Enhancing Sexual Wellbeing Through Yoga Practice: Insights into its Advantages
Here's a fresh take on the topic:
Hey there! Yoga ain't just about finding your zen; it's also being pushed as a secret weapon for enhancing your sex life. But does the science back up these tall claims? Let's dive in.
Yoga's ancient practices have been proven to deliver a slew of health benefits, ranging from managing stress and anxiety to helping with conditions like diabetes and metabolic syndrome. But can it boost your bedroom game? Let's take a closer look.
Yoga for Better Sex in Women
After studying 40 middle-aged women over a 12-week period, researchers found that a regular yoga routine improved their overall sexual function. Key areas that saw significant enhancements included desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain [1]. Crazy, huh?
The technique used in this study revolved around mastering 22 specific yoga poses, such as the snake pose, half spinal twist, and triangle pose [1]. Interested in getting in on the action? You can find the full list of asanas here.
Yoga for Better Sex in Men
Don't think yoga's benefits are limited to the ladies. One study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist in New Delhi, India, looked at the impact of a 12-week yoga program on men's sexual satisfaction. The results? Improvements in desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm [2].
A separate study by the same research team found that yoga can even be a viable, nonpharmaceutical alternative to treating premature ejaculation [2]. Sounds too good to be true? Well, this study included 15 yoga poses, ranging from easy ones like Kapalbhati to more complex ones like dhanurasana (the bow pose) [2].
How Does Yoga Enhance Your Sex Life?
So, you might be wondering - how does yoga boost our sex lives? Researchers from the University of British Columbia looked into the mechanics behind these sexual enhancements. They found that yoga regulates attention and breathing, lowers anxiety and stress, and stimulates the part of the nervous system that promotes relaxation [3]. With all of these effects associated with improved sexual response, it's reasonable to believe that yoga could positively impact sexual health.
Moola Bandha and Sexual Wellness
Moola bandha is a yogic concept that has sparked curiosity. This practice involves contracting the perineal muscles to stimulate the pelvic region and the autonomic nervous system [3]. Studies suggest that moola bandha can relieve period pain, childbirth pain, and sexual difficulties in women, as well as help men control their testosterone secretion [3]. Not too shabby, huh?
The Reliability of Evidence
Before you start thinking about yogasms, it's essential to consider the size and nature of the studies that have been conducted. While it's no secret that there's a treasure trove of anecdotal evidence floating around the web, research focused on yoga's impact on sexual function remains scarce [4]. That said, more recent studies with larger sample sizes and control groups are starting to provide stronger evidence, such as the studies conducted on women with metabolic syndrome and women living with multiple sclerosis [4].
In conclusion, while more solid scientific evidence is needed, the current research indicates that yoga may indeed be beneficial for both men's and women's sexual health. Until we have more concrete evidence, there's no harm in giving it a shot – your pelvic muscles will thank you for it!
References
[1] Lee, S. C., et al. (2010). Effects of yoga on sexual function in postmenopausal women. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 7(3), 566-571.
[2] Dhikav, V. P., et al. (2016). Yoga therapy in male sexual dysfunction. Journal of Sexual medicine, 13(9), 1441-1447.
[3] Brotto, L. A., et al. (2015). Yoga's impact on sexual function in women: mechanisms and suggestions for optimal practice. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 12(2), 371-381.
[4] Allen, J. (2017). Sex, yoga, and a happy ending: The surprising science of getting with your mat. Psychology Today.
- Yoga's health benefits, including improving sexual function, are not confined to just stress management and metabolic conditions.
- In a study of 40 middle-aged women, a regular yoga routine significantly enhanced their overall sexual function.
- The yoga poses used in the aforementioned study included the snake pose, half spinal twist, and triangle pose.
- Yoga benefits men as well, as a 12-week program led to improvements in various aspects of sexual satisfaction.
- Moola bandha, a yogic concept, is thought to stimulate the pelvic region and autonomic nervous system, potentially benefitting sexual health.
- Despite the promising results, more solid scientific evidence is needed to definitively say that yoga yields benefits for sexual health in men and women. However, incorporating yoga into one's health-and-wellness routine may be worth considering until more concrete evidence is available.
