Enhanced Sexual Performance through Yoga: Insights into Yogic Techniques for Improved Intimacy
Swagger over here, mate! Yoga, the ancient practice that's been around since time immemorial, has caught the eye of the modern world more than just for its flexibility-boosting, stress-relieving qualities. People claim that it enhances their sex lives - and, well, we just had to investigate.
These days, it seems like yoga's everywhere - from personal accounts spinning tales of extraordinary sexual experiences to wellness blogs advocating it as the secret to better sex. But, does the research actually back these claims? Buckle up, buddy, and get ready to find out.
Science has only started to scratch the surface when it comes to appreciating the multiple health benefits bestowed by yoga, from aiding various conditions such as depression, stress, and anxiety, to more intricate mechanisms like lowering body inflammation, countering stress-inducing genetic expression, and elevating the production of brain-boosting proteins.
So, yeah, it feels good. And, it's possibly gotten even better - according to the yogis, it sometimes feels absolutely fantastic. Getting in touch with our bodies in this way can bring an overwhelming sense of satisfaction, not to mention the legendary 'coregasm' some talk about during a yoga session.
But can yoga's tantalizing poses truly lend a hand in elevating our sex lives? We take a dive into the research.
Yoga for Romantic Rockstars
One often-cited study, published in the erotic realm of The Journal of Sexual Medicine, found that yoga can indeed improve sexual function - particularly among women over the age of 45.
Researchers studied the effects of a 12-week yoga regimen on 40 women who reported on their sexual function pre- and post-yoga sessions. After the 12-week period, their sexual function improved dramatically in every category of the Female Sexual Function Index: "desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain."
As many as 75% of the women reported positive changes in their sex lives post-yoga training. The ladies were trained in 22 yogic poses, which include trikonasana (Triangle Pose), bhujangasana (Snake Pose), ardha matsyendra mudra (Half Spinal Twist), and more. For the lowdown on these booty-clenching moves, take a gander here.
Yoga for Gentlemen with Gusto
Men also get a piece of the sexy action. Research led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, studied the impacts of a 12-week yoga program on the sexual satisfaction of the lads.
At the program's conclusion, the participants reported significant 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 research team found that yoga offered a viable, non-pharmaceutical alternative to fluoxetine (Prozac) for treating premature ejaculation. The study included 15 yoga poses, such as Kapalbhati (which involves seated meditation with contracted abdominal muscles), and dhanurasana (the Bow Pose).
Yoga's Secret Sex Weapons
So, just how does yoga elevate our amorous adventures? Researchers at the University of British Columbia shed some light on the subject. They propose that yoga eases anxiety and stress, influences our hormonal balance, and improves circulation - all elements directly linked to enhanced sexual response.
Furthermore, some female practitioners of yoga are reportedly less inclined to objectify their bodies, are more aware of their physical selves, and are more sexually responsible and assertive – qualities that could well get your mojo working.
An intriguing concept within yoga is the Moola Bandha, a powerful practice that strengthens the sensory muscles in the pelvic region, thus inducing parasympathetic activities in the body. Early findings hint at pain-relief, improved childbirth experiences, and enhanced sexual function for women, as well as premature ejaculation control and testosterone secretion management in men.
How Yoga Bolsters Baby-Making Adventures
Ideas about unlocking "kundalini" energy and 'vibrational' benefits aside, some yogic concepts may appeal to the more skeptical among us. For example, exercises designed to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, such as the Moola Bandha, show promise for both sexes.
These exercises not only alleviate period pain and childbirth pain in women, but treat premature ejaculation, promote balanced hormones, and strengthen the pelvic floor in men.
Moreover, many sex therapy centers endorse Moola Bandha as a means for women to heighten their sensations of arousal in the genital area, thus improving desire and overall sexual experience. Frog pose (Bhekasana) is another yogic exercise that reinforces pelvic floor muscles, providing potential relief for symptoms of vaginismus and vestibulodynia, two conditions that make penetrative sex akin to being kicked by a mule.
The Limitations of Yogic Evidence
While the potential sexual benefits of yoga are thrilling, it's wise to keep in mind the significant gap between 'empirical', or experimental, evidence, and 'anecdotal' evidence, the latter of which tends to crowd the internet.
Research is still comparatively scarce when it comes to examining the positive impacts of yoga on sexual function, with most studies featuring small sample sizes and a lack of control groups.
However, more recent studies focusing on women with sexual dysfunction and additional health conditions have yielded more convincing results.
A randomized controlled trial, for instance, demonstrated that a 12-week yoga program improved arousal and lubrication in women with metabolic syndrome - a category of individuals who exhibit a higher risk of sexual dysfunction.
Another randomized trial showed favorable improvements in sexual function for women with multiple sclerosis (MS) after three months of yoga instruction. The study concluded that yoga techniques "may improve physical activities and sexual satisfaction function of women with MS."
So, while we require more robust evidence to substantiate the claims of 'yogasms', we reckon there's enough juicy tidbits to justify giving yoga a shot. It might just enrich our lives - and our pelvic muscles certainly won't complain.
- The practice of yoga, known for its stress-relieving and flexibility-boosting qualities, has been claimed by some to enhance sexual health.
- In the journal The Journal of Sexual Medicine, a study found that a 12-week yoga regimen could improve sexual function in women over 45, particularly in the categories of desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain.
- For men, a 12-week yoga program was found to improve various aspects of sexual satisfaction, such as desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm.
- Researchers at the University of British Columbia propose that yoga's stress-reducing effects, hormonal balance influence, and improved circulation contribute to enhanced sexual response.
- The Moola Bandha, a powerful yoga practice that strengthens the pelvic region, shows promise in managing premature ejaculation, testosterone secretion, and alleviating childbirth and period pain for both men and women.
- Sex therapy centers endorse Moola Bandha and other yoga exercises like the Frog pose as potential reliefs for conditions like vaginismus, vestibulodynia, and premature ejaculation.
- While evidence supporting the sexual benefits of yoga is scarce, recent studies focusing on women with sexual dysfunction and health conditions have shown more promising results, suggesting potential improvements in arousal, lubrication, and sexual satisfaction.
