Improved Sexual Function through Yoga Practice: Insights and Advantages Revealed
Riding the wave of wellness trends, countless blogs buzz about how yoga could be the secret sauce to a steamier sex life. But does science back these claims up? We're digging in.
Brave the labyrinth of the internet, and you'll find yoga touted as a cure for everything from stress to diabetes and depression. But what about your bedroom escapades? Can yoga really deliver in the bedroom? Let's look at the research.
Women's Yoga-Powered Lovemaking
One study, published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, found that yoga can indeed take your sex life to a new level – particularly for women above 45. The study examined 40 women, who reported improvements in their sexual function after 12 weeks of yoga sessions, across all sections of the Female Sexual Function Index, including desire, arousal, satisfaction, and more.
What's more, a whopping 75% of the women reported an enhancement in their bedroom antics after their yoga training. The women were schooled on 22 poses, believed to improve core abdominal muscles, boost mood, and fortify the pelvic floor.
Men's Yoga-Boosted Performances
But wait, there's more! Men aren't left out of the equation. A study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, found that a 12-week yoga program significantly improved male sexual satisfaction. Participants reported improvements across factors like confidence and orgasm, following the yoga sessions.
In a related study, a comparison trial found that yoga can serve as a non-pharmacological alternative to treating premature ejaculation, offering a natural route to erectile dysfunction relief. Just don't expect to unlock any lofty, energy-bending orgasms like in the comics. The scientific evidence for that is slim.
Yoga's Sexual Mechanisms Unveiled
So, how exactly does yoga deliver the magic in the bedroom? A review of existing literature, led by researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, strives to explain. According to the review, yoga works by regulating attention, breathing, and relaxation. This, in turn, fosters improvements in sexual response.
Moreover, female yogis were found to be less likely to objectify their bodies and exhibit greater awareness of their physical selves - traits that could foster heightened sexual responsibility and desires. The tranquilizing effects of yoga could be a key ingredient that sets the stage for romantic encounters.
A Closer Look at the Yogic Techniques
One yoga concept that bears special attention is Moola Bandha. Moola Bandha contracts the perineal muscles, directly stimulating the sensory-motor and autonomic nervous systems in the pelvic region. The practice promotes relaxation, alleviating period pain, childbirth pain, and sexual difficulties in women while helping control testosterone secretion in men.
In fact, many sex therapy centers recommend incorporating Moola Bandha into pelvic floor exercises to boost female sexual satisfaction. Another yoga pose, the Frog Pose (Bhekasana), can strengthen pelvic floor muscles, helping ease symptoms of vestibulodynia, vaginismus, and improving the overall sexual experience.
The Questions of Reliability Linger
As exhilarating as the potential sexual benefits of yoga may be, it is worth acknowledging the discrepancy between the empirical and anecdotal evidence on the matter. While the web is teeming with personal testimonials, concrete research on the topic is sparse.
However, larger-scale studies, like the one focusing on women with sexual dysfunction and metabolic syndrome, yielded solid results, with 12 weeks of yoga sessions leading to significant improvements in sexual arousal and lubrication.
Furthermore, a study on women with multiple sclerosis – who often experience sexual dysfunction – found that a 3-month yoga training program led to marked improvements in physical capability and sexual function. So, while more confirmation is needed, the implication is clear: yoga might just deserve a spot in your day-to-day routine, especially if you're in the market for a little bedroom romance.
- The study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine showed that yoga can significantly improve sexual function for women aged 45 and above.
- Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist, led a study that found a 12-week yoga program improved male sexual satisfaction.
- According to a review led by researchers at the University of British Columbia, yoga can help improve sexual response by regulating attention, breathing, and relaxation.
- Moola Bandha, a yoga concept, contracts the perineal muscles, stimulating the nervous systems in the pelvic region and promoting relaxation, which can help women with sexual difficulties and men with testosterone secretion control.
