“As a mind and body exercise, yoga has multiple physical and mental health benefits," says Professor Lee Smith. Photo / Anupam Mahapatra, Unsplash
It’s an ancient spiritual discipline, beloved of celebrities and revered for both physical and emotional benefits. But yoga also has an advantage one may find surprising: it can help a man last longer in bed.
A new review from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge suggests regular exercise – specifically yoga – can help solve the problem of premature ejaculation. Other studies suggest yogic help is needed in this area; a recent report by the National Health and Social Life Survey in the United States found that a little over 30 per cent of men experienced premature ejaculation.
Unsurprisingly, most will never seek medical help for the problem for fear of embarrassment. And anxiety about performance can only make matters worse, say scientists.
International guidelines define premature ejaculation as climaxing within one minute of penetration. For comparison, the average time for intercourse, according to the UK’s National Health Service, is around five and a half minutes.
Lee Smith is a professor of public health at ARU and the main author of the review, which analysed the results of 54 separate studies on premature ejaculation, featuring 3485 volunteers. “As a mind and body exercise, yoga has multiple physical and mental health benefits,” he says. Regular yoga sessions can boost testosterone and improve body image, one of the major hang-ups of midlife men when it comes to sex, say experts. Yoga also improves flexibility and muscle strength, teaches you to breathe better and to understand your body.
But it’s not just about the physical. Smith says: “One of the main benefits of yoga is the prevention and management of anxiety, one of the principal causes of premature ejaculation.”
It’s estimated that 17 per cent of the UK population now present with anxiety or depression (or a combination of the two), something that peaks in the 40-55 age range. According to a study published in Psychology journal in 2012 – one of many on the topic – high stress levels can also inhibit sexual arousal.
While the symptoms of anxiety tend to be emotional, they can also manifest in physical ways, with sufferers typically experiencing extreme fatigue, insomnia and headaches. But regular physical exercise, like yoga, can get you back in the mood. The secret is in strengthening and training the pelvic floor muscles, which not only helps to reduce the likelihood of erectile dysfunction but can, in turn, increase your libido. “It also strengthens your body’s endothelial function, leading to a better regulation of blood to all those vital organs,” says Professor Smith.
ARU’s research isn’t the first to suggest a positive link between yoga and improved sexual performance, both in men and women. In 2011, a study led by Dr Vikas Dhikav, a neurologist at the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, studied the effects of a 12-week yoga programme on men’s sexual satisfaction, concluding that virtually every sexual function, from desire to performance, strength of erection and ejaculation control, improved significantly after the trial.
Smith isn’t surprised. “Yoga really is beneficial for multiple domains of men’s sexual health,” he says. “And the best part is that it’s gentle and non-strenuous, making it suitable for all ages.”
1. For pelvic mobility: The Bridge Pose
Lie flat on your back with your arms by your sides and your palms facing up. Bend your knees, bringing your feet close to your bottom. Lift the hips, engaging your abdominal muscles and exhaling as you do. Hold for at least 30 seconds, then release.
2. For toned glutes: The Locust Pose
Lie face down with your arms at your side. Lift your chest and legs while you inhale and hold the pose. Breathe out and repeat 5-10 times.
3. For hip mobility: The Standing Bow
Stand with your feet almost touching. Reach back and take your right foot in your hand before bringing it up towards your glutes. Extend the left arm skywards and lean forward, inhaling. Try to hold for up to a minute before repeating on the other side.
4. For stronger inner thighs: The Frog Pose
Begin on your hands and knees and slowly move your knees wider apart. Try to finish with your knees parallel to your hips if you can and, if need be, drop down to your forearms for support.
5. For all-over flexibility: The Supine Twist
Lie on your back. Keep your left leg straight on the floor before bringing your right knee in to your chest. Drop your right knee over to your left side, keeping your right shoulder on the ground. Turn your head to look over your right shoulder. Repeat on the other side.