The Power of Touch

A study at the University of Virginia showed that holding a spouse’s hand can diminish stress set off by a mild electric shock. A total of 16 couples took part; first the wives received the shocks while their brains were monitored via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Next, each woman held the hand of a stranger during the shock--this dampened the stress response seen in the brain. Finally, the women held their husbands’ hands during the shock and the fMRIs showed that the reduction in stress was even greater.
The Cuddle Hormone

Women who get the most hugs from their partner have the highest levels of oxytocin, a hormone sometimes called the “cuddle hormone,” University of North Carolina researchers reported.

Oxytocin is believed to play a role in social bonding and has a powerful effect on the cardiovascular systems. In the study, the frequent huggers had lower blood pressure. So there you have it, love is good for almost everything. The only exception: it doesn’t help you lose weight.

Happy Couples do stuff together

When that pheromone-crazy feeling of falling in love passes and happy couples no longer spend all day in bed, they look outward. They start businesses, refinish the attic or take up cooking together.

Of all the variables in a relationship -from commitment to communication- the amount of fun couples have together is the strongest factor in determining their overall marital happiness, according to a landmark study by Howard Markman, Ph.D., codirector of the Center for Marital and Family Studies at the University of Denver. Time spent playing together, says Dr. Markman, is an "investment in the relationship"; it provides a relaxed intimacy that strengthens the bond between two people.

So even if your life is impossibly frantic, make the time for play. And do all you can to eliminate distractions. Leave the kids with a sitter, ditch the beeper and cell phone. The activity doesn't have to be anything elaborate or costly. Exercising together, browsing in antiques stores, or renting a classic movie can help bring the two of you closer.

Why are men always so focused on sex, sex and sex

Chalk this one up to testosterone, the “male” hormone that advises the brain, too. “In utero, the male fetal brain ‘marinates’ in testosterone, which makes his brain’s area for sexual pursuit grow to be two and a half times larger than in a female brain,” Expert says.

And then, the ‘fuel’ that drives this area in the brain — testosterone — increases in a male by 250 percent between ages 9 and 15. So by the time he’s a teenager, a male’s visual circuits — all of which are located in his brain — start focusing on female body parts and fantasizing about how to get a girl to have sex with him, and, you may have noticed, this act of “focusing” doesn’t exactly stop after high school.

What Catches A Man's Eye

When it comes to seduction, short skirts and high heels have long been women’s weapons of choice. But showing off a bit of leg isn’t the best way to catch a man’s eye, according to scientists.

Long, shapely arms, sported by the likes of Christine Bleakley, Madonna or Courtney Cox, are considered more attractive than endless legs, a study has found. The finding was made after tests on Australian and Chinese men and women by experts at the University of New South Wales, Sydney.

During the research, volunteers were asked to watch videos of 96 women aged between 20 and 49 and then to rate each one according to her looks. Results showed that ‘long-armed women’ were consistently considered the most attractive.

Hip and waist size were also regarded as important, along with a woman’s weight and age, but the length of her leg ‘did not contribute significantly to the ratings’. Professor Robert Brooks, who led the study, said: ‘Attractive bodies have a suite of traits in the right combination.

Explore Kama Sutra Sex Positions

What makes any Kama Sutra position Tantric? Consciousness. In that respect, the ordinary can be transformed into the extraordinary.

A wonderful place to begin is with the position known as Yab-Yum. According to Nik Douglas, author of Sexual Secrets (Inner Traditions, 1999), the Sanskrit word "Yab" means father, while "Yum" means mother. This corresponds to the Taoist "Yang" for male and "Yin" for female, as in Yin/Yang. Neither one of the partners should be on top of the other, either physically or metaphorically, for the primordial balance of the universe to be achieved.

In its classical form, the Yab-Yum involves the man sitting cross-legged on a firm surface with the woman seated facing him. Her legs are wrapped around him, with her feet meeting at his back.

They hold each other, not only for support, but also to call attention to the base of the spine and the heart center. Each partner's right hand is at the middle of the other's back, with their left hand at the base of the other's spine.

