4 Tips To Maximize Your Sexual Pleasure
By Chia Chia Cheng, L.Ac.
When you were in your 20s this topic was probably not in your consciousness. Driven by youth and an abundance of hormones you experienced sexual pleasure by doing.
Now you have increased awareness of your body. Let’s break down the four main elements to enhance your sexual pleasure.
- Increase flexibility in low back and hips
- Engage the pelvic floor and lower abdominal muscles
- Practice getting your heart rate up
- Maintain hormone balance
No matter what position you are in during sexual activity, flexibility is one of the factors that determines your experience. Think about it. If you’re stiff and limited in certain movements, or if you feel pain in some positions, you’re going to be limited in the things that you can or want to do. Let’s start with your power center.
In my practice I’ve seen groin injuries in women that often occur when they are “on top.” They strained one or more of their adductor muscles. Next thing they know it’s hard to get in and out of a car, shave in the shower, have sex.
The adductor muscles that people commonly strain are Adductor Longus, Medius, Magnus and Gracilis. Unless you ride a horse on a weekly basis, those adductor muscles don’t get a work out and are typically weak. The most intense pain occurs near the pubic bone, at the muscle-tendon junction, where the tendons of these muscles attach.
Muscle balance ensures that all the muscles work together to produce movement of a joint. Muscle imbalance means that the muscles aren’t working together in harmony. Muscles that are overworked become tight and shortened. Muscles that aren’t engaging when they’re supposed to become loose and long. Muscle imbalance of the Glute Medius, Minimus and TFL can involve a rotation of the pelvic spine, where one side is more forward and sits higher than the other side. Thus, pulling all the muscles forward one side and changing the matrix of the entire glute area. Except in cases of traumatic injury, muscle imbalance leads to joint misalignment.
Another common complaint is cramping and pain in the buttocks. The top two reasons for butt cramps are piriformis syndrome and muscle imbalance of the Glute Medius and Minimus, and TFL (tensor fascia lata). Muscle imbalance in the pelvis and sacrum leads to misalignments of this 3 dimensional joint.
There are three scenarios of misalignment. The pelvic bone can be rotated forward on one side. One pelvis can be rotated forward, the other rotated backward. The most severe pain occurs when there is rotation of the pelvic ones in opposite directions along with a rotation of the sacrum. One side is typically too loose, and the other side is too tight. The side that is too tight is usually the painful side. When the tension is released, patients often report pain that develops on their unaffected side.
Piriformis Syndrome involves a tight piriformis muscle, which puts pressure on the sciatic nerve. The reason for a constricted piriformis muscle can be muscle imbalance in the buttocks, or compression in the low back. Compression in the low back restricts the circulation and movement of nerves and ligaments. This restricts the delivery of nutrients to the lower parts of your body. The direct pressure on the sciatic nerve causes inflammation of the nerve. An irritated and inflamed sciatic nerve causes buttocks pain, sciatica (nerve pain traveling down the thigh, leg or foot) and numbness or tingling in the foot.
What Is Safe Sex Beyond A Condom?
You know that safe sex involves using a condom, knowing your partner’s sexual history and their character, and being in a healthy emotional state. What if you’re in a relationship, with a new partner who’s internal and external biome is completely new to you? How do you reduce your risk for contracting HPV1 or HPV2, the human papilloma virus, or UTIs?
Being with a new partner is no different than going into an elementary classroom and touching all the surfaces and door handles, then rubbing your hands all over your eyes, nose and mouth. You’re bound to catch something if your immune system isn’t on its A game and has immunity against those germs.
There are two sides to this scenario. Prevention and recovery. I use Standard Process and MediHerb products, two reputable companies who make their products from organically grown food and quality herbs. To boost your immune system, I recommend the following:
- Echinacea Premium
- Calcium Lactate
- Cataplex C
- Immuplex
Echinacea Premium is made from the most potent part of the echinacea plant, the root. Most echinacea products are made from the stems or leaves. Put one table of Echinacea Premium on your tongue and you’ll immediately feel a tingle. Echinacea Premium boosts the immune system. It also modulates the immune response, making your reaction to a virus or bacteria less severe.
All cells need calcium to function properly. Calcium is what allows the cells to perform phagocytosis, the process of taking the trash out. Trash accumulation in the cell is what causes inflammation and premature cell death.
Calcium Lactate is a food based calcium product. Unlike other calcium tables, Calcium Lactate is not made from stones. Your stomach acid converts Calcium Lactate into a bioavailable form, in one step. This removes your dependency on dairy products for calcium. You won’t need to worry about calcium deposits in your kidneys since your body will use all the calcium lactate you put into it.
Look at the list of ingredients on your vitamin C bottle. Does it list ascorbic acid in the nutritional info section? Ascorbic acid is the outer most layer of the vitamin C complex. It’s the easiest layer to extract and reproduce because it’s the most external. Yet, it’s incomplete. That’s like making lasagna with only one ingredient.
Cataplex C is the whole vitamin C complex. Because it is made from food, all 7 layers of the vitamin C complex are in each tablet of Cataplex C. Your body will use all the Cataplex C you give it because it is delivered in whole food form. Cataplex C also supports your adrenal glands, which are a part of your immune system.
Immuplex includes nutrition for all 4 of your organs that relate to immunity. Immuplex feeds the thymus, spleen, liver and bones (the marrow). The nutrition in Immuplex ensures that these organs have the vitamins and minerals they need to operate at their best. This is specifically a preventative, immune boosting product.
Prevention would be ultimate goal. If you could do everything possible to prevent even getting a virus or bacteria into your body then you’d never worry about getting sick. If you work with children or in a clinic setting, are exposed to people who are sick, or get colds/flu regularly, the Starter 4 would be a good idea to include in your daily routine.
Just because you get sick doesn’t mean you’re immune system is weak. Preventions is one way to measure immune health. The second measure of immune health is recovery. Recovery is measured by how long you’re affected, how much you’re affected, and how quickly you recover. Wouldn’t you rather recover from the flu in 3 days than be down for 2 weeks? If you recover from the flu in 3 days, this is proof that your immune system is strong and resilient.
In terms of exposure to new bacteria and viruses during sexual encounters, the same principle applies. When your immune system is playing its A Game, you will be less likely to contract a bug. In the case that you do pick up something from your new partner, you will have a less severe reaction and simultaneously recover more quickly.
Common physical complaints during sexual activity
- Low back stiffness with or without pain
- Neck pain
- Easy to fatigue
- Low desire for sex
These complaints can be remedied by simple changes of diet, movement, and increased rest. Acupuncture and herbal therapy are beneficial to restore and maintain hormonal balance. They can also increase your libido and vitality. Give acupuncture a try. You won’t know how much better you can feel until you start doing things differently.
You’ve heard of the term “strengthening your core.” Your core is made up of more than just your abdominal muscles. The lower abdominal muscle layer is related to pelvic floor function. Pelvic floor function enhances glute muscle balance and stability of your SI joint.
4 Easy Exercises To Improve Pelvic Stability And Glute Muscle Balance
- Double legged bridge hold
- Plank hold, with alternating elbows
- Super Kegel when getting up from a seated position
- Squats
Physical pleasure is one way to your individual vitality. Have fun with your body! Have fun with your partner!
