Kegel Crunches You know where your trapezoids and triceps are, but how about the pubococcygeus muscle? Also called the PC muscle, it is the butterfly-shaped muscle that forms the pelvic floor. A strong PC muscle can enhance sexual response and orgasm. “Just like any other muscle, if it’s flabby and not being utilized, it’s not going to be responsive,” says Vera Zyla, sex educator and co-owner of The Art of Loving in Vancouver.
Dr. Arnold Kegel first developed his PC toning technique in 1948 to help women with bladder-control issues. “And lo and behold, they reported improved ability in achieving orgasm,” says Zyla.
To perform Kegels, squeeze your PC muscle (as if stopping urine flow) for a second and release. Repeat 20 times, twice a day. Work up to holding for 5-10 seconds. “You can do them anywhere: sitting in your car at a red light or watching TV,” says Zyla. But don’t overdo it. “If you haven’t jogged in a long time, you could be sore afterward. The same applies here.” Build strength slowly and relax between contractions.
Yoga Gyrations Yoga has long been heralded for generating Sting-like stamina. The flexibility to fold your body in half, on a mat or a mattress, is a definite bonus. And when Spinning met yoga, it got sexy, too.
Spynga is the creation of Sari Nisker (the yogi) and Casey Schacter (the cyclist), who have fused pedalling and prana to form the ultimate workout at their Toronto studio, also called Spynga. Warm-up includes yoga-esque poses on the bike, followed by 25 minutes of cycling, then 25 minutes of vinyasa yoga on the mat.
Physically, yoga poses such as the cobra, bow and shoulder stand send blood directly down under to the pelvic area, and the practice of ujjayi breath helps tone the sexual organs, says Nisker. Mentally, she says, “yoga teaches you to become present and aware. You learn to focus on your breath, to just be in the moment.” (Translation for the bedroom: no more mentally composing Sunday’s to-do list during a Saturday-night romp.)
As for Spinning, it breeds confidence, “that can-do attitude,” says Schacter, and confidence is something that enhances everyone’s bedside manner. Plus, all that sweating sheds sex drive-dampening toxins, not to mention 500 calories (per 50-minute session), which can mean the difference between hiding out in granny panties and flaunting all you’ve got in a G-string. And since cardio, strength and flexibility are all taken care of in a one-hour class, you’ll have plenty of time to pursue other extracurricular activities, if you catch our drift.
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