NURTURE Mag Feb 2024 Issue

TURN OUT THE LIGHTS

LET’S TALK PASSION & INTIMACY

Intimacy

Before we dive in into what it is, or how to get it on...let’s broach the topic of what its NOT. Intimacy is not checking a box, meeting a demand or keeping up with the Jones’s.

Intimacy refers to a close and personal relationship between individuals, where there is emotional, physical, and/or intellectual connection, safety & a united sense of purpose. It involves a sense of trust, vulnerability, and mutual understanding. Intimacy can exist in different forms, such as romantic relationships, friendships, and familial connections.

However in the masculine & feminine polarity & contrast, intimacy takes on its perhaps deepest potential. It becomes a life force all its own, and draws couples together over and over for a lifetime. Something that bodies and hormones alone could never do.

It is an important aspect of human relationships and can contribute to personal growth, happiness, and overall well-being. However, intimacy can also be challenging and requires effort, communication, and respect from both parties involved Intimacy, and the sexual act, are intricately interwoven, and yet uniquely separate.

Sometimes we mistakenly interlink them, and yet, they are distinct from the other. Ultimate satisfaction stems from intimacy flourishing in the bedroom, and in the thousands of little moments that make up our days.

Practices that grow intimacy:

Create a quiet space and committed time for true connection. Share openly and honestly, check in on one another’s needs, your relationship’s directions, and share from a place of open desire and need, free of blame, rejection or judgement Share this space from the space of your deep desire to LISTEN, to receive your beloved and foster a greater understanding as a team.

Eye contact- this one can get spicy. Eye contact is a tantric practice, one that invites our deepest vulnerability, and unlocks openness together. Holding and maintaining eye contact while holding one another, focusing on connection through your breath, co-regulating together and only after in sync allowing touch to beging to naturally flow between you is a deeply intimate exchange that can spice up your love life in all directions. Its incredible how many

couples can spend years together and the concept of eye contact can actually be an uncomfortable thought, and an awkward first practice. However, dim the lights, set the mood for connection, and savor this practice in a non-sexual way. Just a chance to re-attune to one another and let touch be the guiding force second to meeting each other’s gaze, in a new level of compassionate exploration & the opening of hearts to restore connection.

Try something NEW!

Trust and curiosity grow beautifully and effortlessly when you both dive into something you have never done before. Whether it be a cooking class or an outdoor adventure, art project or guided experience, its such a great way to bring down walls, even the playing field and enjoy lightheartedness, humor and play. All of this can lead to an intoxicating mix of self discovery and enjoyment! Its such a fun way to grow as a couple!

Co-Regulation- this is the art of BEING together in safety. Its the non-sexual connection of touch, listening, breathing and responsive nearness

Taking time together as a couple to just BE, outside of distractions and able to cuddle, breathe and relax can cultivate beautiful harmony- no words necessary! Our nervous systems find comfort in the safety of simply being close, breathing in sync and the comfort of touch. The trust bonds of oxytocin actually flow MORE strongly for men in this than they do during sex itself! (Women produce more oxytocin during sex....who would have thought?!) Regardless, taking time to unwind and curl up together is a restorative and connective form of intimacy!

Keep monogamy HOT! I mean truly, I know I don’t need to go into drastic detail, but let your love life itself always be a source of expansive play and exploration! Keep in mind that sex starts long before the bedroom, what flirtatious exchanges, text messages or spicy compliments during the day could LEAD to a rewarding night of bliss?!

Nourish

It nearly goes without saying, but reality is a low tox lifestyle in the absolute way to ensure a life full of the freedom to physically explore your sexuality with your partner, without your bodies shutting down in ways that prevent libido from firing. This goes for both men and women! Your top organs to center on will always be gut/digestion, liver, cardiac/circulatory system and metabolism All else flows from there Starting off with simple protection of all by choosing high quality fresh whole foods and keeping your home and lifestyle free of home, cleaning, or beauty products that interrupt endocrine function and prevent hormones from communicating or functioning.

Ensuring your body gets adequate omega-rich foods is a critical component to sexual prowess and longevity! Your circulatory system is the pump that fires up libido in the heat of the moment, and omega 3's are the fats that your body RELIES upon to keep all circulatory pathways free and clear of buildup or plaque, and have the ability to remove unhealthy pro-inflammatory fats

So that leads us to the first critical libido supplement: xEOmega! 3-4 capsules daily, split between two doses are an exceptional way to

maintain cardiac, circulatory and mental acuity

If you have heard MetaPWR touted as the fountain of youth, you should hear the behind the scenes conversations of the couples to express how vastly different their love life has become once they began to restore their metabolism AND enjoy the cellular renewal and youthful vitality of NMN and the other potent ingredients in the MetaPWR Advantage Collagen. The ENTIRE system is GOLD for its ability to bring metabolic function back into play, improving circulation, reshaping body composition, and restoring energy AND confidence in the bedroom! What are you even waiting for here?

Lastly, ESSENTIAL OILS on pulse points or being used as massage or intimacy oils. You know what I am talking about! Application with dilution to any of these key points for both genders: low abdomen, inner thighs, wrists & ankles. ALL of these correlate to reproductive organs & stimulate hormone.

My FAVE oils for turning up the heat?

Ylang Ylang, Jasmine, Blue Lotus, Neroli, Rose as the all-purpose libido boosters. Partner with companions like Wild Orange, Clary Sage or Ginger. With cautious dilution, don’t overlook the stimulation you can get from the heat of cinnamon or peppermint!

Libido BOOSTER

Recipes that turn ON.