Enhanced sexual function: A blessing from yoga practices
Research Indicates Yoga May Benefit Sexual Health
In the digital age, numerous wellness blogs tout yoga as a means to improve sexual experiences. Personal accounts echo these claims, often to striking degrees. But does the science support these assertions? We delve into the research.
Modern research is just beginning to shed light on the myriad health benefits of the ancient practice of yoga. Conditions such as depression, stress, anxiety, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid problems are among those reportedly alleviated by regular yoga practice.
Recent studies have also focused on the intricate mechanisms behind these benefits. Yoga appears to lower the body's inflammatory response, counter genetic expressions predisposing individuals to stress, reduce cortisol levels, and boost a protein that promotes brain growth and health.
Intriguingly, yoga is not only beneficial for its tangible effects but also for the sheer pleasure it provides. Some even allude to the phenomenon known as "coregasm," claiming that certain yoga poses can result in intensely pleasurable experiences.
The physical and mental rewards of this practice are undeniable, but can yoga improve sexual function? We examine the research.
Improved Sexual Function in Women
A study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that yoga could indeed enhance sexual function, particularly in women over the age of 45. The study involved 40 women who participated in 12 weeks of yoga training, self-reporting on their sexual function before and after the sessions.
Post-training, the women's sexual function had significantly improved across all sections of the Female Sexual Function Index, including desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. As many as 75 percent of the women reported an improvement in their sex life after yoga training.
The women were instructed on 22 poses, or yogasanas, believed to strengthen the pelvic floor, improve abdominal muscles, and boost mood. Examples include trikonasana (the triangle pose), bhujangasana (the snake), and ardha matsyendra mudra (half spinal twist).
Improved Sexual Function in Men
Yoga is not exclusive to women's sexual health. A study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, investigated the effects of a 12-week yoga program on the sexual satisfaction of men.
At the study's completion, the participants reported a significant improvement in their sexual function, as evaluated by the standard Male Sexual Quotient. Improvements were observed in all aspects of male sexual satisfaction, including desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm.
Yoga's Mechanisms for Enhanced Sexual Health
So, how does yoga improve sexual function exactly? A review of existing literature led by researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) offers insight into this question.
Led by Dr. Lori Brotto, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at UBC, the review explains that yoga regulates attention and breathing, lowers anxiety and stress, and stimulates the part of the nervous system associated with relaxation. These effects, the reviewers assert, are associated with improvements in sexual response.
In addition, women who practice yoga have been found to be less likely to objectify their bodies, potentially leading to increased sexual responsibility, assertiveness, and desire.
The Power of Moola Bandha
While tales of releasing blocked energy and producing "kundalini energy" may lack scientific evidence, other yogic concepts might resonate with skeptics. Moola bandha is one such concept.
Incorporating the movement into a practice for pelvic floor muscles, moola bandha is thought to stimulate the nervous system in the pelvic region, indirectly benefiting reproductive health. Some studies suggest that moola bandha relieves period pain, childbirth pain, and sexual difficulties in women, as well as treating premature ejaculation and controlling testosterone secretion in men.
In essence, while the science behind yoga's potential sexual benefits is still evolving, a growing body of evidence supports the idea that this ancient practice could offer tangible improvements to sexual health and pleasure for both men and women.
- The research supports the claims made by wellness blogs and personal accounts, suggesting that yoga can indeed enhance sexual function, particularly for women over 45 as outlined in a study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
- Yoga's benefits for sexual function are not exclusive to women. A 12-week study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav revealed that men reported significant improvements in sexual satisfaction after participating in a yoga program.
- The science behind yoga's effects on sexual health is still evolving, but research suggests that yoga improves sexual function by regulating attention and breathing, lowering anxiety and stress, stimulating the relaxation nervous system, and potentially influence body image perceptions, all of which contribute to improvements in sexual response.
