Libido-boosting exercises for every woman

If you’re under stress, experiencing hormone fluctuations, and not sleeping or feeling rested — you may only dream of a “certain” bedroom activity.

Well, you’re not alone…

A cooled sex drive is common among women of all ages for quite a number of reasons, including body changes that can make your confidence levels plummet. Believe me, nothing tanks a libido faster.

The pharmaceutical companies have left us to fend for ourselves for the most part. But I’m not sure that’s a problem. Any time I can boost my health naturally and live without the dangerous or annoying side effects of drugs, I’d much rather take that route.

The good news is there’s a workout for everything — whether the desire is there, but the body’s not willing… or the body’s willing but the desire’s not there.

First and foremost, exercise is a great libido-boosting strategy because it can reduce the effects of cortisol, which can notoriously squelch your sex drive. But it doesn’t stop there…

Follow these tips and you’ll be on your way to renewed intimacy — and another source of motivation for sticking to your regular exercise routine:

1. Exercise vigorously early in the day if possible. You’ll help manage cortisol levels better by exercising when they’re highest. You can absolutely add calming exercises like yoga, stretching or walking the dog later in the day.

2. If you’ve been focusing on those big metabolism-boosting exercises like squats and lunges, continue them but add a secret weapon: Hip thrusts, or bridges, whether on the floor or with your feet propped up on a ball will increase blood flow to the pelvis and hips. That’s what happens during intimacy, so mimicking that with exercise can help you get things going down there.

3. Simply lift more weights. Whether that’s making sure you hit the weights twice a week or that you reach fatigue, lifting weights will help you with your body confidence. The better you feel about your body, the better you’ll feel with a partner, whether you leave the lights on or off.

4. Plan your workout strategically. It’s about feeling better with short, slightly more intense exercise, not feeling tired! You want your exercise to prepare you for performance whether you’re an athlete or a romantic. Give up long, slow exercise or anything that you don’t bounce back from within two hours.

5. Post exercise, remember to refuel with adequate protein to rebuild those muscles and help you feel lean and strong.

6. Evaluate your quality of sleep. Most people who find that sweet spot, or perfect “dose” of exercise, report they sleep more soundly — even if the quantity of sleep doesn’t increase. Too much or too little exercise may leave you tired from poor sleep. When you wake feeling fully rested, you’re going to be a lot more likely to want to play a little before bedtime than choose your pillow over your partner.

7. If hot flashes in the gym are squelching your motivation for working out, it’s potentially your stress hormones. Follow the six tips above to keep your cortisol lower. You may also benefit from a few natural intimacy herbs like maca, and rhodiola.