Yoga and Sexuality

Compiled by: Trisha Lamb Last Revised: April 27, 2006

International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) 2005

International Association of Yoga Therapists

P.O. Box 2513 Prescott AZ 86302 Phone: 928-541-0004 E-mail: mail@iayt.org URL: www.iayt.org
The contents of this bibliography do not provide medical advice and should not be so interpreted. Before beginning any exercise program, see your physician for clearance.

NOTE: See also Homosexuality and Infertility/Impotency bibliographies.

Adhyatmananda, Swami. Male reproductive disorders. In Swami Adhyatmananda, Yoga and Health. The Divine Life Society. Article available online: http://www.divyajivan.org/yoga&health/index.htm. Ass, Moses. Acupuntura y Hatha Yoga para las Disfunciones Sexuales: Una Gua Teraputica Prctica. Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba: Editorial Cientfico-Tcnica, 1996. [In Spanish.] Bhajan, Yogi. Premature ejaculation; Sexual potency; Sexual frustration; Wet dreams, to prevent. In Alice Clagett and Elandra Kirsten Meredith, eds., Yoga for Health and Healing: From the Teachings of Yogi Bhajan, Ph.D. Santa Monica, Calif.: Alice B. Clagett, 1994, p. 91; 93; 96 (see tennis elbow discussion); 102. Bhajan, Yogi. Sexual potency. In Alice Clagett and Elandra Kirsten Meredith, eds., Yoga for Health and Healing. Santa Monica, Calif.: Alice B. Clagett, 1994, p. 93. Birx, Ellen Jikai, and Charles Shinkai Birx. Waking Up Together: Intimate Partnership on the Spiritual Path. Wisdom Publications, 2005. Brach, Tara. A more perfect union. Yoga Journal, Sep/Oct 2004, pp. 120-123, 175-178. Approached as a spiritual practice, a committed relationship can be a path not only to enduring love and deep harmony but also to liberation. Brahmeshananda, Swami. We need a different sexual revolution: Few people realize that uncontrolled sexual indulgence can lead to destruction and ruin. Hinduism Today, May/Jun 2001, p. 66. (On brahmacharya.) Bretz, Sukadev. Yoga & Sexualitt. Yoga Aktuell, Aug/Sep 2002, pp. 46-52. [In German.] Carson, James Wood. Mindfulness meditation-based treatment for relationship enhancement. Ph.D. dissertation, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2002. Dissertation Abstracts International, Feb 2003, B 63/08, p. 3906. URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/dissertations/fullcit/3061667. Not available through UMI. Abstract: The disturbing and pervasive adverse consequences of the high rate of marital discord and divorce highlight the need for expanded preventive efforts. Recent research shows that stress and poor stress coping abilities are crucial determinants of relationship quality and stability (Karney & Bradbury, 1995), yet existing prevention programs have not targeted stress and coping. Using a randomized wait- list controlled design, this study evaluated the impact upon clinically non-distressed couples of a manualized group

relationship enhancement intervention modeled on the mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction program (Kabat-Zinn, 1990). Dependent measures assessed not only relationship functioning but also individual well-being. Summary measures were administered before and after the intervention and 3 months later, and daily measures were recorded for 2 pre- intervention weeks and the final 3 weeks of the 8-week program. Hypotheses predicted the mindfulness condition would be superior to the wait-list condition on both summary and daily measures. Attrition from the two conditions was equal, and the final sample consisted of 44 couples (37 married, 7 cohabitating) evenly divided between conditions. No significant pretest condition differences were found on dependent measures, demographics or expectancy. Attendance during the intervention was good, and participants averaged 32 min. per day of mindfulness homework practice. As predicted, at posttest the mindfulness condition demonstrated superior outcomes on summary relationship measures (relationship distress, Global Distress Scale; relationship satisfaction, Quality of Marriage Index; autonomy and relatedness, Autonomy & Relatedness Inventory; acceptance of partner, visual analogue scale [VAS]) and individual measures (psychological distress, Brief Symptom Inventory; optimism, LOTR; spirituality, INSPIRIT; relaxation, VAS). Multilevel model analyses of daily VAS measures provided a finer-grained confirmation, showing improvements in day-to-day relationship stress, relationship happiness, and individual stress coping efficacy. Those who spent more time practicing mindfulness had better outcomes, and well-controlled within-person analyses showed greater practice on a given day led to decreased relationship stress and increased relationship happiness on the following day. Follow-up summary results showed maintenance of benefits. This study provides strong evidence for the effectiveness of the mindfulness program in preventing relationship distress. Future research could examine ways of enhancing the program's effects, especially for couples facing difficult stressors. Chia, Mantak. The Tao of sexual harmony. Shambhala Sun, Jan 1995, pp. 55-57. Chidananda, Swami. The role of celibacy in the spiritual life. Tehri- Garhwal, Uttaranchal, Himalayas, India: The Divine Life Society, 2001. Available online: http://www.SivanandaDlshq.org/download/download.htm#celibacy. Couples yoga. Yoga for Everybody, Apr 2004. Crownover, Richard. Sensual Yoga for Men & Women. Phoenix, Ariz.: Phoenix Books, 1975. Exploits Yogas popularity in the 1970s and promises to help you learn how to stimulate the sex centers of your body by using techniques discovered in the Orient thousands of years ago. Cummins, Claudia. Life without sex? Yoga Journal, Nov 2002, pp. 96-99, 158-161. Article available online: http://www.yogajournal.com/views/770_1.cfm?ctsrc=nlv94 . (See also follow-up letters to the editor in the Mar/Apr 2003 issue, pp. 14-16.)

