Yoga Practice Improves Sexual Health and Performance
Yo, the interweb is chock-full of wellness blogs promoting yoga for a better bang, backed by personal accounts claiming it elevates sexual experience. But does science agree? Let's dive in.
Recent research is cracking the code on yoga's numerous health bonuses, including easing stress, depression, anxiety, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid issues. But can it fire up our sex lives? Let’s investigate.
Yoga gets the ladies going
A popular study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine looked at the effects of 12 weeks of yoga on 40 women, reporting a significant increase in sexual function across all sections of the Female Sexual Function Index, including desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Nearly 75% of the women reported an improved sex life post-yoga training.
The sessions focused on 22 poses, believed to strengthen pelvic floor muscles, improve mood, and boost core strength, including trikonasana, bhujangasana, and ardha matsyendra mudra. For the full list of poses, tap here.
Men node too
A study by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, found similar benefits for men. After 12 weeks, the male participants reported significant improvements in their sexual function, as measured by the Male Sexual Quotient.
The researchers noted improvements across all aspects of male sexual satisfaction, including desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm.
Yoga Even Aids in Premature Ejaculation Treatment
In a comparative trial led by the same team, yoga showed promise as a non-pharmacological alternative to fluoxetine (Prozac) for treating premature ejaculation. The 15-pose routine ranged from straightforward poses, like Kapalbhati, to complex ones, like dhanurasana (the bow pose).
Mechanisms for better sex
So, how does yoga boost our baby-makin' skills? A review by the University of British Columbia (UBC) uncovers some sexual-enhancing mechanisms.
In addition to regulating attention, breathing, and stress levels, yoga stimulates and activates the pelvic region, promoting relaxation and improving circulation. Moola bandha, a yogic concept, is thought to specifically innervate the gonads and perineal body/cervix, which may explain its purported benefits for sexual health.
It ain't all science
While the potential sexual benefits of yoga are starting to gain some scientific backing, it's crucial to remember that the bulk of the current research is anecdotal. The Internet hosts a heap of personal experiences but thus far, controlled studies on yoga's effects on sexual function are few and far between.
However, recent studies with larger sample sizes and control groups suggest that yoga could offer real benefits, especially for women with metabolic syndrome and multiple sclerosis, who may experience improved physical ability and sexual function after yoga training.
So, while more research is needed to get a definitive answer, we think there's enough reason to give yoga a whirl, and those pelvic muscles will surely thank ya!
- Yoga, shown to have numerous health benefits, is increasingly being studied for its potential impact on sexual health.
- A study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that 12 weeks of yoga improved sexual function among 40 women, with significant enhancements in desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain.
- Dr. Vikas Dhikav's study in India revealed similar benefits for men, with improvements in desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm after 12 weeks of yoga.
- Yoga has shown promise as a non-pharmacological alternative for treating premature ejaculation, as indicated by a comparative trial led by the same team.
- While the scientific community continues to investigate yoga's impact on sexual health, anecdotal evidence suggests potential benefits, particularly for women with metabolic syndrome and multiple sclerosis.
