Improved Sexual Health Through Yoga Practice: Exploring the Advantages
Takea dive into the vast internet ocean brimming with wellness blogs screaming yoga as the secret sauce to a better sex life. But does the research align with these boisterous claims? Let's investigate.
Sweeping across the globe, the ancient art of yoga is gaining recognition for its numerous health benefits, including easing conditions like depression, anxiety, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, thyroid problems, and even lowering inflammation and boosting brain health. But what about its effects on our most intimate moments? Can yoga's magic poses revamp our bedroom antics? Let's find out.
Yoga: The new love potion for women
Dive deep into a study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine that found yoga indeed enhances sexual function in women, particularly those over 45. Researchers honed in on 40 women who partook in a 12-week yoga session, self-reporting their sexual function before and after. Hailed as the golden girls of sex, 75 percent reported an improvement in their bedroom shenanigans post-yoga training.
Guided on 22 poses meant to improve core muscles, digestion, pelvic floor strength, and mood, poses like trikonasana (the triangle pose), bhujangasana (the snake), and ardha matsyendra mudra (half spinal twist) were among the cast of characters. Want the full list? Check it out here.
Yoga: The spice of life for men
Hey to blokes! Don't think yoga's cooling its heels in the ladies-only club. A study conducted by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, found that a 12-week yoga program significantly improved the sexual satisfaction of men. End results? Impressive improvements in desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, and confidence, to name a few.
In a showdown between yoga and fluoxetine (Prozac), yoga emerged as a kickass, non-prescription champ for treating premature ejaculation. The study involved 15 diverse yoga poses, from the easy-peasy Kapalbhati to the challenging dhanurasana (the bow pose).
The art behind the passion
Now, how on earth does yoga stir the pot and set our loins aflame? Research conducted by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, sheds some light on yoga's trickery. It seems our beloved practise masterfully braids our attention, breathing, and lowers stress, sparking improvements in our precious sexual responses.
Additionally, let's not overlook the mental facets. Female yoga devotees have been proven less likely to objectify their bodies and more aware of their physical selves, instilling a sense of sexual responsibility and desire.
The allure of the moola bandha
Pay heed to the yogic concept du jour: moola bandha. No, it's not the latest buzzword in fad diets. Moola bandha is a fancy name for a perineal contraction helping activate the nervous system in the pelvic region. The result? Relief from period pain, childbirth pain, and sexual difficulties in women, as well as testosterone secretion control in men. Sleep tight knowing this mind-blowing technique is also the go-to recommendation in many sex therapy centers.
The reliability of evidence: A balancing act
While we all brace ourselves for yoga-induced earth-shattering orgasms, it's essential not to forget that the pool of empirical evidence supporting yoga's sexual benefits is critically small compared to the avalanche of anecdotal evidence gushing through the internet.
Future research is needed to solidify the link between yoga and nirvana-like climaxes. But until then, seeking enlightenment and a fitter pelvic floor through yoga feels like a no-brainer for the open-minded. Throw caution to the wind and gift your pelvic muscles a milestone sensation. Namaste and happy yoga-ing!
- The study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine highlighted that yoga enhances sexual function in women, particularly those above 45, as 75% of the participants reported improvement after a 12-week session.
- Not limited to women, a study by Dr. Vikas Dhikav found that a 12-week yoga program improved the sexual satisfaction of men, significantly boosting desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, and confidence.
- Research conducted by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, suggests that yoga improves sexual responses by focusing attention, controlling stress, and enhancing breathing.
- Moola bandha, a yogic concept, is a pelvic region-targeting contraction that relieves period pain, childbirth pain, and sexual difficulties in women, while controlling testosterone secretion in men.
- Though anecdotal evidence about yoga's sexual benefits is abundant online, the empirical evidence supporting these claims is scarce, calling for more research to solidify the link.
- Despite the need for further studies, the open-minded incorporating yoga to foster a healthier pelvic floor and potentially enhance sexual experiences, feels like a mindful choice.
