What is Yoga?
Yoga happens to be a combination of body postures or ‘asanas’, breath work, and meditation that do wonders for human health and mental well-being, by increasing smoothness in blood flow, body flexibility, body balance, mental alertness, and so on. Originating as early as 5000 years ago in India, the magic of yoga has now crossed boundaries and taken the western culture under its umbrella.
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a medical condition when a man is under much inability to achieve or maintain a penile erection in most of his attempts to get intercourse and optimum sexual pleasure. ED symptoms might arise from hormonal changes, side effects from medication, reduced blood flow, stress, or other psychological concerns.
Why Yoga for Erectile Dysfunction?
Yoga has already proven its unmatched efficiency in mind-body medical interventions for certain medical conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD), pain disorders, and post-cancer treatment recovery. Erectile dysfunction is another medical condition where yoga has proven its merit.
Although there is limited research on the relationship between yoga and erectile dysfunction, there have been numerous small-scale studies that have shown how yoga may improve sexual functioning. It is said to be helpful in improving testosterone levels and increasing blood flow toward the pelvic region, helping one to deal with all the symptoms of erectile dysfunction.
This is reached through a combination of physical benefits such as increasing blood flow and improving cardio-respiratory fitness, and psychological effects including stress reduction and mindfulness.
Other possible benefits of yoga for ED patients include increased circulation, better focus, improved body image, and confidence.
Top 5 Yoga postures that Improve Erectile Dysfunction Problem
There are five yoga postures that are effective in treating ED symptoms in men. Out of these five poses, two are standing poses while the other three are seated poses. Let us understand the poses well.
Standing Yoga Postures for ED
1. Garudasana or eagle pose
Steps:
- With knees slightly bent, ground down on your right foot and cross your left leg over your right thigh.
- Hold for five breaths, and then repeat on the opposite side.
(Source)
Effect on ED problems:
This pose strengthens the pelvic area and helps increase blood flow to the reproductive organs.
2. Uttanasana or standing forward bend
Steps:
- Stand up straight and bend your torso forward without bending your knees, letting your arms hang down toward the ground.
- Release your head and let gravity take you as far as you can go.
- If it is not far, that’s fine.
- With regular practice, you will increase flexibility.
(Source)
Effect on ED problems:
This pose encourages flexibility in the hips and may prevent premature ejaculation and retain seminal fluid. This intense stretch may help you with anxiety. Some say it even helps with infertility while also improving digestion and stimulating the organs in the abdomen.
Seated Yoga Postures for ED
3. Mandukasana or frog pose
Steps:
- From a tabletop position, slowly move your knees out wide away from the body, lowering your torso toward the ground.
- Stop as soon as you feel the stretch in your inner thighs.
- Hold for five breaths.
- Slowly release your breath and come back to the original position.
(Source)
Effect on ED problems:
This pose works to stretch the groin muscles.
4. Paschimottanasana or seated forward bend
Steps:
- Firstly, sit straight, and then stretch both of your legs together in the forward direction.
- Put your feet pointing towards the ceiling.
- Next, as you breathe in, stretch both arms in the upward direction.
- Now as you breathe out, bend yourself towards the toes and keep your spine erect.
- Hold the big toe of your feet along with the index finger and thumb.
- Now bend forward in a way that your forehand touches the knees.
- Hold onto this position for approximately 10 to 20 seconds
- Slowly come back to your sitting position.
(Source)
Effect on ED problems:
This pose strengthens the pelvic floor muscles, which may foster better urinary control and penile function.
5. Janu Sirsasana or seated head-to-knee posture
Steps:
- Firstly sit straight.
- From there as you inhale bend your left leg inwards, such that the left heel is pressing into your right inner thigh.
- Rest your sole against your thigh and then release your knee toward the floor. If your knee doesn’t reach the floor, you can use a blanket to support it.
- Extend the right leg out in front of you.
- Bend at the torso over your right leg, trying to touch your nose to your right knee.
- If the flexibility isn’t there yet, you can reach your hands around your foot or use a strap to help.
- Hold for five breaths.
- Repeat on the opposite side.
(Source)
Effect on ED problems:
This pose is thought to aid in increasing arousal.
One needs to include such yoga postures in his daily routine in order to get the maximum benefit in the quickest possible time. Also, ask for more suggestions and professional guidance from experts via various yoga center’s that are very common these days. Apart from practicing yoga regularly, one should also include a healthy diet, avoid toxic lifestyle habits, and also have a thorough consultation from an authorized medical practitioner in order to get rid of ED problems permanently.
