Improved Sexual Function through Yoga Practice: Discover its Advantages
Ancient practice of yoga provides potential sexual benefits, research reveals
The extensive health advantages of yoga, an ancient practice, are being increasingly recognized in modern-day science. Some of these conditions reportedly tackled by yoga include stress, anxiety, depression, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid problems. In addition to these, it has been discovered that yoga can significantly improve sexual function, as revealed by recent studies.
Researchers have found that yoga can indeed enhance sexual function, particularly in women over the age of 45. A study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine examined the effects of yoga over a period of 12 weeks on 40 women who self-reported on their sexual function before and after yoga sessions. After this period, the women's sexual function had significantly improved across all sections of the Female Sexual Function Index: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. In fact, as many as 75 percent of these women reported an improvement in their sex lives after yoga training.
The women in the study were trained on 22 poses, or yogasanas, believed to improve core abdominal muscles, strengthen the pelvic floor, and improve mood. Some of these poses include trikonasana (triangle pose), bhujangasana (snake pose), and ardha matsyendra mudra (half spinal twist).
Similar benefits for men were found in a study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India. The study observed the effects of a 12-week yoga program on the sexual satisfaction of men, revealing improvements across all aspects of male sexual satisfaction.
Embarking on a deeper exploration of the mechanisms behind yoga’s sexual enhancing effects, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of British Columbia (UBC) commissioned a review of existing literature. Dr. Lori Brotto, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at UBC and the first author of the review, explained that yoga regulates attention, breathing, and stress, and can activate the part of the nervous system that promotes relaxation, all of which can improve sexual response. Additionally, yoga fosters psychological mechanisms that increase self-awareness and assertiveness, and can be associated with sexual desires, the review found.
An interesting yogic concept is moola bandha, which has been found to directly innervate the gonads and perineal body/cervix and help relieve period pain, childbirth pain, and sexual difficulties in women, as well as treat premature ejaculation and control testosterone secretion in men. Many sex therapy centers use this yoga practice to help women become more aware of their sensations of arousal in the genital area, thereby enhancing desire and sexual experience.
While the potential sexual benefits of yoga are encouraging, it is important to note that scientific evidence supporting these claims remains limited due to the discrepancy between the amount of empirical evidence and anecdotal evidence. However, recent studies that focused on women with sexual dysfunction who also had other conditions have yielded stronger evidence of yoga's efficacy. For example, a randomized controlled trial featuring women with metabolic syndrome found "significant improvement" in arousal and lubrication in the women who practiced yoga. Similarly, a randomized study examining the sexual benefits of yoga for women living with multiple sclerosis concluded that "yoga techniques may improve physical activities and sexual satisfaction function of women with MS."
Overall, while more scientific evidence is required to definitively establish yoga's impact on sexual function, the available research supports the promising hypothesis that incorporating yoga into daily routines could bring about improvements in sexual health. Warning: As with any physical activity, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional before beginning a yoga practice.
- The ancient practice of yoga, with its extensive health benefits, also shows potential in improving sexual function, especially in women over 40, according to recent studies.
- The science of yoga's sexual health benefits is still developing, but research suggests that the practice's focus on regulating attention, breathing, and stress can positively impact sexual response for both men and women.
- Some specific yoga poses, like trikonasana, bhujangasana, and ardha matsyendra mudra, have been found to strengthen the pelvic floor, enhance sexual function, and address sexual difficulties for both genders.
