Improved Sexual Health Through Yoga: A Look at the Advantages
The digital world is brimming with wellness blogs that sing praises about yoga for a rockin' sex life, and personal accounts that claim the practice boosts their bedroom experiences like never before. But is science on board with these outrageous claims? Let's dive in and investigate.
These days, you can't flip a stone without discovering a hidden treasure of benefits attributed to the ancient practice of yoga. From alleviating conditions like depression and anxiety to tackling metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid issues, it seems there's nothing this yogi trick can't do.
Recent research reveals that yoga has some impressive tricks up its sleeve. For example, it lowers the body's inflammatory response, counters stress-inducing genetic expression, reduces cortisol levels, and supercharges a protein that keeps the brain young and healthy. Oh, and did we mention it feels amazing? Rumor has it that the elusive "coregasm" during yoga is pretty damn incredible, too.
But what about our love lives? Can yoga's tempting poses work some magic in the bedroom? Let's have a closer look.
Yoga elevates sexual function in women
One study that made waves in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that yoga can indeed enhance sexual function, particularly in women over 45 years old. The researchers had 40 female participants partake in a 12-week yoga session and track their sexual satisfaction before and after.
At the end of the session, the ladies' sexual function had skyrocketed across all sections of the Female Sexual Function Index: "desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain." A whopping 75 percent of the women reported an improved sex life following their yoga training.
The ladies were taught 22 poses, or yogasanas, that are said to strengthen the pelvic floor, core abdominal muscles, improve digestion, boost mood, and more. Some of these poses included trikonasana (the triangle pose), bhujangasana (the snake), and ardha matsyendra mudra (half spinal twist). To see the complete list of asanas, click here.
Yoga revs up sexual function in men
Men don't miss out on the benefits, either. A similar study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, examined the impact of a 12-week yoga program on male sexual satisfaction.
At the study's end, the participants reported a significant boost in their sexual function, as evaluated by the Male Sexual Quotient. The researchers found improvements across all aspects of male sexual fulfillment: "desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm."
Interestingly, a comparative trial conducted by the same team of researchers discovered that yoga serves as a viable, non-pharmacological treatment for premature ejaculation.
The yoga regimen consisted of 15 poses, including easier ones like Kapalbhati and more complex ones like dhanurasana (the bow pose).
Yoga's sexual mechanisms
But how exactly does yoga Livennup sex lives, you ask? A literature review led by researchers at the University of British Columbia sheds some light on this question.
The review, authored by Dr. Lori Brotto, reveals that yoga controls attention and breathing, soothes anxiety and stress, and regulates the nervous system, which in turn is linked to improved sexual response.
Moreover, some women who practice yoga are less prone to objectifying their bodies and more conscious of their physical selves. This self-awareness may lead to heightened sexual responsibility and desire.
One key yogic concept worth exploring is moola bandha, a perineal contraction that stimulates the nervous system in the pelvic region and encourages relaxation, potentially boosting sexual function for both men and women. In fact, many sex therapy centers recommend this yoga practice to increase vaginal awareness, which can enhance sexual satisfaction.
Another yoga pose that strengthens the pelvic floor muscles is bhekasana, or the "frog pose." This pose not only enhances the sexual experience; it may also help alleviate symptoms of vaginismus and vestibulodynia, conditions that can make penetrative sex uncomfortable or painful for some women.
The evidence: Trustworthiness and size
Though the potential sexual benefits of yoga are undeniably tantalizing, it's essential to remember that the amount of experimental, or empirical, evidence supporting these claims is significantly smaller than the massive pool of anecdotal, or non-empirical, evidence floating around online.
To be honest, the research is scarce, and most studies have a relatively small sample size and lack a control group. However, recent studies focusing on women with sexual dysfunction in addition to other conditions have yielded more robust evidence.
For instance, a randomized controlled trial found significant improvement in arousal and lubrication among women with metabolic syndrome who participated in a 12-week yoga program. Improvements in blood pressure were also noted, suggesting that yoga may be an effective treatment for sexual dysfunction in this population.
Another randomized study investigated the sexual benefits of yoga for women living with multiple sclerosis (MS). The participants underwent 3 months of yoga training, consisting of 8 weekly sessions. Importantly, women in the yoga group showed improvement in physical ability and sexual function, while women in the control group worsened.
"Yoga techniques may improve physical abilities and sexual satisfaction for women with MS," the study concluded.
So while we eagerly wait for more scientific evidence to clarify whether "yogasms" exist, we strongly believe that there's more than enough reason to give yoga a try. Saddle up and let your pelvic muscles thank you for it!
- Yoga has been found to enhance sexual function not only in women, as shown in a study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, but also in men, as evidenced by research led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav.
- In the case of women, positions like trikonasana, bhujangasana, and ardha matsyendra mudra are said to strengthen the pelvic floor, while in men, dhanurasana and Kapalbhati are among the poses believed to boost sexual function.
- The yoga mechanisms that improve sexual function are rooted in its ability to control attention and breathing, soothe anxiety and stress, and regulate the nervous system, according to a literature review led by Dr. Lori Brotto at the University of British Columbia. Additionally, yoga practices like moola bandha and bhekasana may stimulate the nervous system in the pelvic region and alleviate certain conditions that can make sex uncomfortable or painful.
