Sex. It can ignite our senses, fill us with ripples of pleasure and awaken a new dimension of feeling for our partner. Lovemaking doesn’t require extraordinary skill, nor is it limited to young couples in the throes of passion. Couples of all ages can cultivate sexual bliss for the duration of their lives together. If health and fitness aren’t enough to get you to exercise, how about improving your sex life? Sure, exercise can help you look good and maybe that will help you get more sex, but I’m talking about increasing your potency and making sex more fun. In some of the first laboratory studies to look at exercise and female sexual response, a researcher has found that vigorous physical exercise appears to “prime” a woman’s body for sexual arousal.

Good Sex Is a Good Thing

Though definitions vary, “good sex” might be thought of as an act of intimacy that promotes health and well-being. Good sex provides significant physical and physiological benefits. Enjoyed in the context of a happy relationship, “sex boosts chemicals in the body that protect against disease,” says Paul Pearsall, Ph.D., author of the book “Superimmunity.”

Research also suggests that sex and masturbation can help ease joint and muscle pain, combat depression, promote heart health and lengthen life span.

All too often, however, we haven’t the time or energy for sex. According to the Masters and Johnson Institute, at least a third of American couples experience a lack of sexual desire. After a stressful day at work, it’s easy to neglect the ultimate celebration of human pleasure.

There are ways to ensure that lovemaking remains a passionate, intense and regular part of our repertoire no matter what our age or how busy our lifestyle.

Here’s what you’ll need to get the most out of your sex life.

  • For enthusiastic sex, you’ll need some cardio endurance. It won’t be any fun if you bonk out halfway through. Shoot for 3 or 4 days of cardio exercise like running, walking, swimming or whatever floats your boat and your partner will thank you.
  • Sex also requires a little endurance. You may find yourself holding unusual positions for short periods of time, so conditioning your body can be a plus for longer lasting sex. For endurance, you’ll need to lift lighter weights for more repetitions. Check out some endurance workouts here and get conditioned for sex.
  • As long as we’re talking about holding yourself in position, we might as well cover muscular strength, which is something else you’ll need. Your muscles will be contracting like crazy no matter what position you’re in, so it pays to be in shape to avoid nasty leg or foot cramps. For strength, you’ll need to lift heavier weights for few repetitions. For some ideas, visit my Workout Center.
  • Flexibility can enhance anyone’s sex life by making it a bit easier to get into your favorite position with a minimum amount of fuss. Why not try a little Yoga to get you in the mood? Or try these stretches to get you ready for the most vigorous sex.

Keep in mind that both sex and exercise have been proven to help reduce stress, so doing both on a regular basis should help you stay relaxed and happy.