Improved Sexual Function through Yoga Practice: A Health Boosting Approach
Improved Sexual Function Through Yoga: Empirical Evidence Supports Ancient Practice
Chronicling the health advantages of yoga, modern research has unearthed a plethora of benefits, including alleviating stress, depression, and anxiety, as well as combating metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid problems. Recently, scientists have delved into whether yoga can enhance sexual experience, as suggested by numerous wellness blogs and personal accounts. We explore whether such claims have scientific backing.
Yoga's complex mechanisms for such benefits have revealed that the practice reduces inflammation, inhibits stress-inducing genetic expression, decreases cortisol levels, and stimulates the growth and maintenance of a protein crucial for brain health. Beyond these benefits, yoga simply feels good, with some individuals reporting extraordinary levels of pleasure during a phenomena known as 'coregasm.'
Touching upon the often-neglected connection between yoga and intimacy, we investigate whether the ancient practice's yummy poses can improve one's sex life.
Improved Sexual Function in Women
In a study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, the effects of 12 weeks of yoga on 40 women were examined. Self-reported sexual function scores before and after the sessions revealed significant improvements in all sections of the Female Sexual Function Index: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. As many as 75% of the women reported improved sex lives post-yoga training.
Training focused on 22 poses, or yogasanas, designed to boost core abdominal muscles, improve digestion, strengthen the pelvic floor, and promote mood uplift. Poses like trikonasana, bhujangasana, and ardha matsyendra mudra featured prominently in the training. The full list can be accessed here.
Improved Sexual Function in Men
Not only does yoga benefit women, but several studies indicate that it enhances men's sexual satisfaction too. One comprehensive study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, observed the effects of a 12-week yoga program on the sexual well-being of men.
At the end of the study period, the participants reported significant improvements in sexual function, as measured by the Male Sexual Quotient (MSQ). The researchers found improvements across all aspects of male sexual satisfaction: desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm.
A comparative trial by the same team of researchers suggested that yoga is a viable, nonpharmacological alternative to fluoxetine (Prozac) for treating premature ejaculation.
Mechanisms Behind Enhanced Sexual Function
Understanding the mechanisms through which yoga enhances sexual function can provide valuable insights. A review of existing literature led by Dr. Lori Brotto, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, elucidates several mechanisms at play.
Yoga regulates attention and breathing, reduces anxiety and stress, and stimulates the part of the nervous system responsible for relaxation, which are all associated with improvements in sexual response. Women who practice yoga are less likely to objectify their bodies and more aware of their physiques, possibly contributing to increased sexual responsibility, assertiveness, and desires.
One fascinating yogic concept that could further explain yoga's impact on sexual health is Moola Bandha. This perineal contraction stimulates the nervous system in the pelvic region, affecting the gonads and cervix, potentially relieving symptoms of period and childbirth pain, as well as sexual difficulties in women, and controlling testosterone secretion in men.
Easing Sexual Discomfort and Dysfunction
Stories about energy blockages and kundalini energy movements generating ejaculation-free male orgasms lack robust scientific evidence. However, other yogic concepts, like Moola Bandha, may resonate more with skeptics. Practicing Moola Bandha strengthens the pelvic floor muscles, potentially improving the sexual experience and treating pelvic pain and sexual difficulties in women.
Another yoga pose, Bhekasana (the 'frog pose'), strengthens pelvic floor muscles, providing relief from vestibulodynia and vaginismus—conditions characterized by pain in the vestibule of the vagina and involuntary vaginal muscle contractions.
While the potential sexual benefits of yoga have incited excitement, it is essential to consider the difference between solid empirical evidence and anecdotal evidence prevalent on the internet. Further studies with larger sample sizes, randomized controlled trials, and the inclusion of control groups will help establish yoga's role in enhancing sexual health more definitively.
However, recent studies focusing on women with metabolic syndrome, a group at higher risk of sexual dysfunction, have yielded stronger evidence. For these women, a 12-week yoga program led to significant improvements in arousal and lubrication, while such improvements were not observed in women who did not practice yoga.
Similarly, a randomized controlled study on women living with multiple sclerosis (MS) found that yoga training improved physical ability and sexual function. The participants enjoyed 8 weekly sessions, with women in the yoga group showing improvement while those in the control group demonstrated worsening symptoms.
In conclusion, while there is limited empirical evidence, the existing scientific literature suggests that yoga can improve sexual function in both men and women through multiple mechanisms. Emphasizing flexibility, breath control, and mindfulness, yoga enhances pelvic floor strength and body awareness, contributing positively to sexual health and function. As the research unfolds, incorporating yoga into daily routines may prove a beneficial strategy for holistic sexual well-being across genders.
- The scientific community has been exploring the possibility that yoga, a practice known for its health benefits, may also enhance sexual experiences based on numerous wellness blogs and personal accounts.
- In a study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, the effects of 12 weeks of yoga on 40 women showed significant improvements in all sections of the Female Sexual Function Index, with as many as 75% reporting improved sex lives post-yoga training.
- Furthermore, a comprehensive study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav observed the effects of a 12-week yoga program on the sexual well-being of men, revealing significant improvements in male sexual satisfaction across all aspects.
