Can Yoga Improve My Low Libido?
For this week’s #AskMamaDoc we’re talking libido! So, can yoga help improve your low libido?
Yes, yoga really can improve your sex drive!
Libido is such an incredibly complicated subject, but there is no debate that both physical and psychological factors (stress, relationship issues, body-image, depression, etc.) contribute to sex drive.
A 2010 study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that regularly incorporating a yoga practice improved sexual function in a variety of ways, including positive effects on desire, arousal, lubrication, and orgasm. And, wait for it…nearly 75%(!) of the women in the study rated an improvement in their libido after incorporating a regular yoga practice.
These results used the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), a validated measure of female sexual function (which is available online if you’re interested). The impressive results were present across all age groups included in the study, but were most pronounced in women over 45 years of age.
This is *EXCELLENT* news, as libido is something that can be exceedingly difficult to treat. If your’e a physician, therapist, or counselor let this be one more tool in your low-libido improvement kit. If you’re a lady struggling with low libido, consider giving yoga a try!
I suspect that this contribution to sexual function revolves around yoga’s well-documented ability to decrease stress, improve blood flow, strengthen muscles, and encourage breathing and flexibility.
This is one of my favorite studies on yoga, looking at the benefits from a stem cell recruitment and mobilization standpoint. It’s so interesting to me. As a novice yogi, these health benefits as a whole are inspiring me to commit more time and energy to my practice.
So, go ahead and share this article with your partner (and all your friends who might find it interesting), then find somewhere to get into a regular practice!