Improved Sexual Functions through Yoga Practice: Exploring the Link between Yoga and Sexual Health
The digital landscape is overflowing with wellness blogs promoting yoga for a better bang, accompanied by personal testimonials of the practice's transformative effects on sexual encounters. But does science actually support these claims? Let's dig deeper.
In the modern world, the ancient art of yoga is being explored for a myriad of health benefits, ranging from dealing with everyday stressors to managing serious medical conditions like diabetes and thyroid issues. Recent studies have delved into the intricacies of its positive impact, revealing that yoga lowers the body's inflammatory response, counters the genetic expression linked to stress, and boosts proteins that keep the brain young and healthy. And, if you ask us, there's the added bonus of just feeling fantastic. Some even claim yoga can result in what's been coined a "coregasm."
So, with all these plethora of benefits, it begs the question: can yoga's yummy poses improve our sex lives? Let's take a closer look at the research.
Yoga: A Game-Changer for Women's Sexual Function
One often-cited study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that yoga could indeed enhance sexual function, particularly for women aged 45 and over. The research focused on 40 participants who self-reported on their sexual function before and after a 12-week yoga regimen.
After the 3-month period, the ladies' sexual function had significantly improved across all sections of the Female Sexual Function Index, including desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. An impressive 75 percent reported improvements in their sex lives following yoga training.
During the study, all participants were instructed on 22 poses, or yogasanas, believed to strengthen the pelvic floor, improve digestion, enhance core abdominal muscles, and boost mood. Some poses included trikonasana (triangle pose), bhujangasana (snake pose), and ardha matsyendra mudra (half spinal twist). The complete list can be found here.
Yoga: A Boost for Men's Sexual Satisfaction
Men aren't left out in the cold; yoga can benefit them too. A similar study conducted by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, investigated the effects of a 12-week yoga program on the sexual satisfaction of men.
At the end of the program, participants reported a significant improvement in their sexual function, as evaluated by the standard Male Sexual Quotient. Improvements were observed in desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm.
A follow-up trial found that yoga was a viable and nonpharmacological alternative to fluoxetine for treating premature ejaculation. It included 15 poses, from the simpler kapalbhati (sitting with the chest open, eyes closed, and abdominal muscles contracted) to the more complex dhanurasana (bow pose).
Unraveling the Mechanisms Behind Yoga's Sexual Benefits
But how exactly does yoga improve one's sex life? A review of existing literature, led by researchers from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, sheds some light on the matter.
Professor Lori Brotto, from the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at UBC, is the first author of the review. Brotto and her colleagues explain that yoga regulates attention and breathing, lowers anxiety and stress, and triggers the part of the nervous system that tells the body to relax and promote feelings of pleasure.
In simpler terms, all these effects are associated with improvements in sexual response. Additionally, there are psychological mechanisms at play. Female yoga practitioners are found to be less likely to objectify their bodies, and more in tune with their physical selves. This increased awareness may lead to greater sexual responsibility, assertiveness, and desires.
Moola Bandha: The Powerhouse Yoga Technique for Better Sex
Certain yogic concepts may resonate with the skeptics among us. Moola bandha is one such concept. "Moola bandha is a perineal contraction that stimulates the sensory-motor and the autonomic nervous system in the pelvic region, and therefore enforces parasympathetic activity in the body," write Brotto and her colleagues in their review.
Specifically, moola bandha is thought to directly target the reproductive organs, enhancing sexual arousal and improving sexual health. Some studies quoted by the researchers have suggested that practicing moola bandha can relieve period pain, childbirth pain, and sexual difficulties in women, as well as treat premature ejaculation and control testosterone secretion in men.
Moola bandha is similar to the modern, medically recommended, Kegel exercises that are thought to prevent urinary incontinence and help both men and women enjoy sex for longer. In fact, many sex therapy centers recommend this yoga practice to help women become more aware of their genital sensations of arousal, thereby boosting desire and enhancing the sexual experience.
Another yoga pose that strengthens the pelvic floor muscles is bhekasana, or the "frog pose." This pose may help alleviate symptoms of vaginismus (involuntary contraction of vaginal muscles) and vestibulodynia (pain in the vestibule of the vagina), making for a more pleasurable experience during intercourse.
Navigating the Evidence on Yoga and Sexual Function
While the potential sexual benefits of yoga may be exciting, it's essential to remember that the amount of empirical, or experimental, evidence lags far behind the anecdotal evidence available online. However, more recent studies, focusing on women with sexual dysfunction along with other medical conditions, have produced stronger evidence.
For example, a randomized controlled trial examining the effects of yoga in women with metabolic syndrome - a population at higher risk of sexual dysfunction - found "significant improvement" in arousal and lubrication, with such improvements not observed in women who did not practice yoga. Moreover, a trial focusing on women living with multiple sclerosis found improved physical ability and sexual function in the yoga group, whereas women in the control group experienced worsening symptoms.
So while we need more scientific evidence to support the direct link between yoga and sexual function improvement, the foundation is undeniably there. As we eagerly await future research to deliver a definitive answer on whether "yogasms" are a real, achievable thing, adding a little yoga to our daily routines seems like a reasonable step towards a more enriching and satisfying sexual life - and our pelvic muscles will certainly appreciate it!
- Yoga, a practice known for its numerous health benefits, has shown promise in enhancing sexual function, particularly for women aged 45 and above, according to a study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
- In a similar study, Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist, found that a 12-week yoga program significantly improved the sexual satisfaction of men, as evaluated by the Male Sexual Quotient.
- A review of existing literature by researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) explains that yoga regulates attention and breathing, lowers anxiety and stress, and triggers the part of the nervous system that promotes feelings of pleasure, thereby improving sexual response.
