"Vaginal Kung Fu" Could Be the Secret To Better Sex
BY LILY HERMAN@LKHERMAN
MAY 2, 2017
Kim Anami/Instagram
If Kegels just aren't cutting it for you, there's another way to work out your pelvic floor muscles: vaginal weightlifting.
In her video on the subject, Lisa Masterson, MD defines vaginal weightlifting, which she calls "vaginal kung fu," as the practice of contracting the pelvic floor muscles that run from your pubic bone to the base of your spine in order to hold objects in place. The pelvic floor is essential for supporting several organs, including your bladder, uterus, and bowel.
While there isn't extensive research on the area of the pelvic floor, studies have shown that vaginal weightlifting can treat a number of common conditions women experience due to weak pelvic floor muscles, including urinary incontinence, which affects roughly one in four women over the age of 18.
Another attractive reason to strengthen your pelvic floor and try vaginal weightlifting is that it could lead to better orgasms. How? Dr. Masterson explains in her video that a strong pelvic floor gives women more control internally during penetrative sex. Experts say this allows for stronger grip during sex and more intense contractions during orgasm.
How does vaginal weightlifting work? Often people will use insert objects like jade eggs, squeeze the pelvic floor muscle to hold it in place, and add more weight to the egg using the string attached to it. (Check out the Instagram account of vaginal weightlifter Kim Anami for some truly awe-inspiring snaps of this pursuit.) Dr. Masterson also recommends swinging any added weight backwards and forwards for even more of a challenge and clenching the muscles for 10 seconds at a time before giving yourself a break. Before you buy any weightlifting objects, though, do your research: Some doctors point out that jade eggs are porous, making them difficult to keep clean, and also advise people to never leave objects in their vagina for extended periods of time. There are options other than jade eggs, including vaginal weights and cones.
Check out Dr. Masterson's full explanation of vaginal weightlifting below.