Improved Sexual Function Through Yoga Practices: Exploring the Advantages
The web bursts with wellness blogs hailing yoga as the secret ingredient for a stellar sex life, with countless personal testimonies backing up the claim. But is the research capable of substantiating these alluring assertions? Let's dive in.
Modern research has begun to unveil the numerous health perks tucked away in the ancient practice of yoga. Conditions like depression, stress, anxiety, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid issues are reportedly alleviated by the practice.
Recent studies have revealed intriguing mechanisms behind these benefits. Yoga has been found to:
- Dampen the body's inflammatory response
- Counteract genetic expression that predisposes people to stress
- Lower cortisol levels
- Boost a protein responsible for brain growth and vitality
And let's not forget about the delicious sensation of practicing yoga - sometimes it genuinely feels... amazing.
So, can those heavenly poses translate into mind-blowing bedroom experiences? Here's what science has to say.
Yoga sparks passion in women
Researchers drawing from the Journal of Sexual Medicine conducted a study on 40 women aged 45 and above, all of whom reported on their sexual function before and after 12 weeks of yoga sessions. The findings? Their sexual function significantly improved across all sections of the Female Sexual Function Index: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Even more impressive: 75% of the women reported an improvement in their sex lives following their yoga training.
The women were taught 22 poses, or yogasanas, aimed at strengthening the pelvic floor, improving digestion, building core abdominal muscles, and elevating mood. Popular examples include trikonasana (triangle pose), bhujangasana (snake pose), and ardha matsyendra mudra (half spinal twist). To learn more about these life-changing asanas, click .here.
Yoga heats things up in men
It's not all about the ladies, either. A study headed by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, delved into the sexual satisfaction of men after a 12-week yoga regimen.
By the study's end, the men reported a notable improvement in their sexual function, as assessed by the standard Male Sexual Quotient. Researchers found improvements in all realms of male sexual satisfaction: desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm.
A comparative trial orchestrated by the same team found that yoga stands as a viable, non-pharmacological alternative to Prozac for treating premature ejaculation. The 15-pose yoga routine ranged from beginner-friendly to challenging, such as Kapalbhati (involving a seated position with a contracted abdomen) to dhanurasana (the "bow pose").
How yoga ignites the flame
But just how does yoga spark passion? Researchers from the University of British Columbia took a closer look at the mechanisms behind yoga's sexual benefits.
Dr. Lori Brotto, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at UBC, led the study. Brotto and her colleagues discovered that yoga regulates attention and breathing, lowers anxiety and stress, and modifies the nervous system to promote relaxation.
These effects are associated with enhanced sexual response, making it a compelling assumption that yoga may also contribute to sexual health improvement. There are also psychological factors at play, such as female practitioners of yoga being less inclined to objectify their bodies and more attuned to their physical sensations. Mood-boosting benefits of yoga can further bolster sexual wellness.
Moola bandha: A secret weapon
While stories about awakening root chakra energy and experiencing "kundalini orgasms" are met with skepticism, there are other yoga concepts that may appeal to doubters. Moola bandha is one such concept.
Moola bandha is a contraction of the perineal muscles that allegedly activates the nervous system in the pelvic region and influences reproductive organs. Some studies have suggested that practicing moola bandha helps relieve period pain, childbirth pain, and sexual difficulties in women, as well as controlling testosterone secretion in men.
Many sex therapy centers recommend practicing moola bandha to aid women in becoming more aware of their genital sensations, thus boosting desire and sexual gratification. Another yoga pose that fortifies pelvic floor muscles is bhekasana, or the "frog pose." Not only can this pose enhance the sexual experience, but it may also alleviate symptoms of vestibulodynia (vaginal pain) and vaginismus (involuntary vaginal muscle contraction) in women.
The limits of the evidence
While we can't help but get excited at the prospect of yogi orgasms, it's vital to remember the gap between empirical, or experimental, evidence and anecdotal evidence. The internet thrives on the latter, but discoveries validating the benefits of yoga for sexual function remain sparse.
Moreover, most of the aforementioned studies – the ones displaying improvements in sexual satisfaction and function for both men and women – boast small sample sizes and lack control groups. However, newer studies focusing on women with additional disorders, such as metabolic syndrome and multiple sclerosis, have produced stronger evidence.
For instance, a randomized controlled trial examine the impact of yoga on women with metabolic syndrome, a group that faces a higher risk of sexual dysfunction. The study found that a 12-week yoga program led to significant improvements in arousal and lubrication for these women, whereas no such advancements were noted in the non-yoga group.
Another trial comparing the sexual benefits of yoga for women living with multiple sclerosis uncovered that women in the yoga group experienced improvement in physical ability and sexual function, while women in the control group manifested worsening symptoms.
"Yoga techniques may improve physical activities and sexual satisfaction of women with MS," the study concluded. So while we await further scientific evidence to solidify yoga's effects on our love lives, the foundation has been laid. Until research provides definitive answers on "yogasms," we think it's worth giving yoga a shot – our pelvic muscles will definitely appreciate it.
- The ancient practice of yoga, demonstrated to boost brain growth and vitality, lower cortisol levels, and counteract genetic expression that predisposes people to stress, might also improve sexual health based on preliminary research.
- A study conducted on 40 women aged 45 and above revealed that their sexual function significantly improved after 12 weeks of yoga sessions, with 75% of the women reporting an improvement in their sex lives.
- Recent research suggests that yoga can potentially have positive effects on men's sexual health as well, with one study showing improvements in male sexual satisfaction following a 12-week yoga regimen.
