Lifting
weights isn't the only way to boost strength. Making love can build certain
muscles, depending on how creative you get with your positions. Two experts—Madeline
Castellanos, MD, a sex therapist in New York City, and Vanessa Castro, a
certified personal trainer in Miami—offer tips on which ones to try. Since
hitting the gym costs money, these free workout options give you the most bang for no bucks
(and we think your guy will be more than happy to help you meet your fitness
goals).
1. Quads: Get into the cowgirl position and then turn it
into more of a frog position. It may not sound sexy, but it's effective! You're
on top, but rather than rest your knees on the bed, rest your feet on the bed,
says Dr. Castellanos. As you move up and down, the position essentially becomes
a low squat, which largely targets the quads (the front thigh muscles). You can
even move forward and backward to work that muscle group more and burn extra
calories.
2. Chest: You probably already know what doggy-style
means, but in case you need a refresher: You're on your hands and knees and
he's behind you (either kneeling on the bed or standing next to it). This
position forces you to work your upper body, because you have to use your arms
to support yourself. To challenge yourself during penetration, "lower your
shoulders and do a push-up" says Castro. Tip: This may be easier to pull
off on the floor if your bed is too soft.
3. Glutes and hamstrings:
For this move, get yourself into a lunge position, suggests Dr. Castellanos.
Picture this: He's sitting on a couch or sturdy chair and you're on top, with
your left foot on the sofa and your right foot on the ground. You'll work your
left glute and your right hamstring. When you're halfway there, switch your
legs, so you'll work both sides of your body evenly. If the chair is high and
you have to stand on your tippy-toes, you'll work your calves, too.
4. Lower Abs: In lotus, face your man
and sit on top of him. In this intimate pose that involves deep eye contact and
kissing, your arms and legs are wrapped tightly around his back and his arms
and legs are wrapped tightly around your back. Channel your inner belly dancer,
says Dr. Castellanos, and use your lower abs to pull your pelvis up and down.
If you've ever taken ballet or a barre exercise class, you know that small
movements can have huge results.
5. Triceps: Once
you've mastered the lotus position, which primarily works the lower abs, turn
that move up a notch. In lotus lean, you are in the same position, except instead
of wrapping your arms around your guy's back, lean back and place the palms of
your hands flat onto the bed with your fingers facing your buttocks. This
variation works more of your arms and if you bend your elbows, "it's like
doing a tricep dip," says Dr. Castellanos.
6. Hip flexors: Try the
scissors pose. You're both lying on your sides. If your guy is on his right
side and you're on your left side, instead of resting your right leg on top of
his torso, raise it to a 30- to 40-degree angle, Dr. Castellanos suggests, and
hold it there for as long as you can to work your right hip flexor. The next
time you have sex, switch sides. This is considered isometric exercise because
you're not moving your muscle (like when you do bicep curls)—you're holding it
still (like during a plank).
7. Upper abs: This legs-up
position requires a decent amount of hamstring flexibility, so to warm up,
touch your toes a few times beforehand. Lie on your back and put the backs of
your thighs against your guy's chest. You can either stick your feet straight
into the air or bend them over your guy's back, depending on what's most
comfortable for you. Then lift up your head and shoulders into a crunch during
sex, recommends Dr. Castellanos, which will tone your tummy and blast away
belly fat.
8. Deltoids:
Think of this move as doggy-style with a twist. You're on all fours on the bed
and he's standing behind you, next to the bed. Then he grabs your upper thighs,
lifts both of your legs up into the air and holds them wheelbarrow-style while
he thrusts. Instead of supporting yourself mostly with your
upper body, you'll be supporting yourself only with your
upper body, so it's an excellent workout for your deltoids (shoulders).
"It feels like suspension training, like TRX," says Castro.
9. Glutes: If you don't want to
try anything that's super acrobatic, try something that's somewhat simple and
keeps you very stable by pumping up good old-fashioned missionary sex with the
arch. When lying on your back, keep your head and shoulders on the bed (ideally
on a soft pillow), says Castro, and then target your glutes by raising your
behind as high as you can and holding it there for as long as you can. After a
few seconds, you are sure to feel the burn.
10.
Total Body: Once you've gotten the hang of the arch, (see #9
above), try an advanced version called the bridge, which Castro says works even
more muscles. Raise your behind again, but this time, use your arms to lift
your head and shoulders off the ground too, making a horizontal line with your
torso that's parallel to the bed. It's like a plank, only you're facing the
ceiling instead of the ground. This single move will target muscles in both the
upper and lower body, including the glutes, abs, biceps, triceps and deltoids. Source. See also 8 Ways to Make Sex More Fun