This brings the two very close together. The breath is shared, the eyes are open, soft and present, and the energy is upright versus horizontal. Gentle to active rocking and thrusting can take place, and the woman's G spot will experience a lot of friction.

A great variation on this position places the man sitting on the edge of the bed or on a hassock with his feet on the floor. This variation works well for those who are less supple or have bad lower backs, and for couples where the woman is larger than the man. It's easy on the back and legs and still has the potential of the classic posture.

Another variation involves the woman leaning backward either slightly or all the way to the bed's surface. The man should lightly pull her hips toward his to keep contact. Both partners can also try leaning backward simultaneously.

In any of these positions, try placing a firm pillow under the woman's buttocks to achieve the right angle and comfort level. In classical Kama Sutra pictures, you'll often see a beautiful crescent moon-shaped pillow under the woman's hips.

4 Instant Intimacy Boosters

Healthy ways you can jump-start your hormones, boost your own libido-arousing brain chemicals, and give your whole relationship an extra boost of all-natural adrenaline. Here are four ways to set your own love and lust records

Shot 1: They Add Adventure to their Romance

Research shows that adventurous men and women have more testosterone (good for libido). You can amp up the intensity of your relationship by amping up the intensity of your activities.

That doesn't mean that you necessarily need to do something really risky, like skydive or punch out a paparazzi. But it does mean that adding a little element of risk to your typical Saturday to-do list will make you - and your relationship - feel a little more alive than usual.

Take a rock-climbing class, or book a white-water rafting trip. Not up for that? Riding a roller coaster will give you a quick shot, as will seeing a scary movie.

Shot 2: They Cyber Flirt when They're Apart

One of the big complaints I hear from men and women about what goes wrong in a relationship is that it can feel staler than yesterday's bagel. After the novelty has worn off and the commitment has solidified, the closest thing anyone will hear to flirting is "can you please grab me a diet soda from the fridge?"

Try this: If you haven't already, set up instant-messaging accounts. Then, if you have a laptop and a desktop, initiate a convo while your partner's in one room and you're in another. Let sexual tension mount and innuendos fly, and you're off and running.

Bonus: In this scenario, you're only a room away. Or better still: You can conduct this dirty dialogue when he's in his workplace, and she's in hers, which means tonight's reunion will be good for more than just a distracted peck on the cheek.

Shot 3: They Show up on Each Others' Turf

It's good for relationships when each party has his or her own interests. She goes to yoga three days a week; he plays Ultimate Frisbee on Sunday afternoons. Space is good.

But more than you do now, make a point to watch, participate in, or ask about each other's outside activities. She'll be thrilled that he's risking his hamstrings (and dignity) to experience what downward dog is all about; he'll be ego-stroked when she's sitting on the sidelines as he hits disc paydirt. Independence is good, interdependence is better.

Shot 4: They Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Routine is great when it comes to some things (like car maintenance), but routine can also be the drizzle on the tinder of a hot relationship. So, here's what you do: Identify one part of your relationship where you feel like you're in a rut, and find a way to break that routine. This will help you overcome the obstacles to sex that everyone faces.

It doesn't have to be a major overhaul, just subtle changes that send the message to your partner that you're going to keep the surprises coming. If Sunday is chores day, plan brunch out with a group of friends, instead-but make sure you order wisely each and every time. (Source: Yahoo! Health)

Cewek Pintar Lebih Sulit Orgasme

Survei yang dilakukan di Jerman ini menemukan bahwa para wanita yang terdidik dikatakan kerapkali mengalami masalah dengan kehidupan seksualnya. Mereka sulit sekali merasa puas.

Dalam penelitian ini, sekitar 62 persen wanita yang telah menyelesaikan pendidikannya hingga tingkat tinggi, setingkat S1 atau bahkan S2, seringkali merasa sulit mengalami orgasme.

Hanya 38 persen wanita yang berpendidikan rendah mengalami kesulitan serupa. Penelitian ini dilakukan oleh sebuah media gaya hidup online di Jerman yang mengobservasi sekitar 2000 wanita usia antara 18 hingga 49 tahun. Setujukah Anda?

Source : Kompas.com