I recently helped sell a Kegelscisor (pictured) to a celebrity (can’t tell you who!) and I was reminded of just how important that set of muscles is and how much I love educating customers about them.

The Kegel muscles are otherwise known as the pubococcygeus muscles. They’re part of the pelvic floor and essentially hold up everything in that area. Everyone has them and sometimes, they can get a little weak. In women this can happen during/after pregnancy. One great way to test is to go to the bathroom and while you’re urinating, clench the muscles that make you stop urinating. Those are your Kegel (or PC) muscles. If you can’t stop the flow of urine, then you should try some excercises.

You can also try Kegel muscle exercises because strengthening these muscles can increase the strength of orgasm. You know those involuntary muscle clenches you have when you have orgasms? Those are the Kegels. Bigger clenches and more strength can mean more intense orgasms. Kegels are also great to do during/after pregnancy or for people who want to decrease any urinary incontinence.

How do you do them? It’s easy. Squeeze just those muscles slowly and hold for 10 seconds and then release slowly. Repeat 10 times per day. I do them when I’m on the subway. If you want faster results, you can always go to the gym. Not the actual gym but the gym for your pussy. Kegel Barbells weigh about one pound and are a fantastic way to excercise those muscles.

Guys, want to exercise yours? Here are some great ways to do that.

Also, check out our great How-To on PC/Kegel muscles for more information.

I read Dan Savage’s column Savage Love because it’s sometimes funny and sometimes difficult, but always familiar. Many of the questions that Dan gets I hear as I’m talking with people in our stores. I’ve talked to more people who were nervous about being tied up or didn’t feel like they were wet enough more times than I can count.

What’s hardest for me is talking with people who feel that they aren’t having enough pleasure in their sex lives or that something is wrong with them. Many times these people have a way of getting off that works for them but they feel that it’s not the “right” way to have orgasms.

Let me say this here and now: there is no wrong way to have an orgasm. Fingers, tongues, couches, vibrators, shower heads and whatever else people need is just that – what they need. Plain and simple. We are taught our whole lives that there are certain things that everyone likes and always wants to do but that just isn’t how it works in real life. One of the things I’ve learned the most in this job is just how different people are. Our differences are what make sex fun and allow us to experiment and grow as a lover.

That’s why I was happy to read the third question in this week’s Savage Love column. Dan lays it out and then gives the questioner a solid place to go for some help – Babeland! The vibrating cockrings that he mentions are just one of the many things that can help people find the best and most comfortable ways to have pleasure that makes them feel fantastic.

So here’s to loving your body and giving it what it needs. Taking care of ourselves isn’t just about the food we eat or how much sleep we get. It’s about enjoying all of the intricacies of what gives us pleasure.

That’s right. The circus meets pornography. As a person with very tight hamstrings, I’ve always been amazed at porn stars who can bring their legs way back during penetration scenes. And then there’s Belladonna, who’s ability to deep throat through her legs should win her some kind of award for something that is completely unrealistic, but totally amazing. Her films always showcase not only how much she’s enjoying what she’s doing, but what a sexual athlete she is. I didn’t truly understand what that meant until I watched her in Fashionistas.

But back to the contortion porn. Like any fetish I haven’t known about before, there’s already dedicated websites and video feeds, and so on. Violet Blue and her fantastic blog, tiny nibbles, first introduced contortion porn a few weeks ago and she’s written about these videos on Fleshbot – a blog about the internet and porn (because, as they say: the internet was made for porn).

What is it about the contortion porn that is so interesting? Part of it is just a plain fascination with people who’s bodies can do things that mine will never be able to do. For some people, I’m sure the wide open leg shots are enticing. There’s also something a little eerie but also erotic about being able to see someone’s feet and their head all right next to each other. Plus, for some of these there’s latex involved. Enjoy!