Some ancient texts insist celibacy is a must on the yogic path, but few modern practitioners opt for such an ascetic lifestyle. That raises a sticky question: Can we really have our sex and our yoga too? Datey, K. K., M. L. Gharote, and Soli Pavri. Yoga and sex. In K. K. Datey, M. L. Gharote, and Soli Pavri, Yoga and Your Heart. Mumbai, India: Jaico Publishing House, 1983, pp. 79-83. Delmonte, M. M., and M. Braidwood. Treatment of retarded ejaculation with psychotherapy and meditative relaxation: A case report. Psychological Reports, 1980, 47:8-10. Desai, Yogi Amrit. The yoga of relationship: Fulfilling the urge to merge: discovering the ecstasy of union. Article available online: http://www.amrityoga.com/teachings.htm#. Dowman, Keith. The wheel of passion. Essay available online: http://www.keithdowman.net/vajralove/passion.htm. Sexual passion gives an extra spin to the wheel of life and here the realms of the wheel are analyzed and described. Epstein, Mark. Come rain or come shine: Meditation and yoga allow you to weather the sudden storms in your relationships. Yoga Journal, Winter 2000-2001. Article available online: http://www.yogajournal.com/meditation/136_1.cfm. Finger, Alan. Transform Sexual Energy workshop. 6th Annual Yoga Journal Convention, 27-30 Sep 2001, Estes Park, Colorado. How asana, pranayama, and meditation transform sexual energy from a physical to a spiritual practice and experience. Gach, Michael Reed, with Carolyn Marco. Pericardium meridian [circulation/sex meridian]; Pericardium meridian balancing exercise; Triple warmer meridian; Triple warmer merid ian balancing exercise; Potency. In Michael Reed Gach with Carolyn Marco, Acu-Yoga: The Acupressure Stress Management Book. Tokyo: Japan Publications, 1981, pp. 113; 114; 114; 115; 210-214. Goel, Ankita. Yoga and sexual problems (male). Article available online: http://www.healthandyoga.com/html/news/yoga_sex_prob_m.html. Addresses premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, and impotence. Haich, Elisabeth. Sexual Energy and Yoga. Trans. by D. Q. Stephenson. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1972. Originally published in German as Sexuelle Kraft und Yoga. Stuttgart: J. Fink Verlag, 1966.

