Enhanced Sexual Performance Through Yoga: Exploring Its Advantages for Intimacy
Yoga for a Better Banging Life: Some Hardcore Facts
The web is flooded with wellness blogs raving about yoga as the holy grail for getting it on, alongside personal accounts claiming yoga as the secret weapon for an amazing sex life. But does science support these claims, or are they just a bunch of hippy BS? Let's dive in.
In contemporary times, scientists are delving into the numerous health advantages of the ancient practice of yoga. Some conditions that yoga purportedly tackles include stress, anxiety, depression, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid issues.
Recently, researchers have penetrated the complex mechanisms underlying such benefits. It seems that yoga lowers the body's inflammatory response, counters stress-inducing genetic expression, reduces cortisol levels, and bolsters a protein that keeps the brain young and healthy.
On top of all that, yoga just feels freakin' awesome. We've all heard the whispers about the legendary 'coregasm' during yoga—so supposedly it feels really, really good. Connecting with our bodies can be replenishing, restorative, and physically pleasurable. But can yoga's yummy poses boost our sex lives? Let's investigate!
Yoga: The Organic Viagra for Women Over 45
Researchers at The Journal of Sexual Medicine published a study suggesting that, yes, yoga can indeed Improve sexual function—especially for women over 45. The study was conducted over a 12-week period, during which 40 participating women self-reported their sexual function before and after 22 specific yoga poses.
After the purported 3-month transformation, the women experienced significant improvements across all sections of the Female Sexual Function Index, including desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. A whopping 75 percent of women reported improvement in their sex lives after yoga training.
The poses included: trikonasana (triangle pose), bhujangasana (the snake), and ardha matsyendra mudra (half spinal twist). Want the full list? Check it out here.
Yoga: The Natural Cure for Male Sexual Dysfunction
Fellas, don't feel left out! An analogous study led by an Indian neurologist, Dr. Vikas Dhikav, examined the effects of a 12-week yoga program on male sexual satisfaction. By the end of the study period, the participants reported a notable improvement in their sexual function, as evaluated by the standard Male Sexual Quotient.
The researchers observed improvements across all aspects of male sexual satisfaction: desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm.
What's more, a comparative trial carried out by the same team of researchers found that yoga is a non-pharmacological (translation: no pills required), viable alternative to fluoxetine (Prozac) for treating premature ejaculation.
The trial included 15 yoga poses, ranging from the easy peasy Kapalbhati to the complex dhanurasana (the "bow pose").
How Does Yoga Make You a Sex God?
So, how exactly does yoga boost your sex life? A review of existing literature led by researchers at the University of British Columbia helps us figure it out.
Researchers explain that yoga regulates attention and breathing, lowers anxiety and stress, and stimulates the part of the nervous system responsible for relaxation.
Sounds kinky, doesn't it? "All of these effects are associated with improvements in sexual response," write the reviewers, "so it is reasonable to assume that yoga might also improve sexual health."
There are also psychological mechanisms at play. Women who practice yoga have been found to be less likely to objectify their bodies and to be more in touch with their own physical selves.
This heightened awareness can be linked to increased sexual responsibility, assertiveness, and desires.
The Mystical Power of Moola Bandha
Stories about "kundalini energy" and releasing blocked energy in root chakras might lack rigid scientific evidence, but other yogic concepts could be more convincing to skeptics.
Take the Moola Bandha, for example. This perineal contraction is believed to directly affect the gonads and perineal body, enforcing parasympathetic activity in the body. Some studies suggest that practicing Moola Bandha can alleviate pain associated with menstruation, childbirth, and sexual difficulties in women, as well as treating premature ejaculation in men and controlling testosterone secretion.
So, next time you're lying in savasana, make sure to give your moola bandha a little squeeze. It might just make your pelvic muscles tremble with pleasure.
The Weakness of the Evidence
We can't blame you if you're thinking, "Sign me up for a yoga mat and some weird energy-blocking rituals!" But remember that most of the studies that support yoga's effects on sexual health remain scarce and often lack robust, experimental evidence.
While the potential benefits are tantalizing, we should proceed with healthy skepticism and continue to advocate for more comprehensive research in this field.
Is yoga the new Viagra? It's too early to tell, but it can't hurt to stretch, breathe, relax, and maintain an open mind. Namaste, lovers.
- The study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that yoga can improve sexual function, particularly for women over 45, as they reported significant improvements in desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain after a 12-week period.
- In a similar study, a 12-week yoga program led by an Indian neurologist showed improvements in male sexual satisfaction, with participants reporting enhancements in desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm.
- The positives associated with yoga, such as the regulation of attention and breathing, lowering anxiety and stress, and stimulating the relaxation nervous system, are believed to be associated with improvements in sexual response and sexual health.
- Women who practice yoga have been found to be less likely to objectify their bodies and more in touch with their physical selves, which can lead to increased sexual responsibility, assertiveness, and desires.
- The Moola Bandha, a perineal contraction in yoga, is believed to directly affect the gonads and perineal body, enforcing parasympathetic activity in the body, and might be instrumental in alleviating pain associated with menstruation, childbirth, and sexual difficulties in women, as well as treating premature ejaculation in men and controlling testosterone secretion.
- While the studies supporting yoga's effects on sexual health are predominantly scarce and often lack robust, experimental evidence, the potential benefits are tantalizing, and it is recommended to proceed with healthy skepticism, stretch, breathe, relax, and maintain an open mind.
