Enhanced Sexual Function through Yoga Practice: Insights into the Positive Impact
The digital realm is packed with health blogs vouching for yoga as a ticket to a better sex life, complete with stories of transformative experiences, often to an impressive degree. But does science back this up or is it all just smoke and mirrors? Let's dig in.
In the realm of modern medicine, we're only just beginning to uncover the numerous perks of the thousand-year-old practice of yoga. It's been linked to improvements in conditions such as stress, anxiety, depression, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid issues. But can it also polish up our bedroom antics? Let's explore.
Studies suggest that yoga does indeed boost sexual function, particularly among women over 45. Researchers analyzed the effects of a 12-week yoga regimen on a group of 40 women, findings revealed significant enhancements in all sections of the Female Sexual Function Index (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain). Around 75% of the women reported a marked improvement in their libido after training in 22 key poses, according to the study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
It's not just women who reap the benefits, Men also stand to gain from the ancient tradition, with a study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, revealing that a 12-week yoga program led to improved male sexual satisfaction, as evaluated by the standard Male Sexual Quotient.
But how does yoga bring on these steamy effects? A review of existing literature delves into the mechanics behind these benefits. Dr. Lori Brotto, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, and her team discovered that yoga regulates attention and breathing, lowers anxiety, manages stress levels, and ignites the part of the nervous system responsible for relaxation. These effects, in turn, are associated with improvements in sexual response.
There's also a psychological component to consider. "Female yoga practitioners have been found to be less likely to objectify their bodies and more aware of their physical selves," explain the researchers. "This, in turn, may be associated with increased sexual responsibility, assertiveness, and desires."
One concept that catches the eye is the "moola bandha," a powerful perineal contraction that sets off a chain reaction in the pelvic region, forcing the body into a state of relaxation and improving sexual health. Moola bandha is similar to the medically endorsed pelvic floor exercises thought to prevent urinary incontinence and help both men and women enjoy sex for longer periods. Other moves, such as the "frog pose" (bhekasana), help alleviate symptoms of vaginismus (involuntary vaginal muscle contractions) and vestibulodynia (pain in the vagina vestibule), ultimately bolstering sexual pleasure.
While the yogic appeal can be alluring, it's essential to bear in mind the vast pool of anecdotal evidence surrounding yoga and sexual function. Most of the studies mentioned above, which found improvements in sexual satisfaction and function for both genders, were conducted with relatively small sample sizes that didn't incorporate control groups. However, more recent studies with women who grappled with additional conditions have yielded stronger evidence. For example, a 12-week yoga program improved arousal and lubrication in women with metabolic syndrome, but not in the control group.
So, while it's tempting to get overexcited about the potential sexual benefits of yoga, bear in mind that solid scientific evidence supporting the practice's direct impact on sexual function is still fragmented. But the flicker of hope is there, and until future research can definitively say if yoga-induced orgasms are a reality, it doesn't hurt to dip our toes in and experience the potential benefits yoga has to offer. Our pelvic muscles (and partners) might just thank us for it.
- Yoga, with its roots stemming back over a thousand years, has been scientifically linked to improvements in various aspects of health, including sexual health.
- A study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine reveals that a 12-week yoga regimen led to significant improvements in sexual function among women over 45, as evaluated by the Female Sexual Function Index.
- For men, a study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav found that a 12-week yoga program led to improved male sexual satisfaction, as measured by the standard Male Sexual Quotient.
