Yoga is a mind and body practice with a 5,000-year history in ancient Indian philosophy. Various styles of yoga combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation. Yoga improves sexual and reproductive functions by improving the overall integration of physiological systems. The mechanisms of yoga practice in improving ejaculatory time in people with premature ejaculation are :
- Neuro - Psycho - Physiological mechanism
- Hormonal regulation
- Autonomic function improvement: parasympathetic stimulation
- Increase in whole blood serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine levels
- Strengthening pelvic muscles
- Improved awareness
Yoga helps in PME by improving the overall integration of the physiological systems by neuro-psycho-physiological mechanism of action.
Yoga improves sexual desire and overall reproductive health. This is done by integrating neuro-endocrine axes, improving hormonal secretion, improving age-related decline in testosterone levels, reproductive behavior, mood.
Autonomic function improvement: parasympathetic stimulation
Yoga practice improves autonomic nervous function improvement. Yoga results in
Suppression of sympathetic activity and stimulates parasympathetic activity. This is how yoga benefits the reproductive health. Sympathetic nerves stimulation causes ejaculation of semen. Contractions of epididymis, ejaculatory ducts, and seminal vesicles are controlled by sympathetic nervous activity. Parasympathetic stimulation through yoga enhances the ejaculatory contro.
In certain yoga practices, such as pranayama and meditation, breath awareness, abdominal breathing and focused attention are important components. This causes a significant increase in serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels in blood. Increased 5-HT levels are believed to be involved with ejaculatory control.
Practicing yogasana improves stamina, strength, flexibility, muscle tone, endurance and builds core stability. Yoga postures develop control of pelvic and perineal muscles resulting in better contraction.
Improved cardiopulmonary efficiency, deeper breathing, awareness and mindfulness result in a better sensual experience. Improvement in intra-vaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) with yoga is because of the emphasis on bodily awareness. This increases the awareness of the impending ejaculation, allowing more effective withdrawal and pause methods.
Yoga emphasizes the relationship between body, mind, and awareness. It focuses on the synchronization of breathing and movement. Yoga involves
Physical postures / Asanas
Controlled breathing techniques / Pranayama
Meditation
Relaxation
Cleansing processes / Kriya
Ohm chanting mantras
These activities improve sexual function directly or indirectly by improving overall health, vitality and wellbeing. Hectic and stressful lifestyle leads to tightening up of the pelvic region. It is suggested that stretching these muscles will improve the range of movement in this area and facilitate a more relaxed state of mind so that sexual performance will improve. Poorly relaxed pelvic and perineal muscles can cause PME. Yoga practices promote a relaxed and focused mind and relaxed perineal and pelvic musculature. Inverted postures improve blood flow to reproductive organs and pelvic region. Backward bending postures are stimulating, anti-depressive, improve vitality and elevate mood. Forward bending poses have a calming and soothing effect. Seated poses improve flexibility of the hips, knees and ankles. Twisting and stretching improves suppleness of the spine.
Yoga poses and their mechanism for PME improvement
Surya Namaskar involves a dynamic sequence of 12 poses involving forward and backward bending. By contraction and relaxation of the pelvic muscles, this helps in premature ejaculation treatment.
- Garudasana / Eagle pose
- Trikonasana / Triangle pose
- Uttanasana / Standing forward bend
- Vatayanasana / Flying horse pose
These asanas strengthen the pelvic area and tones the reproductive organs and improve circulation to the pelvic region. Thus they develop the ability to retain seminal fluid and prevent premature ejaculation.
- BaddhaKonasana / Seated heel-to-heel pose
- Yoga mudra / Forward bend
- Ardha Matsyendrasana / Seated spinal twist
- Pashchimottanasana / Seated forward bend
- Janu Shirsasana / Seated head-to-knee posture
- Upavistha Konasana / Wide-legged forward bend
- Maha Mudra / Great psychic attitude
- Vajrasana / Thunderbolt pose
- Marjari Asana / Cat stretch pose
- Ushtrasana / Camel pose
- Shashankasana / Hare pose
- Kapotasana / Pigeon pose
These asanas
- Improve circulation to the pelvic area
- Improve the tone & flexibility of perineal and pelvic muscles
- Improve the health of the reproductive and urinary system
- Bhujangasana / Cobra pose
- Dhanurasana / Bow pose
- Utthanpristhasana / Llizard pose
These asanas
- Strengthen the pelvic region
- Tone the reproductive organs stimulates the sexual energy centers.
- Facilitate stronger orgasm
- Useful in arousal difficulties and PE
Supine (Face up lying) yoga poses which are helpful in premature ejaculation treatment are:
- Supta Vajrasana / Sleeping thunderbolt pose
- Setubandha Sarvangasana / Bridge pose
- Supta Baddha Konasana / Reclining heel-to-heel pose
- Matsyasana / Fish pose
These asanas
- Improve the tone & flexibility of perineal and pelvic muscles
- Strengthen the pelvic area and tone the reproductive organ
Inversions asanas
- Vipareet Karani / Inverted pose
- Sarvangasana / Shoulder stand
- Halasana / Plough pose
- Adhomukha Shvanasana / Downward dog pose
These asanas
- Increase circulation to the pelvic organs
- Prevent premature ejaculation
- Improve the tone & flexibility of perineal & pelvic muscles
- Promote return of venous blood pooled in the big veins and various venous plexuses in the region of pelvis and perineum which otherwise have to drain against gravity. Further, it enhances the flow of fresh blood to the pelvic viscera.
Shavasana / Corpse pose iInduces deep relaxation. Enhances focus, and energy and awareness.
Various pelvic floor exercises can help train the muscles involved in ejaculation. By knowing and strengthening these muscles, it may be possible to improve premature ejaculation problem. Kegel’s exercises involving pelvic floor muscles can help to overcome premature ejaculation. Similarly Pause & Squeeze technique will be helpful in premature ejaculation problems.
Some yogasanas are said to be helpful in PME improvement. A relaxed stress-free mind, improved flexibility of pelvic and perineal muscles is the key features of yoga helpful for the treatment for PME.
Dr. Vijayakumar did his MBBS in Kilpauk Medical College and later went on to Madras Medical College for his Master courses in Clinical Pathology. He underwent masters in Psychology and Yoga. Underwent Fellowship training in Andrology and Clinical Embryology by Prof Ariff Bongso. Did his PhD in Hormones, Yoga and Sexual problems. He has been trained by the Council of Sex Education & Parenthood International (India). He was the first medical professional to start an exclusive clinic for the management of sexual problems in Salem,Tamil Nadu in the year 1988. He has put up more than thirty years experience. He has offered professional help to thousands of persons especially newly married. Besides treating sexual dysfunctions, he is also an expert in treating pre-marital counselling.
Trekking and offroad jeeping are his other passions.