Enhanced Sexual Performance: Insights into Yoga's Positive Impact
The digital realm is brimming with wellness blogs touting yoga for a stellar sex life, backed by personal accounts claiming extraordinary enhancement. But does the science support these claims? Let's dive in and see!
Yoga, an ancient practice, has become the talk of modern medicine due to its multitude of health benefits such as alleviating depression, decreasing stress and anxiety, and aiding in managing metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid issues.
Recent studies have unveiled deeper insights, revealing how yoga works its magic. By lowering the body's inflammatory response, counteracting stress-inducing gene expression, reducing cortisol, and boosting brain-healthy proteins, it's no wonder it's a feel-good practice! And, some even claim it can lead to the infamous "coregasm" – a mind-blowing experience!
But can those yummy poses elevate our sex lives? Let's explore the research.
Enhanced sexual function in women
One often-cited study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine highlighted improved sexual function, particularly in women aged 45 and above, following 12 weeks of yoga practice. After their yoga sessions, the women's sexual function significantly improved across all Female Sexual Function Index categories: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. As many as 75 percent of the women reported an improved sex life after yoga training.
During the study, all participants were taught 22 poses thought to strengthen core abdominal muscles, improve digestion, fortify the pelvic floor, and elevate mood. Some of these include trikonasana (triangle pose), bhujangasana (snake pose), and ardha matsyendra mudra (half spinal twist). A comprehensive list can be found here.
Improved sexual function in men
Men aren't left out of the benefits! A study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, revealed that a 12-week yoga program boosted male sexual satisfaction as evaluated by the Male Sexual Quotient.
Improvements were observed across all aspects of male sexual satisfaction: desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm.
The team also found that yoga is a viable nonpharmacological alternative to fluoxetine (Prozac) for treating premature ejaculation. This comparative trial included 15 poses, ranging from the relatively simple Kapalbhati to the complex dhanurasana (bow pose).
Yogic mechanisms for better sex
How does yoga work its charm in the bedroom? A review of existing literature led by researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) helps explain some of its sex-enhancing mechanisms.
Dr. Lori Brotto, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at UBC, is the first author of the review.
Dr. Brotto and colleagues elucidate that yoga regulates attention and breathing, lessens anxiety and stress, and activates the part of the nervous system that promotes relaxation. As these effects are associated with improvements in sexual response, it is "reasonable to assume that yoga might also be associated with improvements in sexual health."
There are also psychological mechanisms at play, with female yoga practitioners being less likely to objectify their bodies and more aware of their physical selves. This awareness may be linked to increased sexual responsibility and assertiveness, as well as sexual desires.
The power of the moola bandha
Stories about releasing blocked energy in root chakras and moving "kundalini energy" up and down the spine may lack scientific evidence, but the moola bandha concept might resonate with skeptics.
Moola bandha is a perineal contraction that stimulates the pelvic region's sensory-motor and autonomic nervous system, enforcing parasympathetic activity in the body. It's thought to directly impact the gonads and perineal body/cervix – similar to pelvic floor exercises medically recommended to prevent urinary incontinence and to help both women and men enjoy sex for longer.
Another yoga pose that strengthens the pelvic floor muscles is bhekasana (frog pose). Besides boosting the sexual experience, it may help alleviate symptoms of vestibulodynia (vaginal pain) and vaginismus (involuntary vaginal muscle contraction), two conditions that impede sexual pleasure.
Reliability of the evidence
While the potential sexual benefits of yoga may be tantalizing, it's essential to consider the significant gap between empirical (experimental) evidence and anecdotal evidence. The Internet hosts a wealth of anecdotal stories, but scientific studies investigating the benefits of yoga for sexual function are scarce.
Most studies, such as those finding improved sexual satisfaction and function, have small sample sizes and lack a control group. However, more recent studies focusing on women with additional conditions have yielded stronger evidence, showing "significant improvement" in arousal and lubrication for women participating in a 12-week yoga program.
In conclusion, while there's still a need for more substantial scientific evidence to support yoga's positive impact on our sex lives, the foundational evidence is strong enough to warrant exploring its benefits for ourselves. Our pelvic muscles, and perhaps our minds, might benefit tremendously!
Yoga, with its extensive health benefits like managing stress, depression, and metabolic disorders, has been studied for its influence on sexual health. In a study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, women aged 45 and above reported improved sexual function following 12 weeks of yoga practice, with a significant improvement in all Female Sexual Function Index categories. Men also experienced an enhancement in sexual satisfaction, as suggested by a study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav. The mechanisms of yoga's sexual benefits are still being researched, but preliminary findings suggest that it regulates attention and breathing, lessens anxiety and stress, and activates the relaxation nervous system, which may improve sexual response. However, more substantial scientific evidence is needed to fully support these claims. Nevertheless, the foundational evidence is promising, hinting at potential benefits for our sexual health.
