This is the second post in a series of 3 articles addressing HORMONES by myself – Nina Manolson -and my wonderful colleague and dear friend Karen Schachter.

We’re going to look at Hormones in the Kitchen, Bedroom and Mirror and give you totally practical strategies for how to balance your hormones so that you feel your absolute best!

Who needs sex anyway?  

(5 Ways to Improve Your Hormones, Add Passion to Your Life…and yes, Find Your Sex Drive Again)

5 Hormonal Hacks for more passion in your life

Do you really need sex in your life to be happy?  Or can you finally accept, along with all of your other middle-aged female friends, that sex is an “accessory” – something that’s nice and fun, but not really necessary?

No way! Sex is not only more than an “accessory,” but an “awakened” sex drive is a key component of your life, as a woman.

 

The simple fact is this: Your sexuality (sexual energy) is intimately connected to your life force energy.   When your sexual energy is “sleeping,” there’s a powerful part of you that’s sleeping as well.

Sex and sensual pleasure – including orgasm – not only “wakes up’ your body, but it helps balance your hormones, calm your mind, facilitate energy & creativity, and helps heal your body as well.

Here’s how:

Any pleasure induces the relaxation response, which, in turn, lowers your cortisol (stress!) hormones.  And orgasms, specifically, not only help with stress (oh yeah, we all know that!), but also help increase estrogen levels (which is so helpful at this phase of life) AND increase oxytocin (our happy, bonding hormone!).

Unfortunately for many women, there are many myths and mistakes about orgasm & sex that not only negatively impact your sexuality and ability to experience sexual pleasure, but also impact your health and hormones.

This article is an attempt to identify two powerful myths and set the record straight so you can use this powerful resource, which may be lying dormant inside of you, for your own vitality.

Myth #1: You must climax in order to get the benefits

Nope! The 8-second “release” isn’t everything! In fact, an orgasm in both women (and men!) is broader than the simple culmination of those repetitive contractions of the pelvic floor and smooth muscles of the clitoris that most of us think are “orgasm.” All the pleasure leading up to those contractions (or even without those contractions) counts!  And yes, while oxytocin levels are maximally released one minute after clitoral contractions, we can increase oxytocin by physical stimulation of the vagina, cervix, clitoris and breasts).  So stimulate away and enjoy each sensation!

 

Myth #2: I need to be in a relationship – or a happy, sexy one –  to address my libido issues and improve my sex drive.  

No relationship necessary to wake up sexual energy! YOU are responsible for your sexuality, whether you are in a relationship or not. No one else can “give” you the experience of “turn on,” if you aren’t able to turn yourself on! As women, we must learn to be in charge of our own sexuality and there is no better time to step into this than perimenopause and menopause.

YOU are responsible for getting in touch with your sexuality, for knowing how your body works, and for being able to receive pleasure.  Don’t wait for a magic penis!

SO now that you know how important your sex drive is, how can you activate this powerful life-force energy in your life, when your libido may be waning during this phase of your life? Here are a few tips, no matter how dry or down you feel:

1) Start slowly! Remember, any kind of pleasure is healing, and very often we have to re-sensitize our body to sensual pleasure, including smells, tastes, and gentle touch.

2) When you’re comfortable, begin touching your genitals. Move beyond the drive to have an orgasm, and simply touch in order to reconnect to your body and notice what feels good. You’ll be surprised that with a little attention, your juices will start flowing again.

3) Talk to other women and get support! You are not alone in this dilemma. Sharing your feelings, and learning from other women, is key for helping to reactivate this precious aspect of your life.

Whatever you do, please resist the temptation toward putting your sex drive to bed during this phase of your life.  Your awakened sensuality and sexuality will help keep you feeling energized, vibrant and feeling your very best at every age.

For more information, please be sure to join us for our FREE call: Have You Got WTF Syndrome? PUT AFFILIATE LINK HERE

If you’ve been wondering what’s happened to your energy and body, this call is a must-attend.

Don’t miss our next installment in this Hormone Series – Hormones in the Mirror: 3 Tips for Beautiful Skin after 45 (plus 3 things to avoid.) If you missed the first one – Hormones in the Kitchen, it’s right here and it’s delicious!

They are the creators and teachers of a powerful hormonal balancing program.  For a free class, join them for their upcoming free call:  Do You Have WTF Syndrome?! 

 

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Karen Schachter LICSW & Nina Manolson MA are Psychology of Eating and Health Coaches. they are passionate about helping women live full, vibrant lives, and believe that peri menopause and menopause are a doorway to this vitality. They bring humor, wisdom and deep compassion to their work. They are the creators and teachers of the powerful Create Hormonal Harmony program.

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Nina Manolson, MA, CHC, certified Health Coach and Psychology of Eating Coach believes that every women deserves to feel good in their own body. She helps women create a healthy and positive relationship with their food and body so they can love their body and life!  She’s the founder of NinaManolson.com and NourishedWomanNation.com 

She helps busy women look and feel their best. She specializes in working with women over 40 who have tried other diets and approaches but are still struggling with their body and food. She helps women step into a new wellness paradigm that makes it real and do-able and makes self-care a sustainable healthy habit.

She’s the author of “Feed Your Kids Well In A World That Doesn’t: an everyday guide to make healthy food happen in your home and beyond”. She’s also the recipient of the prestigious Health Leadership Award from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

To get your F.R.E.E. Video Series “What to do now, when everything you’ve done hasn’t worked” by mail and receive her healthy recipes and wellness tips click here.