Emma Hewitt

Ok guys- the need to escape right now is strong, but many of us can’t travel due to the global pandemic. Borders are closed, shops are closed, life is on hold. If you need freedom, how do you get it? The answer might be in putting the dom into freedom.

Sex toys aren’t what they used to be. They are a whole lot better. Yet there is a long way to go on the road to destigmatising pleasure.

A female approach to design and a much-needed change in societal norms is helping sex toys to penetrate the mainstream. Rather than being a dirty little secret of sorts, owners of sex toys are proud pleasure seekers. People that are comfortable owning and talking about their toys. But there is still a way to go.

So, masturbation. Easier done than said right? And this is especially true for women. Research suggests that 95% of men and 89% of women are getting down with themselves, yet there is still this perception that masturbation, or at least talking about it, is embarrassing or bad in some way, regardless of discussions around its health benefits.

Didn’t know there even was a difference? You are not alone.
Up until recently, I was guilty of using the terms kink and fetish interchangeably too. And it’s pretty common. You will hear and read a lot of people using one or the other as an umbrella term for anything sexual that sits outside of what you might consider vanilla or mainstream sex. But there actually is a difference.

Our labia tend to get a bit of a rough deal. We constantly worry about how they look and compare them to other women we see in photos or in films.
And, when it comes to playtime they barely get a look in.
If they are lucky, they will get a very short stroke as they spread apart and then, they are pretty much forgotten. For most of us, our labia play the supporting actress in our sex lives while the clitoris and the g-spot get the starring roles. But, not any longer.
The new year is about labia self-love!

Introducing a sex toy doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the relationship
Including sex toys into your sex life is about experimentation and exploration. Our bodies are capable of experiencing all sorts of pleasurable feelings and are very receptive to different types of stimulation that our bodies can’t necessarily replicate. Like vibration. I don’t know about you, but I’m yet to come across a body that can vibrate. And that’s ok! Because a lot of toys do.

Restraint play is some of the most fun you can have with or without your clothes on! It’s a great way to tippy-toe into the world of bondage or BDSM play without feeling overwhelmed.
If you are new to restraint play, I recommend starting with only wrist restraints and moving into full restraints when you are comfortable with that type of play and ready for more.

The butt has a lot of nerve endings and adding a vibrating booty toy into the mix can ensure that you hit all of them.
Anal vibrators have all the benefits of a non-vibrating anal toy too. They can stimulate the prostate, provide indirect clitoral stimulation and add some lovely fullness and stretch to the butt.

Calling all ladies that love masturbating! So, hopefully, all of you.
Masturbation is fun, it’s relaxing and for some of us, right now, it might be the only downtime that you can get. In my opinion, one of the best things you can do for your sex life - whether partnered or solo – is to explore your body. So warm up those fingers and dive on in.

It’s official. Vaginal weightlifting is a thing. Now don’t freak out. I know that initially, this will sound a little weird… It was for me at first too, but there is actually a reason to start making gains in your vaginal strength.
Just like you add weights to tone up other areas of your body, this is ultimately the same thing. It’s just a touch more intimate.

It might be! But according to ob-gyns, using lubricant is also one of the best ways to reduce your risk of getting one. It’s all about the kind of lube you use.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are super common and can be a result of all sorts of things. If you have had one, you know how uncomfortable and relentless they can be. A UTI is basically a burning hell-fire inside your body.

Hands up if you include exercising your sexual organs as part of your fitness routine. Is your hand down? Don’t worry. You are not alone.
Most don’t exercise their sexual organs beyond masturbation or partnered sex.
Yet, our sexuality actually plays such a large part in our sense of well-being and health. It’s time to make our sexual energy a priority with the Deer Exercise.

Ahh yes, coconut oil. The slippery little superfood of our times.
And I get why it is such a media darling at the moment. Coconut oil seems to be good for everything.
Dry skin? Coconut oil. Frizzy hair? Coconut oil. Sautéing onions? Coconut oil. Out of lube? Coconut oil!
Yes, coconut oil can be used as a lubricant
And it works pretty damn well too. It’s slippery, it stays in place, it doesn’t dry out and it smells lush and lovely – so long as you enjoy the smell of coconut of course.

Ahh, sweet butt plugs.
The humble butt plug is a toy that gets a bit of a bad rep amongst the un-initiated. And, a lot of that seems to be a result of the idea that they are only used to train for anal sex with a partner. Or, that if you don’t have a prostate, you won’t feel pleasure.
WRONG!