One study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that yoga improved sexual function in 75 per cent of the women over 40 who participated. After 12 weeks of practice, the women reported significant improvements across all sections of the female sexual function index (a widely used questionnaire to measure female sexual health): desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain.
For men, too, the benefits are well-documented. Research by Dr Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist from New Delhi, India, found 12 weeks of yoga made significant improvements in the male participants’ sexual function, including desire, erection, ejaculatory control and orgasm.
Donna Noble, a yoga teacher, recommends the bridge pose to improve blood flow to the pelvic region in both sexes. “Lie on your back with knees bent, lift hips off the ground, forming a straight line from knees to shoulders,” she says. For men, she also suggests the happy baby pose – lie on your back, bring your knees to your chest and grab the outer sides of your feet with your hands – and for women, the butterfly pose: “Sit with the soles of your feet together and knees bent outwards, gently pressing them down, to open the groin and improve blood flow.”
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Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
