On The Path March 2014 | Page 14

Mind~Body Connection

Six Ways Yoga Improves Your Sexuality

On & Off the Mat with Meichelle

Our impulses and desires can be affected by an imbalance of the second chakra, Svadhisthana, the Water Chakra. When this chakra is out of balance, we may experience difficulty sustaining relationships, be compulsive, suffer from an overabundance or lack of desire, or become easily addicted. To bring balance to the second chakra, practice the Warrior II pose.

Yoga does more than just improve a person's sexuality. A regular yoga practice of at least one hour a week balances all of the systems of the body over time – the Nervous System, the Endocrine System, the Circulatory System, the Digestive System, the Muscular System, the Skeletal System, etc. A one-hour practice several days a week, will naturally provide for faster improvements. However, in general, yoga will help to improve your sexuality in the following ways.

1. Improves Flexibility – The yoga poses lengthen the muscles and open the joints, which allows for a variety of positions during sex that are more comfortable, less distracting and provide the ability for deeper penetration.

2. Builds Endurance – A yoga practice, where a person holds the poses for longer than a minute, helps to build muscle endurance. Not that marathon sex is a requirement for a healthy and happy sexual relationship, but better muscle endurance does allow for the ability to stay in sexual positions you enjoy longer with fewer breaks.

3. Increases Blood Flow – All styles of yoga involve some level of cardio, which improves circulation throughout the body. The yoga movements massage the blood vessels. An increase in blood flow to the pelvic area, increases the male response and sustain time, as well as increasing overall energy and vitality. It also increases sensitivity for women resulting in a more intense release.

by Meichelle Norwood