Improved Sexual Function through Yoga Practice: Research-Backed Advantages
Yoga and Improved Sexual Function: A Look at the Research
Yoga, an ancient practice that dates back thousands of years, has recently gained attention for its potential to enhance sexual health. In this report, we explore scientific research on whether this age-old practice truly benefits one's bedroom experiences.
At present, modern research is focused on uncovering the numerous health advantages associated with yoga, including aid for conditions like depression, stress, anxiety, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid issues. Recent studies have ventured into the complex mechanisms underlying these benefits.
One fascinating finding is that yoga has the power to lower the body's inflammatory response and modify genetic expression linked to stress. Moreover, it reduces cortisol levels and increases a protein crucial for brain development and maintenance.
One might wonder if these benefits extend to better sexual experiences. Let's examine the available research.
Yoga's Impact on Women's Sexual Function
A notable study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine ascertains that yoga can indeed improve the sexual function of women, particularly those aged 45 and older. The researchers analyzed the effects of a 12-week yoga regimen on 40 women experiencing diminished sexual function.
The women's sexual function was evaluated pre- and post-yoga sessions utilizing the Female Sexual Function Index, which measures desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain.
After the 12-week period, the women's sexual function had significantly improved across all sections of the index. Stunningly, 75% of the women reported an improvement in their sexual lives as a result of yoga training.
The women in question were taught 22 specific "yogasanas," or poses, which are believed to strengthen the pelvic floor, improve mood, and promote core abdominal muscle tone. Some of these poses are trikonasana (triangle pose), bhujangasana (snake pose), and ardha matsyendra mudra (half spinal twist). For a complete list, click here.
Yoga's Benefits for Men
Men are not left out, either. A study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, delved into the effect of a 12-week yoga program on the sexual satisfaction of men. By the study's conclusion, the participants saw significant improvements in their sexual function, as evaluated by the standard Male Sexual Quotient.
The researchers reported improvements across all aspects of male sexual satisfaction, including desire, satisfaction with intercourse, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm.
Furthermore, a comparative trial led by the same research team discovered that yoga could be an effective, non-pharmacological alternative to fluoxetine (Prozac) in treating premature ejaculation. This trial employed 15 yoga poses, ranging from the simple kapalbhati to more complex ones like dhanurasana (bow pose).
The Sex-Enhancing Mechanisms of Yoga
But how does yoga exactly enhance sexual function? Researchers at the University of British Columbia's Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology have shed light on some of the sex-boosting mechanisms at play.
The review, authored by Dr. Lori Brotto, professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at UBC, and her colleagues, explains that yoga's ability to regulate attention, breathing, and stress, as well as activate the parasympathetic nervous system, are linked to improvements in sexual response.
Moreover, yoga appears to foster a more positive body image and higher levels of sexual assertiveness, potentially paving the way for increased sexual desire.
One intriguing yogic concept that could engage the skeptics is moola bandha.
"Moola bandha is a perineal contraction that stimulates the pelvic region's sensory-motor and autonomic nervous system," explain the researchers, enforcing parasympathetic activity in the body.
Some research suggests that practicing moola bandha may alleviate period pain, childbirth pain, and sexual difficulties in women, as well as control testosterone secretion in men. In essence, moola bandha—equal parts modern medical advice and ancient yogic technique—may serve to strengthen and rejuvenate the pelvic floor.
Another yogic pose, bhekasana (frog pose), strengthens the pelvic floor muscles, potentially easing symptoms of vestibulodynia and vaginismus in women while enhancing sexual satisfaction.
Limitations and Future Research
While the prospect of yogic orgasms might seem enticing, it is essential to consider the discrepancy between the abundance of anecdotal evidence and the paucity of empirical evidence.
The examination of the benefits of yoga for sexual function remains limited, with only a handful of studies currently available. Most of these studies have relatively small sample sizes and lack a control group.
However, more recent studies focusing on women with sexual dysfunction in combination with other conditions have yielded more substantial evidence. For instance, a randomized controlled trial observed significant improvements in arousal and lubrication for women with metabolic syndrome who practiced yoga for 12 weeks.
In conclusion, though more research is needed to substantiate the sexual benefits of yoga, the existing evidence provides a promising foundation. Meanwhile, experiencing firsthand the myriad advantages of yoga may well prove both enriching and, one might even say, rewarding for our pelvic muscles.
Yoga, as part of the health-and-wellness field, has been found to improve sexual function in both men and women, according to scientific research. For women, a 12-week yoga regimen has been shown to significantly enhance their sexual function as measured by the Female Sexual Function Index. In men, a study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav reported improvements in sexual satisfaction after a similar 12-week program. The mechanisms behind yoga's sexual-enhancing effects are linked to its ability to regulate attention, breathing, and stress, as well as activate the parasympathetic nervous system, fostering a more positive body image and higher levels of sexual assertiveness. Despite the need for more empirical evidence, the existing research provides a promising foundation for the use of yoga as a potential treatment for sexual dysfunction.
