W’Hole’some care: Nuances Of Vaginal Yoga!

Vaginal health has been a hush-hush topic not so long ago. But these are now the times of free-flowing and sexual liberation. Vaginal health does play a pivotal role in the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of women.

Vaginal Yoga For A Healthy Vagina

With the changing lifestyles, be it sedentary attitudes or desk jobs or online gaming, or gadget-friendly homes, attention to different parts of the body has become more of a necessity.

Prolonged sitting can affect your ovaries, bladder, rectum, pelvic floor, and vagina. These necessitate proactive steps on our side to step up the circulation in the lower region of our topography.

Vaginal yoga is not purely for the purposes of enhanced sexual experiences, it is also for encouraging the blood flow to the pelvic region.

It is for bodily well-being, including the alleviation of menstrual symptoms like cramps, anxiety, amenorrhea, and dysmenorrhea.

Vaginal yoga also brings about the ‘butterfly effect’ in other parts of the body and life, thereby increasing your charisma, confidence, and mental well-being.

Yoga For Healthy Uterus And Ovaries

The vagina is a muscular tube connecting the genitals and the cervix of the uterus in females. It is a part of the female genitalia and an organ of pleasure and reproduction.

Enjoyment of sex is very much dependent on the health of the genitals. The genitals, the mindset, and the hormones will get the juices flowing. Hence, it is only logical to see that they are in optimal functioning even in a non-sexual way.

Yoga is a practice Indians have been proud of, which can be dated back many hundred years. It is an alternative healing modality promulgated by sage Patanjali and can be defined, with reference to the origins of the word which serves as the root for yoga, ‘ yuj ‘(to unite), as a practice that creates a unison of body, mind and spirit as well as between the self and the universal consciousness.

Presently, any practice that combines proper breathing techniques and the practice of physical poses, called asanas, is called yoga. It could be in a state of flow like vinyasa yoga.

There is no yoga in the traditional Indian yogic literature exclusively for the vagina, but there are a few postures that can give you a dose of wellness in your ‘holy’ zone.

Yoni Yoga

In Hinduism, especially in tantra, the vagina is given divine significance. The vagina is referred to as ‘yoni’ which is a sacred symbol of the divine Goddess. Women are considered embodiments of the divine goddess.

In tantra, sex is also used as a form of worship. It should be seen in contrast to some centers, formed by fraudulent people with twisted mindsets, which claim to teach tantric sex and make people become part of a group orgy, and in the worst cases, create soft spots for sexual exploitation.

Yoni yoga is very much the translated version of vaginal yoga. There are some workshops conducted worldwide on yoni yoga if you dare to take it, wherein you will be made to make connections with the vagina on an emotional level.

They make you touch yourself in the way you want to be touched, like when you are masturbating. The unbridled expression of one’s sexuality and outbursts of sexual energy is the core of such workshops on yoni yoga.

How Does Yoni Yoga Work?

What is thrown around as Vaginal Yoga is not mentioned in the traditional systems of Yoga. It is based on the practice of putting a crystal ball, or the yoni eggs, into the vagina in order to make it taut. It is accomplished by doing Kegel exercise after inserting the egg into the vagina.

There are a lot of practitioners who vouch for the efficacy of this practice. Famous actress Gwyneth Paltrow is a prominent proponent of this practice.

The basis of this practice is Taoism, which considers sexual organs as the roots of life which are interconnected with other organs and glands in the body through the meridians.

With this Taoist means of Vaginal yoga, reflex points inside the vagina are activated and massaged when the jade eggs are inserted, which in turn sends healing energies to the vital organs(1).

It Is a physical reality that the uterus lies low in your body, below most organs, and gravity works more down below. The insertion of eggs made of jade and crystals has been in practice in ancient China and it was regarded as a closely kept secret in royal circles.

The ladies of royalty, in order to maintain their youth, beauty, sexuality, and vitality, used to follow this Taoist method of Vaginal yoga, which is claimed to strengthen the vaginal canal.

