaginal muscle spasms that make sex difficult).

Is the evidence strong enough to swear by yoga's sexy powers?

While it's easy to get all hot and bothered by the potential sexual benefits of yoga, it's worth noting that the amount of empirical, or experimental, evidence is still quite small. The Internet's full of anecdotal evidence, but the studies that have actually tested the benefits of yoga for sexual function are scarce.

However, more recent studies that focused on women with metabolic syndrome or multiple sclerosis have found stronger evidence of yoga's sexual benefits. For example, a randomized controlled trial found "significant improvement" in arousal and lubrication for women with metabolic syndrome after a 12-week yoga program, while women who didn't practice yoga didn't see improvements.

The final answer: Get your yoga on and get your freak on

While we need more scientific evidence to support yoga's benefits for our sex lives, the results are promising. And, besides helping you get your groove on, yoga's got a whole lotta other benefits, from reducing stress to boosting your mood. So, what are you waiting for? Roll out that mat and start stretchin'! Your pelvic muscles (and partner) will thank you later.

Improving sexual performance in men could potentially be enhanced through the practice of the bow pose.

The study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine indicated that yoga can enhance a woman's sexual function, particularly for women over 40, with about 75% of participants reporting an improvement in their sex life after a 12-week yoga session.
Yoga's psychological benefits, such as regulation of attention and breathing, lowering anxiety and stress, and promoting relaxation, can contribute to improvements in sexual response.
Moola bandha, a yogic concept that involves a perineal contraction, boosts circulation, relaxes the body, and may help with sexual difficulties in women and testosterone secretion control in men.