In the FLO: A 28-day plan working with your monthly cycle to do more and stress less

by Alisa Vitti

So even though you may be tempted to rush to climax, do yourself and your body a favor by lingering in this phase by getting close to climax then backing away, repeating this edging process while staying between a four and an eight for as close to twenty minutes as possible, or more. Do this twice a week to reap all the benefits.

most fleeting of the four stages, lasting mere seconds when the clitoris’s eight thousand nerve endings—

have had enough and need a break.

after climax, your body returns to normal.

cervix, however, remains open for up to half an hour, a useful fact for couples trying to conceive, so sperm has time to find its way into the uterus.

we need only a brief resting period for those clitoral nerve endings to calm down and get set up for another ride through these four steps.

The same way your monthly hormonal changes affect your energy levels, moods, cognitive powers, creativity, immune system, and other biological systems, they also impact how you experience the four stages of arousal, your interest in sex, and even the intensity of your orgasms.

needs, emotions, energy, and desires fluctuate from week to week with the rise and fall of your hormones.

PREPARE

Novelty

more receptive to novel experiences and filled with energy during the follicular phase, so get creative and try something new with your partner.

try new things on a monthly basis.

exploring innovative ways of pleasuring each other—experiment with new positions, give tantric massage techniques a try, or get into some role-playing.

OPEN UP

Receiving

Because of these hormonal changes, your body produces up to twenty times more cervical fluid, making your vagina wetter than usual.

bonding and socializing with your significant other.

use this time for dining out with other couples, hosting a dinner party at home, or going to other social gatherings.

more talkative and...

you’re naturally more orgasmic at this time of the month.

best practice is for you to focus on receiving.

super orgasmic...

encourage your partner to take the time to pleasure you just ...

you can reciprocate; but make sure your needs are met first, then give.

more verbally oriented

don’t hesitate to ask for wha...

WORK

Clarity

made up of two parts.

first half of

can feel like an extended ovulatory phase, so enjoy.

secon...

more honest with yourself about anything that needs to be addressed ...

won’t be able to ignore the truth the way you can in the first half of your cycle, when you’re bathed in high levels of estrogen and can let things slide.

monthly checkup for the emotional health of your partnership and a major opportunity to move in the right direction and deepen your relationship.

hormonally balanced, you’ll be able to express your insights in a loving, constructive

When hormones are imbalanced, however, you might find it harder to distinguish between PMS-related irritability and discontent wi...

first half of the luteal phase, you may still be enjoying a strong sex drive.

sex drive is likely to start to wane during the second half of the luteal phase.

slower sex. See whether you respond better with lots of fore...

REST

Recharge

some alone time

quality time with yourself

(1) it helps keep your hormones balanced, and (2) it increases your self-awareness of your sexual response, so that when you do engage in partnered sexual activity you’re able to share your road map to pleasure with your partner so your needs will be met more consistently.

great cramp reliever.

foods and supplements

nuts, seeds, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dark leafy vegetables)

calm stress,

meat, shellfish, legumes, and seeds)