Yoga makes sex even more awesome than booze does. Already, this entire article sounds like a lie. I mean, when I come out of the gate with such a grand unbelievable statement like that, it surely must set off your smarty-pants alarm. With all the things alcohol does to help sex, lowering the inhibitions, acting as a social lubricant, allowing the logic center of your brain enough of a stay-cation that you can bend your perception of reality into pretending that the guy from the barstool next to yours, who is currently flailing around behind you like a Muppet, is the ex you still love…it seems a little incredulous to think that there’s anything legal that could possibly do more to benefit your sex life. I get that. I too was skeptical. But it’s been proven true, and here’s a few reasons why:
1. Stress kills the libido, and chaos creates stress.
Yoga calms your mind through attention to breathing. Smooth, even breaths naturally bring tranquility to the brain. Our drunk minds aren’t calm they’re just not functioning at 100%, giving you less than your normal amount of chaos to handle. And sure, that sounds great, but think of your mind as a classroom full of kids. Getting drunk is basically filling them with birthday cake, root beer, and pixie stix, and letting them bounce off the walls. Now, of course, a few of them are going to puke and have to go to the nurse’s office, leaving you with fewer to deal with, which seems easier to keep control over; but just because there’s fewer of them doesn’t mean they’ll be able to focus on math any better. Regulated breathing, however, is like teaching those kids manners and discipline, giving them the tools they need to be able to sit at their desks and read quietly. Now, I’m certainly no teetotaler, there’s nothing wrong with the occasional sugar bomb, but having the baseline of tranquility makes for a way smoother school year.
2. Being fully present makes for greater enjoyment of an experience.
In yoga, we link our breath with our movements, creating a connection between them, keeping us present in what we’re doing, which, with a regular practice, extends into our lives beyond the mat. Staying present and attentive during sex lets us fully experience what’s going on, notice what feels good and what doesn’t, which brings us a greater awareness of our own sexual desires, needs, and wants. I won’t speak for you, but when I get drunk, it’s usually with the goal (conscious or subconscious) of disconnecting, taking a break from reality, and on more than one occasion, I’ve tried something new in bed while drunk, and woken up the next day with no recollection of how I felt about it, beyond a sore muscle or aching orifice, which usually makes me only more leery of trying said sexual feat again.
3. On the note of sore muscles, I’ll move into the myriad of physical ways yoga helps sex.
To begin, there’s flexibility and strength. A regular yoga practice increases that power pair, which helps us be more comfortable in various sexual positions. For example, a greater range of motion in the hips allows for a wider leg-spread in missionary. Stronger quads and core lets you enthusiastically stay on top longer. Downward dog leads to happier doggie-style. And having more physical stamina in general never hurt anyone (longer rolls in happier hay). Yoga also improves our circulation, increasing blood flow to the entire body, pink parts included! Increasing the blood flow enlivens our tissue and nerve endings, making us more sensitive to the tickles, tingles, and other tremendous titillations that come from my personal favorite of our national pastimes.
Yes, being drunk can also increase flexibility, but temporarily, by numbing pain receptors, which explains my sore muscles the next day. The alcohol-related lowered inhibitions led to being careless with preparations, explaining the aching orifices. I’ve never had more stamina when I’m drunk. And I am only slightly ashamed to admit that I’ve passed out during drunken sex on more than one occasion.
I think that in my attempt to draw comparisons, I may sound really judgmental, so let me clear that up: Since the first time I paired drinking and fucking, I’ve loved drunken sex. But in a very in-the-moment, life-of-spontaneous-adventure sort of way. Yoga has just allowed me to have more complete, lasting appreciation of my sexuality. So I’m not saying we should stop living our beautiful, wild lives, I’m merely encouraging the addition of a bit of balance to the engaging madness that makes us the unique treasures that we are. More mind-blowing orgasms, less face-melting hangovers? I’ll absolutely drink to that, namaste!