Improved Sexual Performance through Yoga Practice: Exploring the Advantages of Yoga for Sexual Health
Yo, let's dive into the lowdown on whether yoga truly enhances the ol' bedroom activities, eh? First off, let's discuss what's known about yoga's health benefits: everything from battling stress and depression to boosting brain power and metabolic health. But wait, there's more—it's also been said to make your sex life better than a love song from the '80s, believe it or not!
Yoga gets your engine down the track, boss
So, here's the deal: one study that grabbed attention was published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. They recruited 40 women over 45 years, and over the course of 12 weeks, had them work on 22 yogasanas—yes, baby, those are fancy yoga positions. Here's the gist: after 12 weeks, those yogi ladies had significant improvements in their sex lives across the board, from desire and arousal to orgasm and satisfaction. Almost 3 out of 4 women reported improvements in their sex lives after yoga training!
Fellas, this ain't just for the ladies
Guys, don't think yoga's not for you—one study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav from the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, investigated the effects of a similar 12-week yoga program on the sexual satisfaction of the fellas. And guess what? After the program, they reported significant improvements in their sexual function, too!
How's yoga work its magic, you ask?
Researchers from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, looked into yoga's sex-enhancing mechanisms. Turns out, yoga helps regulate attention, reduces stress, and calms the nervous system—and these effects are all associated with improvements in sexual response. Plus, yoga promotes body awareness and self-esteem, which can contribute to positive sexual experiences.
Moola bandha: the big kahuna
Now, don't get too caught up in stories about unblocking energy and moving "kundalini energy" to induce orgasms—while intriguing, they lack rigorous scientific backing. But, there's a yogic concept, called moola bandha, that could be convincing to the no-nonsense folks out there. Moola bandha involves contracting the perineum, which stimulates the nervous system and can help relieve anything from period pain to sexual difficulties in women and controlling testosterone secretion in men.
Small samples, big claims—what giving it a shot harm?
While the potential sexual benefits of yoga may be titillating, it's essential to remember that the empirical (that's scientific) evidence is far from abundant. Research is scarce, much of it has small samples, and many studies lack control groups. But newer studies, which focused on women with specific conditions, have yielded more promising results. So, while more research is needed, it's worth giving yoga a spin—your pelvic muscles (and maybe your partner) will thank you!
- It appears that yoga's influence on sexual health is a topic worth exploring, as a study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine suggests that a 12-week yoga program can significantly improve women's sexual satisfaction.
- Interestingly, a study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav revealed that men can also benefit from a similar yoga program, as they reported significant improvements in their sexual function.
- The scientific community has been investigating how yoga could enhance sexual response. For instance, researchers from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, found that yoga regulates attention, reduces stress, and calms the nervous system, all of which are linked to improvements in sexual response.
