Yoga Asanas to Improve Infertility, or Sexual Disease

By World Peace Yoga School • 2 years ago

Apr
2022

In modern society we are faced with stress on a daily basis, this can have a multifold negative affect on our health. Reports of reduced fertility and other sexual disease are on the rise. Evidence points to stress as a major factor in creating these dysfunctions. Yoga shows some promise as a lifestyle change that may help promote healthy reproduction in both men and women.

Infertility is often treated medically through interventions such as IVF (in vitro fertilization). This is a costly and time consuming process which can further increase stress to the body and mind. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is when you have trouble getting and keeping an erection that is firm enough to have sex. Other reproductive issues such as low sperm count, or PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome) have few treatment options available. There’s a growing body of research to suggest that yoga can help with infertility, ED, and other reproductive or sexual diseases.

Regular yoga practice may help improve the interaction between the brain and hormones, meaning that hormones are better balanced overall. This goes for both women and men. And with better hormone balance often comes Increased sexual desire and reproductive function. Some of the ways in which adopting a yogic lifestyle can help are:

Supports Sperm Production

Low sperm counts in men across the globe is an increasingly common issue. In many cases, the low counts can be attributed to lifestyle or environmental factors, such as obesity, smoking, or exposure to chemicals. Incorporating yoga into daily life may help lower stress and anxiety, regulate body function, and support sperm production.

Increases ART success rates

If you’re currently undergoing IVF or trying other assisted reproductive technology (ART), yoga may increase the chances that you’ll get pregnant. Yoga helps to boost both men’s and women’s physiological and psychological states. Breathing, meditation, and poses (asanas) may ease stress, depression, and anxiety and reduce pain levels — all things that seem to make achieving pregnancy more likely.

Reducing stress, improving circulation and increasing flexibility

All fertility boosters that are key for baby making, not to mention having a comfortable pregnancy and healthy delivery.

The following poses (asanas) when practiced regularly can have many benefits, especially in regards to reproductive organs and hormone balancing. The key is to start slow and resist going too far into poses. Focus instead on your breathing and what feels comfortable. Going too deep into a pose without proper alignment can put you at risk for injury.

Bhujangasana (cobra pose)

This position boosts the circulation of oxygenated blood through the spine and the pelvis.

Lie on the belly (prone position).
Place your palms flat on the ground directly under your shoulders. Bend your elbows straight back and hug them into your sides.
Inhale to lift your chest off the floor. Roll your shoulders back and keep your low ribs on the floor. Keep the elbows close to the body.
Keep your neck neutral. Gaze to the floor just in front of your mat.

Hold for 5-10 breaths, slowly increase to 15-20 at a time.

Balasana (child’s pose)

Relieves stress & increases blood flow. relaxes the posterior body and induces physical and mental relaxation.

Start in a tabletop position. Hands under shoulders, knees under hips.
Spread your knees as wide as your mat, keeping the tops of your feet on the floor with the big toes touching.
Bring your belly to rest between your thighs and root your forehead to the floor. Relax the shoulders, jaw, and eyes. If it is not comfortable to place the forehead on the floor, rest it on a block or two stacked fists. There is an energy point at the center of the forehead in between the eyebrows that stimulates the vagus nerve and supports a “rest and digest” response. Finding a comfortable place for the forehead is key to gaining this soothing benefit.
You can stretch your arms in front of you with the palms toward the floor or bring your arms back alongside your thighs with the palms facing upwards.

Stay as long as you like, eventually reconnecting with the steady inhales and exhales of your breath.

Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle or Butterfly)

It is one of the more helpful fertility yoga exercises and it can also help in smoother & less painful delivery when the time arrives. It stimulates the prostate gland along with the bladder, the kidneys, and the organs in the abdomen.

Bend your knees and bring the soles of your feet together as you let your knees fall out to either side.
Draw your feet in as close to your body as is comfortable. Back off if you feel any pain in your knees.
Press the outer edges of your feet together strongly. The feet may begin to open like a book.
Sit up tall with a long spine while keeping your shoulder blades on your back and your shoulders moving away from your ears.

Hold for as long as is comfortable. Increase the stretch by adding a forward bend.

Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Fold)

Sit in dandasana, legs outstretched with feet active and back straight.
Inhale and draw your spine up long.
As you exhale, begin to come forward, hinging at your hips. Reach for the calves, ankles, or over the feet. You may also use a strap to help keep shoulders relaxed.
On each inhale, lengthen your spine. You may come a bit out of your forward bend to do this.
On each exhale, deepen into your forward bend. Imagine your belly coming to rest on your thighs, rather than your nose coming to your knees. This will help you keep your spine long.
Keep the neck neutral.

Hold her for 10-20 breaths, keeping the breath long and deep. You will find that after some time the body will relax and this will be a very restorative position.

Naukasana (Boat Pose)

This pose strengthens the buttocks, hips, and thigh muscles and stimulates the sexual hormones.

Begin in a seated position with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor.
Lift your feet off the floor. Keep your knees bent at first. Bring your shins parallel to the floor. This is half boat pose.
Your torso will naturally fall back, but do not let the spine round.
Straighten your legs to a 45-degree angle if you can do so without losing the integrity of your upper body. You want to keep your torso as upright as possible so that it makes a V shape with the legs.
Roll your shoulders back and straighten your arms roughly parallel to the floor with your palms turned up.
Do your best to balance on the sit bones Focus on lifting your chest to support the balance.
Stay for at least five breaths.
Release your legs on an exhale. Then inhale and sit up.

Repeat at least 3-5 rounds and focus on the pelvis floor.