Improved Sexual Function through Yoga: Uncovered Advantages
Get ready to dive into the steamy world of yoga and its effects on your sexual life. Here's the lowdown on how this ancient practice can step up your game between the sheets.
From reducing stress levels to improving body awareness, yoga has long been lauded for its numerous health benefits. But does it really heighten sexual prowess like some claim? Let's delve into the research.
Yoga for the gals
A study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine gave us a taste of what yoga can do for the ladies over 45. Over a 12-week period, 40 women reported a significant improvement in their sexual function across all areas: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. In fact, a whopping 75% of them noticed an improvement in their sex lives after their yoga training!
The ladies were trained on 22 poses, or yogasanas, believed to enhance core abdominal strength, improve digestion, strengthen the pelvic floor, and jack up their spirits. Some poses included the triangle pose, the snake, and half spinal twist. You can find the full list of asanas here.
Yoga for the fellas
Not to be outdone, the guys can also reap the benefits of their downward dog and warrior poses. A study headed by India-based neurologist Dr. Vikas Dhikav found that a 12-week yoga program boosted the guys' sexual satisfaction. At the study's end, the participants reported improvements in all aspects of their sexual satisfaction: desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm.
A comparative trial carried out by the same research team found that yoga is a viable non-pharmacological alternative to Prozac for treating premature ejaculation. The study included 15 yoga poses, ranging from simpler ones, like Kapalbhati, to more complex ones, such as dhanurasana, or the "bow pose."
How yoga pumps up your passion
So, how exactly does yoga combine your ohm with your ahem? Well, yoga regulates attention and breathing, lowers anxiety and stress, and triggers our body's relaxation response. This, in turn, enhances our sexual response. But it's not just about the physical benefits; yoga also boosts our mindset.
"Female yoga practitioners are less likely to objectify their bodies and more aware of their physical selves," explains research led by the University of British Columbia. This mindset shift can lead to increased sexual assertiveness and desires.
The power of the moola bandha
While tales of unblocking energy in the root chakra may sound like a stretch, there's solid evidence behind the moola bandha. This concept involves a perineal contraction that activates the pelvic region, enforces relaxation, and revitalizes our reproductive organs. Some studies suggest that practicing moola bandha can relieve period pain, childbirth pain, sexual difficulties in women, and even treat premature ejaculation and control testosterone secretion in men.
The sex-boosting potential of yoga: A measured perspective
While it's easy to get carried away by the tantalizing possibilities of yoga's sexual benefits, it's crucial to take a step back and examine the evidence. The internet is awash with anecdotal success stories, but well-controlled experimental studies remain scarce. Admittedly, most of the studies discussed above focused on small sample sizes and lacked control groups. However, more recent studies, such as those focusing on women with metabolic syndrome or those living with multiple sclerosis, have yielded stronger evidence supporting yoga's potential benefits for sexual function.
In conclusion, while the scientific evidence supporting yoga's sexual benefits isn't overwhelming, its stress-reducing, body-awareness-enhancing, and physical comfort-boosting properties can contribute positively to sexual health. As further research is needed to fully understand yoga's impact on sexual function, why not slip into a yoga mat and experience the benefits yourself? Your pelvic muscles - and partner - will thank you.
- The study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that, over a 12-week period, 40 women over 45 experienced significant improvements in sexual function across all areas after practicing a series of 22 yogasanas that enhance core abdominal strength, improve digestion, and strengthen the pelvic floor.
- A study headed by Dr. Vikas Dhikav revealed that a 12-week yoga program boosted the sexual satisfaction of male participants by improving all aspects of their sexual satisfaction, such as desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm.
- Research suggests that the moola bandha, a perineal contraction that activates the pelvic region and enforces relaxation, can help relieve period pain, childbirth pain, sexual difficulties in women, treat premature ejaculation, and control testosterone secretion in men.
