Kegels

Being in the last few weeks of my pregnancy, I have to confess that I haven't been keeping up with my kegels. Early in my pregnancy, new moms urged me to keep my pelvic floor strong, but distracted by the impending appearance of my new little one, exercising this area has not been a top priority. That is until now.

Helping a fellow instructor out at a postnatal yoga class over the weekend, I heard tales of new motherhood that both shocked and intrigued me. I felt like I was in junior high having a secret meeting in the bathroom with my girlfriends about tampons, complete with blushing. One woman admitted that she's had a real problem with incontinence ever since giving birth. After reading all the reviews on Amazon, she ordered some vaginal weights. She explained the weights go inside you to more effectively work your pelvic floor. From a strength training standpoint, that makes complete sense. I mean, if you want to tone your arms, lifting dumbbells is more worthwhile than lifting air. But seriously — vaginal weights?

Learn if they are safe when you read more

Who doesn't want to make her time under the sheets even better? When in search of the Big O, you may need to look a little deeper, as in deep inside. I'm not talking about touching your heart here — I'm talking about getting in touch with your pelvic floor muscles. I agree that doesn't sound too sexy, and neither does the word Kegels — the name of the exercises used to strengthen those muscles — but once you learn to control them, get ready for some major pleasure in the bedroom.

If you're unfamiliar with where your pelvic floor muscles are, or how to engage them, you're not alone. Here's a simple trick I learned from my Ashtanga Yoga instructor (since mula bandha is another name for these muscles). Pretend you're in the bathroom, and the guy you just started seeing walks in. Faster than you can scream "I'm in here!," you'll automatically engage your muscles and stop peeing midstream. Those are your pelvic floor muscles. While sitting at your computer reading this, practice squeezing those muscles. Be certain you're not just clenching your glutes or engaging your abs. It may take some practice to find your pelvic floor.

Once you do, here's an exercise you can do anytime, anywhere, to strengthen those muscles. It involves thinking of your Kegels as an apartment building. To find out what I mean, read more

Sex and exercise are good for your health; some might even argue that sex is exercise. Hmm . . . sexercise anyone? OK, that might be a stretch, but sex and working out aren't as mutually exclusive as you think. A roll in the hay isn't a huge calorie burner, but it does have great health benefits like boosting the immune system and relieving stress. And you know those pelvic muscles you use to make sex that much more enjoyable? Well, those muscles are also strengthening your core. Work on your pelvic floor muscles outside of the bedroom and things between you and your honey will heat up too.

Having a strong core — specifically a strong pelvic floor —  gives you more control "down there," which really pays off in the bedroom when it comes to the grand finale. Also, given all the flips, twists, and turns you might work your body into, a strong back doesn't hurt either. One of the easiest ways to strengthen your pelvic floor is by doing Kegels. The great thing about Kegels is how incognito they are — I know many a woman who has sat at her desk typing away, all the while doing reps of this exercise.

To learn how to do Kegels and see what other exercises will spice things up, read more

Jada Pinkett Smith is no stranger to sharing details about her love life; with 12 years of a successful Hollywood marriage under her belt, she probably has some healthy secrets we could all use. She told Shape magazine that she is a firm believer in kegels. Pinkett Smith proclaims doing these simple pelvic floor exercises "keeps the sex hot."

Learn how to tone up down there when you read more