Yoga and its influence on sexual performance: A deep dive into the positive effects
The Prevalence of Wellness Blogs Suggesting Yoga for Enhanced Sexual Experiences Leads to a Question: Does the Scientific Evidence Back Up These Claims?
In modern times, the practice of yoga, an ancient discipline, is increasingly recognized for its numerous health benefits, ranging from alleviating stress, depression, and anxiety to managing metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid issues. Recently, researchers have also delved into the complex mechanisms underlying these improvements.
One of yoga's key effects is the reduction of the body's inflammatory response, the suppression of stress-inducing genetic expression, the lowering of cortisol levels, and the boosting of a protein essential for brain growth and maintenance. Furthermore, there's no denying the feeling of relaxation and pleasure that yoga can provide.
The question that remains, though, is whether these enjoyable poses can positively impact our sexual lives. Let's take a closer look at the research.
Yoga and Improved Sexual Function in Women
A study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine offers substantial evidence to support the assertion that yoga can indeed improve sexual function, particularly for women aged 45 and above. In this study, 40 women self-evaluated their sexual function prior to and following 12 weeks of yoga practice, revealing a significant enhancement in all sections of the Female Sexual Function Index, including desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. As many as 75% of the participants reported improved sexual experiences as a result of their yoga training.
During the study, the women were trained in 22 poses believed to strengthen core abdominal muscles, improve digestion, boost pelvic floor health, and elevate mood. Some of the poses included trikonasana (triangle pose), bhujangasana (snake pose), and ardha matsyendra mudra (half spinal twist).
Yoga's Benefits for Men
Yoga is not limited to enhancing women's sexual experiences. As part of a 12-week yoga program, Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, observed significant improvements in male sexual satisfaction, as determined by the Male Sexual Quotient. The study found positive changes in desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm.
Notably, a comparative trial carried out by the same team of researchers concluded that yoga is a viable and nonpharmacological alternative to fluoxetine (Prozac) for treating premature ejaculation.
Explaining Yoga's Means of Improving Sexual Health
Research led by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of British Columbia (UBC) provides insights into the mechanisms behind yoga's sexual-enhancing effects. Dr. Lori Brotto, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at UBC, and her colleagues explain that yoga regulates attention and breathing, lowers anxiety and stress, and activates the nervous system responsible for relaxation. As a result, these effects are associated with improvements in sexual response.
Additionally, female yoga practitioners have been found to be less prone to objectify their bodies, fostering increased sexual responsibility and assertiveness, and potentially enhancing sexual desires.
The Power of Moola Bandha
Although the concept of releasing blocked energy in root chakras and inducing "kundalini orgasms" lacks rigorous scientific evidence, other yogic principles may be more acceptable to skeptics. One such principle is Moola Bandha. This practice is a contraction of the perineal muscles, stimulating the pelvic nerves and promoting parasympathetic activity in the body. Specifically, Moola Bandha is said to directly influence the gonads and the cervix.
Studies have suggested that practicing Moola Bandha may relieve menstrual and childbirth pain, address sexual difficulties in women, and control testosterone secretion in men.
In essence, Moola Bandha shares similarities with pelvic floor exercises commonly recommended by sex therapy centers to help women become more aware of their genital sensations, thereby improving their sexual health.
Another yoga pose that strengthens the pelvic floor muscles is Bhekasana (frog pose). This pose can help women with symptoms of vestibulodynia (pain in the vestibule of the vagina) and vaginismus (involuntary contraction of vaginal muscles) enjoy a more satisfactory sexual experience.
Examining the Reliability of the Evidence
While the potential sexual benefits of yoga may seem appealing, it's essential to bear in mind the significant gap between the amount of empirical evidence and anecdotal evidence accessible online. With a dearth of comprehensive scientific studies, it remains crucial to continue investigating the impact of yoga on our sexual wellbeing.
Recent studies focusing on women with metabolic syndrome have yielded promising evidence. For these women, a 12-week yoga program resulted in significant enhancements in arousal and lubrication, whereas no such improvements were observed in women who did not participate in the program. Additionally, improvements were seen in blood pressure, leading researchers to assert that "yoga may be an effective treatment for sexual dysfunction in women with metabolic syndrome as well as for metabolic risk factors."
As research into the relationship between yoga and sexual function progresses, it appears that incorporating yoga into our daily routines could indeed prove enriching, not just for our pelvic muscles, but for our overall sexual wellbeing.
The study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine supports the idea that yoga can improve sexual function, particularly for women aged 45 and above, affirming its positive impact on various aspects of female sexual health. Men too can benefit from a 12-week yoga program, as seen in increased male sexual satisfaction, suggesting its usefulness for improving male sexual health. The benefits of yoga for sexual health are thought to stem from its regulating effects on attention, breathing, and stress levels, thus improving sexual response.
The practice of Moola Bandha, a contraction of the perineal muscles, displays potential in addressing sexual difficulties and controlling testosterone secretion in men. Furthermore, Bhekasana or the frog pose can aid women with vestibulodynia and vaginismus to enjoy a more satisfying sexual experience. While empirical evidence supporting the sexual benefits of yoga is scarce, research on women with metabolic syndrome shows promising results, suggesting that yoga may be an effective treatment for sexual dysfunction.
As the investigation into the effects of yoga on sexual function continues, it is crucial to recognize the discrepancy between anecdotal evidence and scientific evidence accessible online. Thus, the potential of incorporating yoga into daily routines for overall sexual wellbeing awaits further scientific confirmation.
