Improved Sexual Performance: The Role of Yoga in Enhancing Intimacy and Physiology
The practice of yoga, dating back centuries, is increasingly being lauded for its health benefits, including improved sexual function. However, scientific evidence supporting these claims is still emerging.
Paying attention to a myriad of health issues, yoga has been linked to alleviating conditions such as depression, stress, anxiety, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid problems (1). Recent studies have delved deeper into the mechanisms behind these benefits, revealing that yoga decreases the body's inflammatory response, counters genetic expressions predisposing individuals to stress, lowers cortisol levels, and increases a protein essential for brain growth and preservation (1).
Yet, does this translate to enhanced sexual experiences? Research provides promising indications, particularly in women aged over 45. A study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that participating in a 12-week yoga program significantly improved their sexual function, impacting desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain (2). A staggering 75% of participants reported improvement in their sex lives post-yoga training (2). The program focused on poses aimed at strengthening the pelvic floor, improving digestion, and boosting mood (2).
Men also reap the benefits of yoga. A study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, discovered that a 12-week yoga regimen improved sexual satisfaction in men, impacting desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm (2).
The improvement in sexual function can be attributed to yoga's effects on attention, breathing, anxiety, and stress, as well as its regulation of the nervous system (3). Psychologically, practitioners of yoga have been shown to be less likely to objectify their bodies, potentially leading to increased sexual responsibility, assertiveness, and desire (3).
One concept worthy of note is Moola Bandha, a contraction of the perineal muscles that enforces parasympathetic activity, impacting the gonads and pelvic region (3). Studies suggest that it relieves period pain, childbirth pain, and sexual difficulties in women, as well as treating premature ejaculation and controlling testosterone secretion in men (3).
While stories of energy blockages and kundalini energy may lack scientific backing, other yogic concepts, such as Moola Bandha, invite skepticism and intrigue in equal measure (3).
Although anecdotal evidence of the sexual benefits of yoga abounds, empirical evidence remains scarce (4). Most studies have modest sample sizes, and there's a need for larger, controlled trials to confirm the benefits (4). However, recent research focuses on women with metabolic syndrome or multiple sclerosis, yielding stronger evidence of sexual improvement (4).
Despite the limited scientific evidence, the suggested sexual benefits of yoga, coupled with its numerous health advantages, make it an appealing addition to daily routines. Whether or not 'yogasms' are a reality, the potential rewards for our sex lives and pelvic health warrant further exploration.
- The improvement in sexual function among practitioners, particularly in women over 45 and men, may be attributed to yoga's effects on attention, breathing, anxiety, stress, and its regulation of the nervous system.
- A component of yoga that warrants attention is Moola Bandha, which is a contraction of the perineal muscles that enforces parasympathetic activity, potentially impacting the gonads and pelvic region, and relieving period pain, childbirth pain, and sexual difficulties in women, as well as premature ejaculation and controlling testosterone secretion in men.
- While empirical evidence supporting the sexual benefits of yoga is still scarce, the potential rewards for our sex lives and pelvic health, coupled with yoga's numerous health advantages, make it an appealing addition to daily routines, warranting further exploration.
