Improved Sexual Health Through Yoga: Exploring Its Advantages
Curious cat here! Wanna know more about the rumors that yoga can boost your bedroom performance? Let's dive in!
Nowadays, it seems like the cyber world is awash with wellness influencers touting yoga for a hotter love life. But does science back up their claims, or are we just being led astray by wishful thinking? Let's find out!
Recent research is finally diving into the delicious health perks of the ancient art of yoga. This practice is said to help tackle a range of health issues, from the nitty-gritty like depression and stress, all the way up to tackling weighty matters like metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and even thyroid problems.
But what really gets us purring is the juicy fact that yoga can also lower the body's inflammatory response, counter genetic expression that makes people prone to stress, decrease cortisol, and boost the brain-friendly protein called BDNF. And we all know that just feels good!
The cherry on top? Some reckon that a yoga-induced orgasm, known as the elusive "coregasm," can give you a juggling act of sensations… yowza!
Feeling your body and connecting with it can leave you feeling revitalized, renewed, and physically euphoric. But can yoga's tantalizing poses make you a bedroom dynamo? Let's see what the research says.
Yoga gets women in the mood
One well-known study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that, yes, indeed, yoga can give our nether regions a much-needed boost – especially in ladies over 45.
In the study, 40 women underwent 12 weeks of yoga and then reported on their sexual well-being before and after. After the 12-week period, their sexual function had significantly improved across the board, according to the Female Sexual Function Index: "desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain."
An impressive 75% of the women reported that their sex lives had improved after training!
For the study, all the participants learned 22 specific poses, called yogasanas, which are said to strengthen core muscles, promote digestive health, tone the pelvic floor, and boost mood. Some of these moves included trikonasana (the triangle pose), bhujangasana (the snake), and ardha matsyendra mudra (half spinal twist). Want to give these sultry stretches a go? Here's your guide!
Yoga can also satisfy the boys
But it's not just the ladies who can benefit from a little bit of downward dog! An identical study led by neuroscientist Dr. Vikas Dhikav found that a 12-week program of yogic exercise also made men happier in the sack.
At the study's conclusion, the participants reported a significant boost in their sexual satisfaction, as judged by the standard Male Sexual Quotient. The results showed improvements across all aspects of male sexual satisfaction: "desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, [and] orgasm."
Even more fascinating? Researchers found that yoga could serve as a non-pharmacological alternative to fluoxetine (a.k.a. Prozac) for the treatment of premature ejaculation!
The study included 15 yoga poses, ranging from the Zen-like Kapalbhati (which involves sitting cross-legged and contracting your abdominal muscles) to the more complex dhanurasana (the “bow pose”).
The yogic magic behind better sex
So, how does yoga give your sex life a boost? A study led by researchers at the University of British Columbia's Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology sheds some light on the matter.
The study's lead author, Dr. Lori Brotto, and her colleagues explain that yoga regulates attention and breathing, reduces anxiety and stress, and activates the parasympathetic nervous system.
All of these effects are intertwined with improvements in sexual response. But that's not all! There are also psychological factors at play.
"Female yoga practitioners are less likely to objectify their bodies and more attuned to their physical selves," says Brotto. "This could be associated with increased sexual responsibility, assertiveness, and desire."
The tempting allure of moola bandha
Although tales of unleashing repressed sexual energy in root chakras and moving kundalini energy up and down the spinal cord to bring about ejaculation-free male orgasms are built on shaky foundations, the concept of moola bandha might tickle your skeptical fancy.
Moola bandha is a perineal contraction that stimulates the autonomic nervous system in the pelvic region and causes the body to enter a state of parasympathetic activity. This technique is said to directly affect the reproductive system and the pelvic floor muscles.
Studies have linked the practice of moola bandha to a gamut of tantalizing benefits, including the alleviation of menstrual pain, childbirth pain, and sexual difficulties in women, as well as the treatment of premature ejaculation in men and the regulation of testosterone secretion.
So while the myth of the earth-shattering "yogasm" might be a stretch, the spicy, sensual potential of moola bandha is hard to deny.
How reliable is the evidence?
While the idea of harnessing yoga for bedroom brilliance is enough to set hearts racing, it's essential to remember that the evidence pool is far from teeming with solid data.
The internet is bursting with anecdotal tales, but experimental evidence on yoga's sexual benefits remains scarce. The vast majority of the studies I've mentioned above – those demonstrating improved sexual satisfaction and function in both men and women – have small sample sizes and lack a control group.
However, more recent studies focusing on women who face sexual dysfunction in conjunction with other conditions have produced stronger evidence.
For instance, a randomized controlled trial studied the impact of yoga on women with metabolic syndrome – a population with a higher risk of sexual dysfunction all told. The findings? A 12-week yoga program led to "significant improvement" in arousal and lubrication, while no such improvements were observed in the non-yoga group.
Improvements were also seen in blood pressure, prompting the researchers to conclude that "yoga may be an effective treatment for sexual dysfunction in women with metabolic syndrome, as well as for metabolic risk factors."
In another randomized trial, ladies with multiple sclerosis underwent 3 months of yoga instruction, completing weekly sessions. Significantly, those in the yoga group showed improvement in physical ability and sexual function, while control group participants demonstrated worsening symptoms.
So, while we require more rigid scientific data to confirm yoga's bedroom prowess, the seeds have certainly been planted. As we await further research to determine whether "yogasms" are indeed a real deal, we think there's enough reason to give yoga a spin – and our pelvic muscles will surely thank us for it!
*The scientific community is beginning to explore the connection between yoga and sexual health.* Studies have shown that yoga can improve sexual function in women, particularly those aged 45 and above.* One study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that a 12-week program of yoga improved sexual well-being for 75% of participating women.* Yoga poses like trikonasana, bhujangasana, and ardha matsyendra mudra are said to strengthen core muscles, improve pelvic health, and boost mood, which can contribute to better sexual performance.* Men can also benefit from yoga, as a similar study led by neuroscientist Dr. Vikas Dhikav found that a 12-week program of yogic exercise improved sexual satisfaction for male participants.* Yoga's effects on sexual health are thought to be due to its ability to regulate attention and breathing, reduce anxiety and stress, and activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which can improve sexual response.* While the evidence base for yoga's sexual benefits is not extensive, more recent studies focusing on women with certain conditions, such as metabolic syndrome and multiple sclerosis, have produced stronger evidence for its efficacy.* One technique, moola bandha, is said to stimulate the pelvic region and affect the reproductive system and pelvic floor muscles, potentially leading to improved sexual function and the alleviation of sexual difficulties in both men and women.* However, more rigorous scientific research is needed to confirm the extent to which yoga can boost sexual health and performance.
