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Kegel exercises (read: muscle contractions which one does to keep one’s vagina in tip-top shape) were really hot in the 90s and 2000s, but of late, the buzz around the need to clench and release has sort of died down. Is it because the muscles of your most magical body part just don’t need the workout, or because we’re no longer amused by the idea of a super-strong pelvic floor?
Turns out, Kegels are actually pretty good for your body, and just because they’ve fallen from fashion, it doesn’t mean you should abandon them. Named for Dr. Arnold Kegel (and not for the muscles themselves. There is no actual Kegel muscle, even if some people call them that), pelvic floor exercises basically consist of contracting and releasing the rather large series of muscles that runs from the coccyx to the public bone.
This muscle is responsible for both controlling urine flow, and (here’s the fun part), contracting during orgasm. Because all of the pubic muscles are connected, contracting some of them impacts the way that many of them behave–which is why even simple exercises can do kind of a lot.
It turns out that just because Kegels aren’t the big TV topic they once were, they can still do a world of good. They can help with incontinence, as well as improve sexual pleasure, and make childbirth more easy (if that’s at all possible.)
But here’s the really interesting thing: though initially explained as a lady thing, Kegel muscles can actually benefit both genders. In men, Kegel exercises can improve prostate health and sexual activity, as well as aid in incontinence and help fight erectile dysfunction. But until fairly recently, they haven’t been pushed toward males. Maybe if they had, the novelty wouldn’t have worn off so quickly.
So what do you need to get back on track with your Kegels? Let’s start with what you don’t need, which is anything marketed toward working out your vagina. Barbells, weights, and anything else that’s sold as a Kegel device is pretty useless–you have all the resistance you need built into your body. Which means all you need to is to remember to do the exercises.
If you need a refresher course on this intimate exercise program, the Mayo Clinic has a pretty dry-but-informative walk-through that can help guide you toward the right muscles. The Grandmother of Sex-Ed, Dr. Sue Johanson, also has plenty to say on the subject–but of course, it’s more awesome coming from her.
These silent contractions may not be the giggle-worthy news topic they once were, but they’re still plenty relevant. Even if you’ve let your other workouts fall by the wayside, I’m sure you can fit in a little contract-and-release at some point during the day.
