LONDON, NEW YORK, MUNICH,
MELBOURNE, DELHI
Print edition first published in the United States in 2011
by Dorling Kindersley Limited,
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL.
A Penguin company.
ISBN: 9780756671471
Copyright 2011 Dorling Kindersley Limited, London
Text Copyright 2011 Dr. Laura Berman
This digital edition published in 2011 by
Dorling Kindersley Limited.
ISBN: 9780756691868
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DK encourages safe and responsible sex:
Use condoms to reduce your risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Ensure that you and your new partner have been tested for STIs before any unprotected sexual activity.
Speak to your GP if you have any concerns about your sexual health.
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Introduction: Love and Sex
The intertwining of love and sex is one of the most beautiful things two people can share. Of course you can have love without sex, and you can have sexeven good sexwithout love. But its only when the two meet that sparks really fly, and you and your partner can discover your full potential for intimacy and pleasure.
The problem is that loving sex doesnt happen by itselfwhatever you may see in the movies. The media tell us that sex is simple, that romance is everywhere, and that happy couples reach orgasm each and every time. Of course, reality is much less perfect. Loving sex needs time, it needs effort, and it needs a commitment from both of you to explore each others desires and prioritize each others pleasure. Loving sex is mindful sex.
Many people believe that, over time, the spark of excitement in a relationship inevitably dims. Its true that there is a biological imperative for a natural downturn in your sex life. When we first meet a potential partner, our brains are flooded with chemicals that excite and thrill us. We cant stop thinking about this new person. This intense physical and emotional reaction is our bodies way of making sure that we feel a connectionand, thus, that we consummate the relationship to produce offspring. It might not sound very romantic on paper, but our sexual urge is as instinctive our urges to breathe, sleep, and eat.
Once you have been with your partner for some time, these biological cues slowly dissipate. Our brains simply cant run on that level of obsession forever, nor can we maintain a balanced life with such a one-track focus. And, of course, as our lives progress, we have many other demands on our timewe become so busy with work, kids, chores, and a million other commitments that we barely have time to sit down and talk, let alone be romantic!
On top of this, the longer you and your partner stay together, the more time and energy it takes to make your sexual experiences explosive. In a long-term relationship, you have likely had sex with your partner thousands of times. This brings stability and intimacy, but it also means that you can become stuck in a rutor, worse, that you take your partner for granted.
These are all common issues that couples face, which is why you must take a comprehensive approach to spicing up your sex life. The flush of first love can indeed fade, but that doesnt mean you cant spark it back to life whenever you want. One of the marvelous things about sexuality is that every experience can feel new and unique. A new lover represents uncharted territory, new lands to discover, and new wonders at which to marvel. And your long-term partner can be infinitely full of surprises, able to thrill you each and every time that you are together.
The process of learning and growing is never complete, no matter how long you have been together. Sexuality is fluid and ever-changing, and our desires and needs are different at each stage of our lives. Its important to reevaluate your sexual relationship as you grow together, making the necessary changes to keep your bond strong.
The result is that you can not only recapture this intense attraction, but you can also experience it in a more meaningful context. In place of puppy love, you will establish a deep, meaningful, and spiritual bond with your partner that will support you, challenge you, and sustain you throughout your lives. All it takes is a little bit of know-how and a commitment to improving and enjoying your sexual experiences.
Thankfully, by reading this guide you have already taken the first and most important step to invigorating your love life: being proactive in creating your own sexual pleasure. You need to know how to make sex more spontaneous; how to create romance even on a boring weekday night; how to juggle kids, careers, and a home; how to create a healthy lifestyle and have positive body-image; how to treat issues such as menopause and low libidoand, of course, how to have amazing sex! This guide addresses all of these important issues, and takes an intimate look at the tools and toys, positions and practices that human beings have dreamt up to add spice to their love lives. Consider this your new go-to guide for all things bedroom-related, a place to find answers to all those questions you wouldnt dare ask aloud.
Ready to begin? Grab your partner and start reading!
Chapter 1: Loving Sex is Physical
The heart and soul of sex is the physical heat it creates between two bodies. Sometimes playful, sometimes passionate, sometimes pure and sweet, this skin-to-skin connection renews your bond and strengthens chemistry. In a long-term relationship, remembering the unique physical traits you love about your partnerher breasts or bottom, his abs or armscan help your connection to feel special, sexy, and new all over again.
The Beauty of the Body
Even in a society that often seems to value beauty above all else, it can feel a bit shallow to place physical appearance on a pedestal. After all, isnt it whats on the inside that counts? Of course. And yet we cannot deny our natural attraction to the people we find sexy. Whether its built on a bright smile, beautiful eyes, or toned legs, physical attraction plays a special, irreplaceable role in nearly every sexual relationship.
Enjoying the body
We seek beauty everywhere in life, but especially when it comes to our mates. Its okay to enjoy and explore that side of our sexuality, especially because, in a healthy relationship, its just one important piece of the much larger puzzle of chemistry and attraction. Admiring your partners body strengthens the intimacy that is the unique glue of a romantic partnership.
One of the best ways to connect the beauty of the body with great sex is to express desire openly. Nothing builds passion like showing someone that you want them. In a committed relationship, its easy to take this for granted, but its crucial to say these things out loud and make your appreciation of your partners physical beauty known. And the more you voice this appreciation and validation, the more your partner will respond in kind. The tips here are a good place to start.
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