Whether you’re a solo sex connoisseur or still unsure of just how to find your sweet spot, we recommend a healthy dose of masturbation.
Rather sadly, self-pleasure wasn’t always regarded so highly. If you’re brave enough to ask your grandmother, she’ll probably recall tales of the false rumors that the media, religion, and other poorly-informed individuals tried to spread about this totally harmless sexual activity.
Luckily for us, the tides have turned, and today’s sex education culture is re-informing the public about the reality behind one of the most natural forms of personal wellness.
Just in case you haven’t heard the good news yet, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite reasons to love yourself on the daily. Check it out – and then check yourself into an incredible big O!
#1 Masturbation makes you happy
Self-love might feel like a treat for your nether regions, but all those yummy feelings are originating from – you guessed it! – the brain. They don’t joke about it being your sexiest organ for nothing!
Masturbation releases all sorts of feel-good chemicals, like serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin (the ‘love’ or ‘cuddle’ hormone). The benefits of these neurotransmitters read like a laundry list of happy things. Headaches disappear and you’ll feel all sorts of warm and fuzzy feelings as you come down from the high of climax.
Sexual self-pleasure is the all-natural cure for life’s little ailments. It’s good for you, completely free of charge, and still easier than keeping to your daily workout routine!
#2: Masturbation relieves stress and helps you relax
Partnered sex is romantic, but it can also be stressful in ways that solo play is not. When you’re by yourself, you won’t have to worry about whether you’re meeting expectations or if you and your partner have a matching libido. There’s just you, pleasure and lots of self-love.
Having trouble sleeping? You’ve got a remedy. Just as working out regularly encourage a more restful sleep, having sex with or without a partner is a physical exercise that induces the release of endorphins – a well-known hormone that helps you relax. If you’re having a toss-and-turn kind of night, consider turning to the Big O – you’ll be snoring before you start counting sheep!
#3 Masturbation teaches you about yourself and allows you to share that knowledge
Remember how you learned the subtle art of bike riding without training wheels? You probably took a few tumbles, but you’d never be on two wheels without just getting in the saddle and going for it! Self-pleasure is no different – you’ve got to stumble through those awkward finger motions to find what makes you melt into orgasm.
If you’re new to masturbation, it can feel a bit strange at first, but don’t give up. Your mind can easily become clouded with false information you might have heard as a kid, but we promise, self-induced climaxes won’t ruin you for partner sex or make you a loser (quite the opposite, in fact!). Keep trying different techniques – from tapping to rubbing to swirling – until your eyes roll back in your head. Don’t worry, you’ll know when you’ve found your signature move!
In addition to making you completely self-reliant in the pleasure department, you can teach all these new sexy tricks to your partner. Lovers aren’t mindreaders, and you know what’s rarer than growing hair on your palms from masturbating (we kid, we kid!)? Finding a partner who knows exactly how to make you moan from day one.
It takes good communication and a few bedroom lessons to get your partner into the groove of what gets you off. So how do you figure out what’s on tonight’s lesson plan? Yep, you’re right again – lots of self-taught masturbation sessions.
#4 It’s never too late to fall in love with yourself
No matter how old you are, or how many partners you’ve had, or wherever you’re going in life – masturbation is one of the few solo activities that you can never outgrow.
If you’re 80 and still struggling to orgasm, who says you can’t hop online, place an order for a vibrator, and come like a Goddess? Or maybe you’re still a virgin and clamoring to know what all the climactic fuss is about, but you’re not ready to take the plunge with a partner yet.
Either way, it’s never too soon or too late to treat yourself to the pleasure you deserve. After all, the most important sexual relationship of your life starts and ends with you!
4 Reasons Why Masturbation is Your Ticket to Holistic Wellness originally appeared on Rumble & Buzz