Yoga isn't just for better flexibility, relaxation, pain relief and muscle toning. Those sessions of asanas can help to boost your sex life, according to a research review article printed in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

The researchers focused on three Eastern disciplines - acupuncture, mindfulness meditation and yoga - and looked at empirical evidence from previous studies, as well as historical literature on sexuality. They found that while American women experience a variety of problems with sex, they're not necessarily related to any physical causes.

Forty-nine percent of the women reported having sexual difficulties. About 5.5 percent of the women between ages 30 and 79 report dissatisfaction with their sex lives, although they had no difficulties in desire, arousal and orgasm. Eight percent between ages 20 to 65 reported marked distress about their sexual relationship. And in the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behavior, about 7.5 to 17 percent of women between ages 40 and 80 stated that sex was not pleasurable. The findings suggest that for a small percentage of women, dissatisfaction was the main complaint, even though the women didn't have any difficulties with desire, arousal or orgasm.

The fact that some women have issues with sex isn't new, yet, there's still no female or "pink" Viagra. But as the researchers point out, a drug that simply increases the body's (or genital) response does not address a woman's attitudes, beliefs, emotions, preoccupations, values, pressures, and other psychological elements that shape and influence her sexuality. This makes finding a cure or remedy tricky, especially in Western society that often relies on drugs as a quick fix.

Instead, in these cases, the researchers suggest that spiritual elements to sexuality and Eastern techniques that have their origin in the Kama Sutra may be beneficial. Yoga is one possible solution. Although the benefits of yoga has been studied and found to be effective only for treating premature ejaculation in men, numerous historical books cite the benefits of yoga to women's sex lives, states the researchers.

Yoga improves overall physical health, as well as psychological health--it helps you sleep better, reduces stress, and helps to alleviate a depressed mood. For these reasons the researchers believe that yoga can enhance women's sex lives.

In the article, the authors refer to historic literature on Tantric and Taoist traditions of yoga, which have a subset of yoga called kundalini that focuses on improving sexuality. Through body postures and breathing this form of yoga releases sexual energy from the lowest chakra, the kundalini, and spreads it to other chakras through the body. As a result, it increases sexual pleasure.

But although there's a vast amount of historical data citing the benefits of yoga for sex, there's not enough research to substantiate the claims, states the researchers. With the potential benefits to women - notably, drug-free benefits - this shows yet another example of the gender gap that exists in treating sexual problems in women and men.

Sexy Yoga Aides

Interested in practicing yoga to enhance your sex life? Check out these resources:

Kundalini Yoga for Beginners & Beyond, starring Ana Brett and Ravi Singh (2005)

Sexy Yoga: 40 Poses for Mindblowing Sex and Greater Intimacy, by Ellen Barrett (Amorata Press, 2004).

Better Sex Through Yoga - Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced, starring Jacquie Noelle Greaux (3-Disc DVD Set, 2004)

Tantric Toning Workout with Stephanie de Phillipo (DVD, 1999)

Study Reference

Journal Name: Journal of Sexual Medicine, Vol. 5, Issue 12, pp. 2741-2748

Study Date: 3 Dec 2008

Study Name: Eastern Approaches for Enhancing Women's Sexuality: Mindfulness, Acupuncture, and Yoga (CME)

Website: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/121543901/HTMLSTART

Authors: Lori A.  Brotto, PhD, Michael  Krychman, MD, and Pamela  Jacobson, LAc, Dipl OM