Sex Column: Downward dog

It’s always been a long-standing fantasy of mine to experience sexual bliss with a yoga teacher and I’m sure I’m not alone in that department (those ass-loving Lululemon pants probably have a large part to play in that). Who wouldn’t like to be ploughed while in plough-pose? Beyond the regular physical benefits of practicing yoga, it can dramatically improve your sex life.

You can start doing yoga for more than just fitness. Work that pelvis for better sex. Photo courtesy: flickr.com / Elsie Escobar

The obvious benefit of yoga is flexibility, which opens up the many more positions to try in the bedroom. Now, be forewarned: going to one class won’t instantly give you the magical abilities to bend in every way possible (try all those strange positions in the Kama sutra!). It takes time and consistent practice. I’ve been at it for years and there are still some positions I can’t do. But with regular work at it, your partner will be able to throw your legs right over your head as they plunge into your naughty bits in no time.

The poses you really want to focus on are hip-openers. That affects basically everything else, so flexible hips are a good start to making everything else flexible. Strong pelvic floor muscles keep your vagina and booty hole nice and tight and can give your more powerful orgasms — which I’m sure no one would complain about. Pigeon-pose, downward dog, plough-pose and frog-pose are just a few of the many hip-opening poses that are great for focusing on the pelvic floor muscles, and they can double as sex positions also.

Now this might be seen that this is directed at the receivers in the bedroom, but givers, I implore you to give yoga a try. It also works balance and strength, particularly in the core and having a strong core gives the receiver more stamina and energy to really give it to your partner.

Yoga also brings a heightened awareness of your body, as one way to look at yoga is looking inwards on yourself. Being more attune to sensations and feelings in your body can help you explore sexual sensations you weren’t aware of previously. Nothing feels better than finding a new “sweet-spot” that leaves you writhing in ecstasy.

Worry not, my coupled readers, as yoga can be a partnered experience as well! Partner yoga is the ultimate trust building exercise and excellent for touching and getting to know each other’s bodies in a very intimate but non-sexual way. The sexy touching can be saved for later, when you’re both sweaty and stretched out.

But I’m going to take this to the next level. Naked yoga. Now the premise of the class isn’t sexual in any way, but it can translate to the bedroom. Having the confidence to bend, stretch and reach in a room full of other naked strangers can make it way easier to rip those clothes off with one person for a different kind of stretching.

Ultimately the greatest benefit for your sex life from yoga, like any other physical activity, is confidence. Even after a few classes you’ll feel better about yourself, more comfortable in your own skin, and your partner will notice. It’s not always about muscles or sexy underwear. The sexiest thing you can bring to the bedroom is confidence. So stretch on!