Enhanced Sexual Function Through Yoga Practice: Insights and Advantages
Yo, the Internet is swarming with wellness blogs pushing yoga as the key to a better sex life, and real-life stories back up the claim – often in a way that makes you want to grab your yoga mat ASAP. But does the science support these sexy stories? Let's dive in and find out!
Nowadays, modern science can't get enough of yoga, backing up its effectiveness for ailments like depression, stress, anxiety, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid problems. But what about boosting your bedroom game?
Recent studies have revealed that yoga lowers the body's inflammatory response, counters stress, lowers cortisol, and increases a protein that helps the brain grow and stay healthy. So, it feels good, and sometimes – if you believe the yoga orgasm myth – it can feel really, incredibly good!
Touching base with your body can be a restorative, pleasurable experience. But can yoga's delicious poses actually improve your sex life? Let's check out some research!
Yoga Brings Pleasure to Women
Researchers at the Journal of Sexual Medicine did a study on 40 women over the age of 45, and they discovered that yoga can indeed improve sexual function across the board: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. By the end of the 12-week yoga training, 75 percent of the ladies reported an improvement in their sex lives!
The women learned 22 poses believed to improve core muscles, digestion, pelvic floor strength, and mood. Some poses they practiced included trikonasana (triangle pose), bhujangasana (snake), and ardha matsyendra mudra (half spinal twist). You can find the full list of asanas here!
Yoga Rocks Men's World Too
Dudes, yoga's not just for the ladies! Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, led a study examining the effects of 12 weeks of yoga on men's sexual satisfaction. At the end of the study period, the participants reported a significant improvement in their sexual function, as evaluated by the Male Sexual Quotient. Yowza!
But that's not all. The researchers found improvements in all aspects of male sexual satisfaction: desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, orgasm, and ejaculatory control. Plus, they found out that yoga is a groovy alternative to Prozac for treating premature ejaculation!
Why Does Yoga Get You In the Mood?
Curious about how yoga boosts your sex life? Researchers at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, have shared some insights to help us better understand its sex-enhancing mechanisms.
Dr. Lori Brotto, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at UBC, is the first author of the review. She and her colleagues explain that yoga regulates attention and breathing, lowers anxiety and stress, and encourages relaxation in the body. And y'all know what that means – improved sexual response!
There are also psychological reasons at play. According to Brotto and her team, women who practice yoga are less likely to view their bodies objectively and are more aware of their physical selves. This increased awareness and self-acceptance can lead to greater sexual responsibility and assertiveness.
The Magic of Moola Bandha
Let's get scientific – moola bandha is the name of a concept in yoga, and it has been shown to relieve period pain, childbirth pain, and sexual difficulties in women, as well as help men regulate testosterone and treat premature ejaculation.
So, while stories about moving kundalini energy and releasing blocked energy in root chakras may be lacking in solid evidence, moola bandha is a proven technique that stimulates the nervous system and improves the health of the pelvic region, rejuvenating sexual function in the process.
Moola bandha stretches and strengthens the muscles of the pelvic floor, balancing, stimulating, and rejuvenating the area, increasing awareness and circulation. Many sex therapy centers recommend this yoga practice to help women (and men) gain a better understanding of their feelings of arousal, leading to improved desire and a more fulfilling sexual experience.
The Evidence: Is it Legit?
While the potential sexual benefits of yoga are exciting, it's important to note that the experimental evidence supporting these benefits is still relatively scarce. Most of the studies out there – which found improvements in sexual satisfaction and function for both men and women – have a small sample size and no control group.
However, more recent studies, such as those focusing on women with metabolic syndrome and multiple sclerosis, have yielded stronger evidence, demonstrating improvements in sexual function, physical ability, and overall satisfaction. So, while more research is needed, there's no denying that yoga has the power to give your sex life a boost, baby! Go grab that mat and get to stretching!
- The Journal of Sexual Medicine conducted a study on 40 women aged 45 and above, discovering that yoga can significantly improve sexual function, including desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain.
- In a study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, researchers found that 12 weeks of yoga improved all aspects of male sexual satisfaction for participants, including desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, orgasm, and ejaculatory control.
- Researchers at the University of British Columbia found that yoga regulates attention and breathing, lowers anxiety and stress, encourages relaxation in the body, and can lead to improved sexual response due to these mechanisms. Additionally, women who practice yoga are more likely to have increased awareness and self-acceptance, which can lead to greater sexual responsibility and assertiveness.