On transmuting the physical, emotional, mental, and psychic energies people normally disperse in sexual activity, which assists in uniting with the higher self. Contents: What is sexuality?; Recognition and being are one; The creative primal serpent; Sexual energy in its false and true light; Jacobs ladder; The Judas betrayal; The magical powers of suggestion, hypnosis and medium-ship; The seven rungs of Jacobs ladder; Saint Georg; Urge for unity and its corruptions; The suncreator and destroyer of life; The magic flower; Practice; Conclusion HealthCentral.com. Yoga flex for better sex. 9 Sep 1997. Available online at HealthCentral.com: http://www.healthcentral.com/news/newsfulltext.cfm?id=3538&StoryType=ReutersNew. Higgins, Winton. Buddhist sexual ethics. Article available online: http://www.buddhanet.net/winton_s.htm. HOMOSEXUALITY. See Homosexuality bibliography. Hunt, Dorothy. Being intimate with what is: Healing the pain of separation. In John J. Prendergast, Peter Fenner, and Sheila Krystal, eds., The Sacred Mirror: Nondual Wisdom and Psychotherapy. St. Paul, Minn.: Paragon House, 2003. INFERTILITY/IMPOTENCY. See Infertility/Impotency bibliography. Kaldan, Jampa. Sexual morality Buddhist style: A monks thoughts about the process of growing up as a sexual being. Mandala, Mar-May 2002, pp. 48-53. Karmananda Saraswati, Dr. Swami, under the guidance of Swami Satyananda Saraswati. Disorders of the male reproductive system [including spermatorrhea and excessive nocturnal emission]; Hydrocele. In Dr. Swami Karmamanda Saraswati under the guidance of Swami Satyananda Saraswati, Yogic Management of Common Diseases. Bihar, India: Bihar School of Yoga, 1983, pp. 211-219; 235-239. Kramer, Joel. Exploring relationshipsinterpersonal yoga. Article available online: http://www.whitelotus.org/library2/articles/kramer_alstad/relationships/index.html. Lalvani, Vimla. Yoga for Sex. Sterling Publishing, 2001. Lee, Julian. The renunciation sutra: Power of celibacy. Divine Fellowship of GodMeditation, 1998. Available online: http://www.geostelar.net/divinefellowship/celibacy2.html. Lele, Avinash, Subhash Ranade, and David Frawley. Marma and sex. In Avinash Lele, Subhash Ranade, and David Frawley. Secrets of Marma: A Comprehensive Text Book of Ayurvedic Vital Points. Pune, India: International Academy of Ayurveda, 1999, pp. 18-19.

Mehra, C. P. Tantra-Yoga and sex. Yoga Awareness, Feb 1980, 4(1):41-45. Moffitt, Phillip. The yoga of relationship. Yoga Journal, Jul/Aug 2003, pp. 65-75. Article available online: http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/998_1.cfm?ctsrc=nlv93. Bringing mindfulness to your romantic life allows you to work with the inevitable difficulties and disappointments that arise. Nalgirkar, S. J. Control of sex complex in ayurveda and yoga. Abstract, 2nd International Conference on Yoga Education and Research, Kaivalyadhama (Lonavla), India, 1-4 January 1988. Yoga-Mimamsa, 1988, 27(1&2):43-44. Ngakchang Rinpoche and Khandro Dchen. Honey on the razors edge: The Tantric psychology of gender and romance. Excerpted from Entering the Heart of the Sun and the Moon, forthcoming from Aro Books. Article available online: http://www.aroter.org/articles/honey.htm. Ohlig, Adelheid. Luna Yoga: Vital Fertility and Sexuality. Ash Tree Publishing, 1995. Parch, Lori. Wanted: SEY (Single Enlightened Yogi): Are yoga studios the singles bars of the future? Yoga Journal, Jan/Feb 2000. Article available online: http://www.yogajournal.com/views/290_1.cfm?ctsrc=nlv94. Perez, Leonardo. Psychological views on religious celibacy/brahmacharya. Article available online: http://www.therayoga.com/celibacy.html. Poplawska, Anna. Survival guide for yogis and their spouses. YOGAChicago, Jul-Aug 2005. Rai, Lajpat. Yoga and Sexual Virility. Haryana, India: Anubhav Rai Publications. Email: Irai@ndf.vsnl.net.in. Radha, Swami Sivananda. From the Mating Dance to the Cosmic Dance. Kootenay Bay, B.C., Canada:Timeless Books. From the publisher: This . . . investigation of sex, love and marriage provides a yogic perspective on the precarious relationship between sexuality and spirituality . . . reflects on such issues as divorce, sex, power, and karma, engaging the reader in a soulful search for the meaning of intimacy. Rama, Swami. Yoga & Married Life. Rishikesh, India: Sadhana Mandir Trust, 2000. (Booklet)

