Why Yoga Can Improve Your Sex Life + 7 Yoga Poses For Better Sex
Yoga in all its forms has been a trusted practice for centuries when it comes to strengthening the body, mind, and spirit. But have you ever considered how yoga's many benefits can translate into the bedroom? Not only can yoga help you improve your physical form, but it can also help you get in touch with your sexuality. Here’s how the two work together, plus seven poses that can improve your sex life.
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What is yoga sex?
Yogic sexuality is a term that describes an approach to sex influenced by the practice and teachings of yoga. These traditions can be traced through all different lineages, including Taoist teachings, Kundalini teachings, tantra, and more. Each is a little different, but they're all related to using breath, movement, and energy. By learning how to tap into your body and nervous system through yogic practices, we have the capacity for powerful, intentional, and connected sex.
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The sexual benefits of yoga.
Releasing sexual blocks.
Yoga allows us to relax and open up our bodies and hearts, and it can potentially help unlock trauma stored in the body that inhibits our sex lives. It also can help you feel strong, sexy, and confident, to name a few. We also know yoga has been found to reduce stress levels, which can have a huge impact on sexual desire and functioning.
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Improved endurance and blood flow.
Being in good physical shape can improve a person's sex life simply because of the greater flexibility, endurance, and strength they gain. Yoga can also get your blood flowing throughout your body, which can support sexual arousal and boost serotonin.
Improved mind-body connection.
The body-mind connection is emphasized in yogic sexuality. When you can gain some control over your physical body, whether that's working with poses or your breath, your mind is open to greater expansion. And when your mind is clear and intentional, it allows for a more powerful experience. We know mindfulness practices can make sex better—research has demonstrated it.
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Increased desire and wetness
One small study even found a link between practicing yoga and better sexual functioning in women, particular those over 45 years old. They asked 40 women about their sex lives before and after a 12-week yoga program, and 75% of them showed improvement in levels of desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and sexual satisfaction, plus a reduction of sexual pain.
Stronger erections.
Another similar study found similar yoga seemed to improve men's sexual functioning1 as well, including desire, erection quality, ejaculatory control, orgasm, confidence, and feelings of being in sync with their partners.
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Yoga sex poses.
1. Forward Fold
Benefits: The increased oxygen and blood flow of a forward flow will give you a youthful and energized glow so that you can confidently take on a bedroom session.
How to: Stand in mountain pose with both feet planted firmly on the ground, hands on your hips. Exhale and slowly fold forward from your hip joints, lengthening the front of your torso. Bend your elbows and hold onto each elbow with your opposite hand. Lightly sway from side-to-side if it feels good. While you're doing it, try to calm your mind and let go of all the day's stresses. Hold for 1 minute.
2. Low Lunge
Benefits: This pose will help you to activate your sacral chakra—the energy center that guides sex and intimate love. It will also open and deeply stretch the front thighs and pelvis.
How to: Starting in downward-facing dog, step your right foot between your hands with your knee aligned over your ankle at a 90-degree angle. Rest your back knee down onto the mat. Your hips should be square; make sure to tuck your tailbone. Inhale, lengthen your torso, and sweep your arms up to the sky or rest them on the front thigh.
3. Low Lunge With Twist
Benefits: Adding a twist to a low lunge will lengthen and strengthen the muscles along the spine. It will also help you to remove energy blockages, which in turn will leave you feeling revitalized and ready for a steamy session between the sheets.
How to: Starting in low lunge, place your hands in prayer position at heart center and gently twist your torso open toward the right leg. Hook your left elbow over your right knee and use it as a lever to open your torso. Hold here for 5 breaths. Repeat on both sides.
4. Reclined Big Toe Stretch
Benefits: Not only can this stretch improve your flexibility over time, but it also can release tension, stress, and emotional baggage. This will allow you to walk into the bedroom with fresh energy.
How to: Start by lying on your back. Lift your right leg up to the ceiling and grasp onto your big toe. If you can't reach your toes, it's totally fine to use a strap. Flex the foot of your extended leg on the floor. Press your thigh down and make sure not to let the hips lift. On your elevated leg, press up through your heel and draw your toes back.
5. Pigeon
Benefits: Pigeon pose provides a deep stretch for your hips by opening your lower body. We hold a lot of tension and emotion in our hips, so this can help release that.
How to: Starting in downward-facing dog, bring your right knee forward to the ground and place it in line with your right hand. Your shin should be parallel to the front of your mat. Extend your left leg back, and rest your knee and top on the foot on the ground. Square your hips and fold forward, resting your forehead on your hands. If your hip doesn't touch the floor, you can prop yourself up using a block. Hold the pose for 2 to 5 minutes on each side.
6. Downward-Facing Dog
Benefits: Downward-facing dog is a total-body energizing pose that will start to increase your flexibility, open your hips, and get the blood flowing to your pelvic region.
How to: From a forward fold, place your hands on the ground shoulder-distance apart. Walk your feet back so that your body is in the shape of a "V." Activate your arms and draw your site bones up and back. Press your heels firmly toward the ground. Relax your head and neck while gazing back toward your feet.
7. Upward-Facing Dog
Benefits: Upward-facing dog is a beautiful heart opener that will lift your energy and your self-confidence. It also opens up the energy of the heart chakra—the energy center that rules love and happiness.
How to: Stand in mountain pose with both feet planted firmly on the ground, hands on your hips. Exhale and slowly fold forward from your hip joints, lengthening the front of your torso. Bend your elbows and hold on to each elbow with your opposite hand. Lightly sway from side to side if it feels good. Hold for 1 minute.
The bottom line.
Practicing yoga can improve your sex life in a myriad of ways, and some poses can be especially beneficial (and arousing!). By combining the mindful aspect of yoga with its strengthening abilities, you'll feel more ready than ever to hit the bedroom.
Some other good workouts to consider for improving your sex life would include HIIT, and even pelvic floor exercises. But for an option that works the body as much as the mind, dipping your toes into yogic sexuality might be something worth considering.
Claire Grieve is a highly sought after international yoga specialist, stretch therapist, plant-based health coach, and wellness writer. Claire underwent extensive yoga training with some of the world’s top yogis, studied nutrition through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and received her bachelor's in education from the University of Melbourne. Grieve has dedicated almost a decade to teaching and is on a serious mission to make yoga enjoyable and accessible to everyone. Her deep and pure passion for helping people transform through yoga and wellness has led her to work with with a vast array of celebrities, professional athletes, fitness leaders and people of all genders, professions, shapes and sizes.
For more yoga flows and mindfulness tips, check out Claire’s new ebook ENERGIZE!