Improved Sexual Performance: Exploring the Advantages of Yoga Practice
Ready to dive into the steamy world of yoga and its impact on your sex life? We've got you covered!
Nowadays, the internet is filled with wellness bloggers who claim yoga can boost your bedroom game, and there are plenty of personal accounts of incredible improvements in sexual experiences thanks to this ancient practice. But does the research truly support these claims? Let's take a look.
From tackling depression and anxiety to managing metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid issues, yoga has been linked to numerous health benefits. Recent studies have delved deep into the benefits behind this practice. Among them, discovering that yoga:
- Lowers inflammation in the body
- Counters genetic expression that predisposes people to stress
- Reduces cortisol levels and boosts brain-friendly proteins
Haven't you heard? Yoga feels freakin' fantastic – and yes, some even report experiencing so-called "coregasms" – the rumored orgasm-like sensations during certain poses. Getting in tune with your body indeed feels replenishing, restorative, and just downright fantastic.
But, with all the hype surrounding yoga, can these yummy poses transform your sex life? Let's find out.
Power to the Ladies! 🌊
A 2013 study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine looked at the effects of a 12-week yoga program on sexual function in women over 45. After the sessions, 75% of the ladies reported an improvement in their sex lives.
The participants were instructed in 22 poses, including trikonasana (the triangle pose), bhujangasana (the snake), and ardha matsyendra mudra (half spinal twist). You can check out the full list right here.
Boys, Banish those Blues! 💦
Guys, don't think you're forgotten! A 12-week yoga program by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, has shown positive effects on male sexual satisfaction. Improvements were seen in all aspects of sex satisfaction, orgasm, ejaculatory control, and more.
In a separate study led by the same team, yoga was found to be an effective alternative to Prozac for treating premature ejaculation.
How Yoga Revs Up Your Sex Drive 🙇♂️⚡
So how does yoga ignite your fires below? Research by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada offers some insights:
- Yoga plays with your mind, regulating attention and breathing, which lowers anxiety and stress levels. This relaxation aids in sexual response.
- Nurturing a greater awareness of your physical self can lead to increased sexual desire and assertiveness.
- The concept of Moola Bandha, a perineal contraction focusing on the pelvic region's sensory-motor and autonomic nervous system, has been associated with improved sexual health.
While tales of unleashing blocked energy in root chakras or moving "kundalini energy" up and down the spine to produce orgasm-like sensations lack scientific evidence, the idea of Moola Bandha might intrigue the skeptics among us. Moola Bandha is similar to PC exercises often recommended by sex therapy centers to help women (and men) better enjoy their sex lives.
Another yoga pose, Bhekasana, or the "frog pose," reinforces the pelvic floor muscles, which can alleviate pain during intimacy and improve overall sexual health.
The Evidence Limitations 🤕
Now, before we get too carried away, it's important to remember that the evidence supporting yoga's impact on sexual function is often limited. Many studies have small sample sizes and do not include control groups. However, more recent studies have focused on women with specific conditions and have yielded stronger evidence.
For instance, a study on women with metabolic syndrome found that a 12-week yoga program led to significant improvements in arousal and lubrication, while another randomized controlled trial focused on women with multiple sclerosis (MS) revealed that yoga techniques could improve their physical abilities and sexual satisfaction.
The Takeaway 💡
While scientific evidence could still be stronger, the results suggest that incorporating yoga into your daily routine might boost your sexual performance and overall satisfaction. So here's to better flexibility, reduced stress, and steamier evenings – may your pelvic muscles give you a heartfelt "namaste" for enjoying the benefits! 💃🏻🧘♀️💦
- Studies show that a 12-week yoga program can lead to improvements in sexual function in women over 45, with 75% reporting an improvement in their sex lives.
- In a study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a 12-week yoga program demonstrated positive effects on male sexual satisfaction, improving all aspects of sex satisfaction, orgasm, and ejaculatory control.
- Research by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of British Columbia suggests that yoga can improve sexual health by regulating attention and breathing, increasing sexual desire and assertiveness, and through the practice of Moola Bandha, which focuses on the pelvic region's nervous system.
- While scientific evidence is limited, more recent studies have focused on women with specific conditions, such as metabolic syndrome or multiple sclerosis, and have yielded stronger evidence of yoga's ability to improve sexual function.