The insertion of the eggs empowers the pubococcygeus muscle(2) along with the other muscles in the pelvic floor.

There is the application of Kegel exercise in this ancient Taoist version of vaginal yoga and it is said to help to maintain a healthy pelvic floor, deal with incontinence, hormonal imbalances and premenstrual syndrome (PMS), heal fibroids, retain vaginal elasticity, healing vaginal trauma and prolapsed sexual organs, promote lubrication and healing of scars, and for the maintenance of sexual health.

The meridians, as well as the chakras, are rejuvenated. With the benefits come a deluge of criticisms, especially about the hygiene issues associated with cleaning the eggs, inserting them, and retrieving them along with the health risks like infections and toxic shock syndrome to the body.

Yoga For Vaginal Health

Junk food, sedentary life, and unhealthy habits all affect the health of the ‘v’ zone, and to make things worse, many have desk jobs. How can we manage healthy circulation, strengthen the pelvic floor, and make the lymph nodes and the blood vessels active?

The one and the only way to strengthen the vagina is by making sure that the muscles in the pelvic floor region are toned and have adequate blood circulation going. The pelvic floor muscles are those between your vagina and anus.

Any exercise that involves squatting is a natural Kegel exercise as it strengthens the pelvic floor muscles and vagina simultaneously.

Pranayama, which is the yogic breath work, is seen as the basis of yoga, as the breath is the key to human survival. While taking deep breaths, if you squeeze your vagina and release it during exhalation, you will be filling yourself with life force, along with providing your vagina with that rush of oxygenated blood.

Let me also touch upon ten yoga postures that your vagina will thank you for.

1. Utthana Prishtasana

This lizard pose is said to benefit the groin, lower abdomen, and hamstrings and helps encourage blood flow to the lower part of the body. The pose also claims to give you better creativity, the release of emotions, improved focus, and stress reduction.

• To go about it, start in the downward-facing dog position and inhale.
• Exhale and place your right foot on the outside of the right hand so that your toes are in line with your fingers.
• Your right knee will be bent at a ninety-degree ankle.
• Inhale again and bring your elbows to the floor and spread your palms out, keeping your head relaxed. Keep your left leg stretched straight.
• Stay for five seconds.
• Exhale and straighten your arms.
• Inhale and get back to the downward-facing dog.
• Repeat this with the other side.

2. Titiliasana

Titiliasana or the butterfly pose is very helpful in relieving tightness in the hips, groins, and inner thighs. It is great for sexual health.

• Sit on the mat with folded legs to bring the soles of the feet together.
• Pull the heels as close to the pelvis as possible and start flapping the knees up and down.
• Breathe out as you push your knees down and inhale as you bring it up.
• Interlace your fingers under your pinky toes and thumb and the first two fingers will be on the big toes.
• Place your hands on your ankle.
• Do it continuously for three or four sets lasting forty seconds each.

3. Baddha Konasana

This is also known as the ‘Bound Angle pose’ or ‘cobbler’s pose.

This asana is meant to improve flexibility in the inner thighs, knees, and groins. It helps soothe vaginal discomforts and menstrual problems.

• To do the asana, sit on the mat and fold your legs to bring the soles of your feet together.
• Pulling your heels closer to the pelvis, nuzzle your knee.
• Lean the upper part of the body forward after exhaling and emptying your stomach.
• Your forehead should touch the floor.
• Hold this position for thirty seconds and repeat three four times.

4. Dhanurasana

Dhanurasana or the bow pose, helps to tone the back and strengthen the abdominal muscles. It also benefits the thighs, throat, ankles, groin, chest, and hip flexors.

• To try this out, start by lying down on your stomach.
• Bend your knees and hold the ankles with your palm and lift the legs and arms as high as possible.
• You look up and hold the position.
• Inhale as you lift your legs and hold your breath and exhale as you get back to lying flat on the floor.

