Exercises in Yoga: potent improvements for sexual health performance
Yo, check it out! Yoga ain't just about downward dog and finding your center - it's also been linked to some pretty hot benefits in the bedroom if you catch my drift. It's not all hype; science is catching on to the idea that yoga could improve your sex life.
First off, let's discuss the ladies. One study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine got a group of women ages 45 and up to practice yoga for a whopping 12 weeks. Turns out, their sexual function improved significantly across desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Shockingly, 75% of these senior yogis declared an improvement in their sex life! The training focused on 22 yoga poses, which are said to strengthen the pelvic floor, improve digestion, and give you a enhanced mood.
Not only does yoga work its magic on the women, but it helps the dudes, too. Research out of India found that men reported a significant improvement in their sexual function as a result of a 12-week yoga program. They saw improvements in desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm - the whole shebang, basically.
But what's the science behind all this? A review of literature from the University of British Columbia delves into the ways yoga might boost your sex life. It turns out that yoga regulates attention, breathing, and lowers stress and anxiety, all of which are associated with improvements in sexual response. There are also psychological mechanisms at play - yoga makes ladies less likely to objectify their bodies and more aware of their physical selves, which can lead to increased sexual responsibility, assertiveness, and desire.
One concept to check out is Moola Bandha, a perineal contraction that happens during certain poses and is thought to activate the gonads and perineal body/cervix. Moola Bandha is believed to improve sexual difficulties, relieve period pain, and treat premature ejaculation in men. Some sex therapy centers even use this yoga practice with women to help them become more aware of their sensations of arousal in the genital area, which can boost desire and sexual satisfaction.
While it's easy to get excited about the potential of yoga to turn your sex life into a steamy yoga retreat, it's worth noting that the amount of scientific evidence supporting these claims is limited. There's way more anecdotal evidence floating around out there on the internet… but let's be real, that counts for squat in our book.
Nonetheless, a few studies with a small sample size and no control group have found improvements in sexual satisfaction and function for both men and women. For instance, a study found that a 12-week yoga program led to significant improvement in arousal and lubrication for women with metabolic syndrome, who are at a higher risk of sexual dysfunction. Another study looked at the sexual benefits of yoga for women with multiple sclerosis and found that the participants showed improvement in physical ability and sexual function.
So while it's far from a guarantee, there's no denying the potential benefits that yoga might bring to the bedroom. If you're down to give it a shot, consider it an added perk - and your pelvic muscles will thank you for the extra love!
Sexual health is not the only concern addressed in yoga practice, but a research study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine showed that a 12-week yoga program significantly improved sexual function in women aged 45 and above. The health-and-wellness practice focuses on poses that strengthen the pelvic floor, contributing to enhanced sexual health. Similarly, a study in India indicated that men reported significant improvements in their sexual function after a 12-week yoga program, demonstrating how yoga can benefit both men and women. However, the scientific evidence supporting these claims is still limited.
