Enhanced Sexual Performance through Yoga: Explore the Advantages
The internet buzzes with wellness blogs that push yoga for a better sex life, backed by personal accounts of the practice transforming bedroom experiences - sometimes spectacularly! But does the research stack up? We dug in and here's what we found.
Yoga is an ancient practice that's gaining modern momentum, with benefits extending to treating depression, stress, anxiety, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid problems. But can it boost our bedroom escapades? Let's dive in!
Sexual Satisfaction for Women
Researchers from The Journal of Sexual Medicine studied the effects of 12 weeks of yoga on 40 women. The results? A significant improvement in the women's sexual function scores on the Female Sexual Function Index, including desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. An astounding 75 percent of the women reported improved sex lives after yoga training.
The women were taught 22 yogasanas, such as the triangle pose, snake, and half spinal twist, believed to improve core abdominal muscles, digestion, pelvic floor strength, and mood.
Sexual Satisfaction for Men
Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, led a study exploring the impact of a 12-week yoga program on men's sexual satisfaction. Post the study period, the participants reported significant improvements in their sexual function, as evaluated by the Male Sexual Quotient. The researchers found improvements across all aspects of male sexual satisfaction, from desire to erection control.
A comparative trial by the same team of researchers found that yoga is an alternative, nonpharmacological treatment for premature ejaculation, using a mix of easier poses like Kapalbhati and more complex ones like dhanurasana.
The Sexual Benefits of Yoga
So, how does yoga work its magic? A review of existing literature sheds light on some of those sex-enhancing mechanisms. The practice reduces anxiety and stress, regulates attention and breathing, and activates the nervous system to induce relaxation, all associated with sexual response.
Additionally, yoga can foster a more mindful approach to physicality, reducing body objectification and increasing sexual awareness and assertiveness - potentially boosting libido.
The Power of Moola Bandha
While tales of unlocking blocked energy in root chakras may lack rigorous scientific evidence, other yogic concepts, like Moola Bandha, resonate with skeptics. Moola Bandha is a perineal contraction that stimulates the nervous system in the pelvic region, promoting relaxation and improving sexual function. Some studies suggest it may help treat premature ejaculation and control testosterone secretion in men.
Reliability of the Evidence
While the potential sexual benefits of yoga are enticing, it's essential to consider the vast gap between empirical and anecdotal evidence. The virtual landscape teems with anecdotes; however, studies exploring yoga's impact on sexual function remain scarce. Furthermore, most of the studies examined have small sample sizes and lack control groups, although more recent studies focusing on women with sexual dysfunction in addition to metabolic syndrome show stronger evidence.
In conclusion, while yoga offers promising benefits for sexual health through pelvic floor strengthening, stress reduction, and improved circulation, direct scientific evidence is limited and requires further research. However, as we wait for research to catch up, incorporating yoga into our daily routines might be a pleasurable exploration worth indulging in, with our pelvic muscles undoubtedly thanking us for it!
- Yoga, with its focus on 22 yogasanas, was found to significantly improve sexual function in women, as reported by researchers from The Journal of Sexual Medicine in a study of 40 women.
- In a study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist in India, a 12-week yoga program brought about substantial improvements in men's sexual satisfaction, as measured by the Male Sexual Quotient.
- Research indicates that yoga may work its magic by reducing stress and anxiety, regulating attention and breathing, and activating the nervous system for inducing relaxation, all related to sexual response.
- While studies exploring yoga's impact on sexual function still have limited evidence, with most having small sample sizes and lacking control groups, integrating yoga into one's daily routine might offer potential benefits for overall sexual health, pelvic floor strength, and stress reduction.
