If you're a woman going through menopause, you know that “the change” can leave you feeling fatigued, anxious, and moody. These are hardly desirable feelings when you're trying to maintain a healthy and active sex life with your partner. But did you know that starting a regular exercise routine might be just what you need to get your libido back?
Keep reading below to find out more about exercises that help boost libido during menopause.
What Is the Link between Exercise and Libido?
The leading cause of low libido in menopausal women is imbalanced hormone levels. Exercise helps reduce stress, increase blood circulation, and improve endorphine levels, which are linked with feelings of elation and energy. Following a regular exercise routine can help you look and feel great - giving you the confidence and energy you need to ignite your libido. These 4 exercises can be helpful in naturally increasing libido:
Kegel Exercises
Though it may not be a traditional exercise, Kegel exercises are one of the easiest ways to boost libido and increase sexual pleasure. These are performed by slowly contracting and releasing the muscles of the vagina. Doing Kegel exercises for a few minutes each day will strengthen and tone pelvic muscles and improve sexual experience.
Weightlifting
This is all about the hormones: resistance training like weightlifting helps to boost testosterone levels, which in turn increase libido. While women only produce one-seventh of the testosterone men do, this hormone is nonetheless vital for your sex drive. Lifting weights 2-3 times a week can help you build muscle and increase libido. There is an additional non-hormonal benefit to weight lifting: the endorphin rush and the self-esteem boost that comes from toned muscles can encourage sexual interest and confidence.
Zumba
Zumba incorporates the sensual choreography of Latin dances like salsa, merengue, cumbia, and samba into one cardiovascular workout. The exercise is sure to get your hips moving and your heart rate pumping, helping you to shed pounds, feel energized, and boost your libido.
Yoga
What better way to get you feeling desirable than with the best exercise to increase flexibility-yoga? It's no secret that yoga's key poses are all about building a leaner, healthier you. It also helps strengthen pelvic muscles and improves endurance. Practicing any form of yoga reduces stress and encourages blood flow to your vaginal glands, by helping you focus on your balance and breathing. In turn, this will help solve many issues associated with loss of libido, such as vaginal dryness.
Couple's yoga is a great way to reignite passion with your partner. The practice is all about connecting with your partner's body and energy.
More Information
The main trigger of loss of libido in menopausal women is usually fluctuating hormone levels, but it may be aggravated by certain lifestyle conditions such as stress, poor diet, and relationship problems. Follow the links below for more information about lack of libido and how to manage it.
Sources
- Channon L.D and Ballinger S.E. "Some Aspects of Sexuality and Vaginal Symptoms during Menopause and their Relation to Anxiety and Depression". British Journal of Medical Psychology. June 1986. 59 (2): 173-80.
- Sarell, Philip, M.D. "Psychosexual effects of menopause: Role of androgens". American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. March 1999. 180: 3S-II.
- Studd, John. "Loss of Libido and Menopause". The Management of Menopause. Annual Review 1998. Partenon Publishing.