Breathe in a Better Sex Life

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Stop for a second and take a deep breath. Believe it or not, it's an important part of better health and better sex.

Consciously controlling your breath can lead to a slower heart rate, more relaxed muscles, and even lower blood pressure. Plus, over time, controlled breathing can help reduce your risk of stress-related conditions, such as headaches and insomnia. Breathing also puts you in touch with yourself and stops the world around you for a moment, which is ideal for enjoyable sex. When you're focused on your breathing, you become aware of all your individual parts. You feel relaxed, set the stage for arousal, and open the door for truly satisfying sex.

So what's the trick? An important part of breathing "right" is knowing the difference between deep abdominal breathing and shallow chest breathing. The latter is the type of breathing we often do when we're not thinking about it or when we're stressed. You should try to breathe as though you are taking your breath all the way down to the genitals. Monitor your lower abdomen to make sure it's swelling up when you breathe in and collapsing back down toward your spine when you breathe out. Do this for five to ten minutes, sitting straight up or lying down, and try to minimize distractions. Breathe in slowly through your nose, hold it for several seconds, and exhale slowly (for several more seconds) through your mouth. You'll notice the calming — and maybe even sensual — effects. Put this into practice daily, and you'll reap the benefits of better breathing in the bedroom.

By Dr. Laura Berman