5. Chakrasana

Chakrasana or the wheel pose helps in reducing abdominal fat, toning core muscles, building stamina, increasing the elasticity of the spine, etc.

• You will lie on your back on the floor and fold your legs at the knees.
• Ensure that your feet are placed firmly on the ground.
• Bend the arms at the elbows and rotate your arms at the shoulders and fix the palms on either side of your head.
• Inhale and put pressure on the palms and legs to lift up your body to form an arch.
• Allow your head to fall back gently, while relaxing your neck.
• Hold this position for a few seconds and get back to the starting position.

6. Supta Vajrasana

Supta Vajrasana, or the ‘supine thunderbolt pose’, helps to tone the spinal nerves and muscles, in addition to stretching your lower back. It relaxes the tight pelvic muscles and improves flexibility.

• To go about it, sit in Vajrasana with heels pointing outwards.
• The body should be upright with hands relaxed on the thighs.
• Breathing in, place your hands beside the buttocks and bend the elbows and start leaning backward until the elbows rest on the floor.
• Lower the head and let it touch the floor.
• Bring the palms to the chest and breath normally.

7. Utkatasana

This is also known as the chair pose. It is great for strengthening the vaginal walls, inner thighs, and pelvic floor muscles.

• To do this asana, stand up and place your feet together or hip-width apart.
• Inhale and stretch your arms forward with palms facing down.
• Exhale and bend the knees, pressing the shoulders and arch the spine and hold the pose for three to six seconds.

8. Prasaritha Padottanasana

This is translated as the ‘wide stance forward bend’. It tones the spine, leg, and lower abdominal region.

• Stand up keeping your feet apart, taking into consideration how comfortable you can go.
• Bend from your hip joints slowly over your legs without rounding your lower back.
• Place your hands flat on the floor and stretch your torso forward.
• Fold yourself deeper so that your head touches the floor.
• Try to lengthen the spine while anchoring your feet firmly on the ground.
• After a few breaths, straighten your arms and bring your spine forward.
• Inhale and get back to a standing position.

9. Sethubandhasana

This is also known as the bridge pose. This is a great substitute for Kegel exercise, as it works with multiple muscles simultaneously in the groin area. It deals with the back, pelvic floor, buttocks, and hamstrings. This helps to tone the vaginal area as well notorious for giving earth-shattering orgasms.

• To do this, lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet parallel and at a distance.
• Moving the feet closer to the buttocks, inhale while raising your hips.
• You can clasp your hands under your back, resting them on the floor.
• Lift the back of your thighs and the bottom of your buttocks higher as you keep your thighs parallelly.
• Exhale and release your hands while lowering yourself slowly and then rest on your back.

10. Eka Pada Rajakapotasan

Translated as the ‘one-legged king pigeon pose’, it helps the blood flow increase towards the abdominal area and tones the pelvic floor muscles. It also increases the blood flow to the sexual organs, which in turn will increase sexual performance.

• To do it, come to the tabletop position, keeping the palms on the floor, slightly away from the shoulder.
• Now, slowly slide your right foot inside so that the right knee is behind your right wrist. While doing so, stretch the left leg back and lower the right hip on the floor.
• Straighten your left knee and lower your torso while exhaling. Then it’s time to slowly raise the torso away from the thighs by pressing the fingers on the floor while stretching the lower back.
• Curve backward a little by raising the head. Lower the head and hold this position.
• In order to release this pose, straighten your head, leaving the left foot on the floor.
• Slide back the right foot as you lift the right hips from the floor.
• Finally, get back to the tabletop position you started this pose with.

It would be advisable to avoid doing yoga during that time of the month and to discontinue it in case you feel any discomfort. You should also make sure you are well-hydrated.

FAQ

Owning a vagina comes with the responsibility of keeping it healthy. Any risk-free yoga experiments could be taken, in order to keep your love zone healthy and happy, which in turn will make you the queen, glowing and flowing, like how you were meant to be! Stay sexy and healthy????