10 Sexy Ways to Celebrate Your Self-Love This Summer

The power of love begins within ourselves. Whether you have one partner, several, or none, no relationship could be more intimate or important than the one you maintain with yourself.

Likewise, the seed of our sexuality also blooms from the soul. To blossom, it must be nourished and tended to. Consider, if you will, these 10 ways to celebrate your self-love from a sexual perspective.

1. Fuck yourself like your dream lover would.

We tend to treat masturbation like a casual quickie. We grab our favorite toy, head to PornHub, and wham, bam, thank you MA’AM! We’re spent.

However, it can also be invaluable – in my humble opinion – to set aside time and really indulge. Make yourself comfortable and shut off your phone.

Think about how you like to be touched when you’re making love and see how closely you can mimic it by yourself, focusing on pleasure rather than orgasm as your goal. Caress your own skin, explore every inch of your body, and slowly tiptoe down between your legs with gentle fingertips.

When you arrive and get going, close your eyes and take your time, guiding your imagination to your liking. Do whatever feels best in the moment. Make it the most sensually personal experience possible, entirely customized to your preferences.

2. Create an artistic tribute to your sensitive bits.

There’s so much pressure out there for our bodies to look or behave a certain way. This is especially the case when it comes to our genitalia. Invest some time and energy in combating shameful beliefs and arbitrary expectations by focusing on what’s awesome about your body as-is.

You might even create a piece of art in devotion to the beauty of what you’ve got going on down there. Draw or paint a genital-focused self-portrait. Or, if you prefer, make it a photo session instead. Write a haiku!

Experiment with whatever celebratory medium works for you. Don’t worry about what others might think of your creation. This exercise in self-expression isn’t for the purpose of impressing others. Do you like it? That’s all that matters.

3. Splurge on the toy of your dreams.

This isn’t always financially viable, but buying a new toy that you’re especially excited about can do wonders for certain facets of your sexuality. I remember the first time I bought a Wartenberg pinwheel after wanting one for years. Holy shit, that versatile toy ended up opening some kinky doors!

If you’re in the mood to treat yourself and can afford it, consider finally buying that sexy tool you’ve been eyeing for a while. Take it home and add a new dimension to how you and those you love experience pleasure.

4. Write out a fantasy.

Our sexual fantasies are incredibly personal and a common source of shame. Many people feel shyness or even fear about the salacious movies that pass through their minds.

Writing erotica can be a powerful means of getting touch with what turns you on and why you like it. You’ll have to find the right words to describe what you want to say about things like love, passion, intimacy, and sex. Sorting through these thoughts and feelings can help you focus on the aspects of your sexuality that bring you the most joy.

Get filthy with it. Why not? No one else ever has to read what you write (but they might love it if you do decide to let them).

5. Indulge in a yoni or lingam massage.

Our bodies have a habit of holding onto stress and trauma. This applies to our genitals too. Many of us have experienced pain or pressure to perform while being touched down there. These types of memories, along with others that we associate with unpleasant sexual experiences, can get in the way of our ability to be present and feel pleasure.

A yoni or lingam massage can serve as a means of healing from these experiences. (‘Yoni’ and ‘lingam’ are Sanskrit translations for ‘vagina’ and ‘penis’, respectively.) These ancient, Tantra-rooted practices will allow you to fully relax and explore your body in a slow, sensual way without any pressure to perform. The goal here is not to achieve orgasm (though it’s all good if it happens), but to create a more intimate relationship with your sexual center.

You don’t need a partner to experience yoni or lingam massage. A trained therapist near you can provide you with the experience, either at their studio or in the privacy of your own home. You might also consider taking a course and learning how to do yoni or lingam massage on yourself. Grab yourself some massage and body oil and have fun!

6. Slip into something a little more comfortable.

The clothes we wear can have a potent influence on how we feel about ourselves. When it comes to sexuality, a slinky piece of lingerie or even a new accessory can light up our libido and do wonders for our self-confidence. The feel of silky or sheer fabric on skin provides a constant reminder of our sexual power.

Lingerie can be worn just as much for our own pleasure as others’. In celebration of your inherent hotness, spend some time decked out in whatever makes you feel sexy. Even if it’s hidden beneath your clothes and no one else sees it, you’ll know what’s going on under there. Revel in those vibrant feelings of elegance or naughtiness throughout your day.

7. Exercise your sexual organs.

Our nether regions get a great workout from sex and masturbation, but there are other ways to take this even further for greater benefits. You may have heard of Kegels, a system of clench-and-release routines designed to strengthen the pelvic floor in order to support the uterus, bladder, small intestine, and rectum. A regular Kegel practice can not only help you manage or prevent health problems like incontinence or erectile dysfunction, but can also lead to better, more powerful orgasms.

Kegels are simple, easy to learn, and can be discreetly done from anywhere. Take a trip over to YouTube and check out some of the free videos on offer for instructions. There are kegel toys out there that can help strengthen your pelvic floor too. Try a pair of Ben Wa balls or a yoni egg for serious yoni weightlifting assistance.

8. Enroll in a sexy class.

Sometimes it feels like there’s a vague expectation for us to be automatically adept at certain bedroom activities, like giving oral sex or making anal play a fun experience. The fact is, no matter how sensually intuitive you are, no one is born with flawless sexual skills. It takes time, experience, and knowledge of our partners to learn how to please them.