Ranade, Subhash, and Sunanda Ranade. Frigidity. In Subhash Ranade and Sunanda Ranade, Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy. Pune, India: Anmol Prakashan, 1995, p. 67. Ravishankar, N. S. Sexual Vigor. In N. S. Ravishankar, Yoga for Health: Curative Powers of Yogasanas. New Delhi: Pustak Mahal, 2001, pp. 169. Relationship issue. The Kripalu Spirit: A Journal of Consciousness, 2(3). Rozmarynowaski, Mat. Experiments with vajroli. Yoga-Mimamsa, 1979, 19(4):36-45. Russell, Peter. Relationships: The yoga of the West. Joy: The Journal of Yoga, Jul 2003, 2(7). Article available online: http://www.journalofyoga.org/relationshipyoga.htm. Essay originally appeared in Peter Russellss Waking Up in Time: Finding Inner Peace in Times of Accelerating Change (Novato, Calif.: Origin Press). Shah, J. T. Sexual disorders; Sex gland disorders. In J. T. Shah, Therapeutic Yoga. Mumbai, India: Vakils, Feffer and Simons, 1999, pp. 14-15, 76-77; 22-23, 26-27, 30-37, 42-45, 47-57, 60-61, 68-71, 76-81, 88-91, 100-101. Sharma, Pandit Shiv, and Kailash Nath Sharma. Yoga and Sex. London: Harrap, 1973. Sivananda Radha, Swami. From the Mating Dance to the Cosmic Dance: Sex, Love and Marriage from a Yogic Viewpoint. New Delhi: Sterling Paperbacks, 1996. Smith, Kathy. Yes, it relaxes, but yoga can also rev your sexual desire. Los Angeles Times, 25 May 1998, Home Edition, Health Section. Stevens, John. Lust For Enlightenment: Buddhism and Sex. Boston: Shambhala Publications, 1990. Taylor, Louise, and Betty Bryant. The circulation meridian [circulation-sex meridian]; The triple warmer meridian; The conception vessel [great central meridianfront]. In Louise Taylor and Betty Bryant, Acupressure, Yoga and You. New York/Tokyo: Japan Publications, 1984, pp. 83-88; 89-94; 107-111. Tigunait, Pandit Rajmani. Khajuraho: Matrix of love. Yoga International, Aug/Sep 2002, pp. 60-67, 96-100. Trungpa, Chgyam. Sex. Shambhala Sun, Jan 1995, pp. 43-51. Tyagananda, Swami. Why celibacy?A Hindu perspective. Prabuddha Bharata, Sep 2003, pp. 22-27. Vajroli. A wisdom archive. URL: http://www.experiencefestival.com/vajroli.

Weber, Carol Ann. Better sex through yoga: Breathe new life into your sexual core. FITNESSRx , Jun 2004, pp. 116-119. Welwood, Jennifer. Dancing with form and emptiness in intimate relationship. In John J. Prendergast, Peter Fenner, and Sheila Krystal, eds., The Sacred Mirror: Nondual Wisdom and Psychotherapy. St. Paul, Minn.: Paragon House, 2003. Whitwell, Mark. Yoga of Heart: The Healing Power of Intimate Connection. Lantern Books, 2004. From the publisher: In Yoga of Heart, Los Angeles-based Yoga instructor Mark Whitwell takes us back to the time when yoga was first developedto the shamanic past of the Upanishads, when Yoga was practiced as a means of acknowledging, enjoying, and participating in the very source of Life. Whitwell explores the deeper tantric dimensions of Hatha-Yogahow Yogas purpose is to link the mind to the wonder of our own condition. He shows how Hatha-Yoga is participation in lifes polarities already in unionthrough the male surrender to the female principle. Yoga of Heart shows how we can forge that union of polarities within our body: above and below, front and back, left and right, male and female. Yoga of Heart focuses especially on clearing the energy centers and meridians, fostering dynamic health and allowing practitioners to create a deeper intimacy with both their partners and the energetic life forces in the universe. Yeshe, Lama Thubten. On marriage and related topics. Article available online: http://www.lamayeshe.com/lamayeshe/marriage.shtml. You said: Yoga and relationships. Yoga Journal. Article available online: http://www.yogajournal.com/views/1029_1.cfm?ctsrc=nlv94. [Yoga Journal] asked newsletter readers whether their yoga practice changed their understanding of relationships, and whether they could see their rela tionship as a form of devotion. Zysk, Kenneth G. Jayanya [venereal disease]. In Kenneth G. Zysk, Medicine in the Veda: Religious Healing in the Veda with Translations and Annotations of Medical Hymns from Rgveda and the Atharvaveda and Renderings from the Corresponding Ritual Texts. 2d ed. Delhi, India: Motilal Banarsidass, 1998, pp. 18-19. Available online from Books of India, editor@oscarindia.com.

Of Related Interest
LaPointe, Eleanor. Massage and sexuality: Therapists get in touch with cultural misconceptions. Massage & Bodywork, Dec/Jan 2000, pp. 32-37.