Everybody’s doing it – or rather they should be. I’m talking about exercise and taking care of yourself.

Since this issue is about sexual awareness, I thought I would point out how health and sex go hand-inhand.

1. Let’s start with the obvious: body image. If you are going to get intimate with someone, it’s hard not to think about how you look or how you feel you look. Tip: Get regular exercise that includes lifting weights to firm and tone and eat a healthy diet right in vegetables, fruit and lean proteins so you will feel good anytime.

2. Be mentally aware and prepared. Allow yourself to relax and enjoy wonderful experiences instead of getting into situations that are uncomfortable or that you won’t remember the next day. Tip: try doing activities like yoga one to two times per week to help you relax and get in tune with your body. Simple meditation can help you gather your thoughts and make sound decisions that are right for you.

3. Harness hormones and energy. When you exercise, endorphins kick in and give you that feeling of happiness and seemingly give you an energy boost. If you don’t exercise regularly or eat well, your hormones can be out of whack, leaving you with negative feelings or feeling physically unwell. Tip: stay away from high fat, high sodium and high sugar foods like deep fried fare, packaged processed food and candy. Take a walk after a meal or before getting intimate.

Not only does being healthy affect your intimate experiences; those experiences can have very positive effects on your health. A 30-minute session can burn 200 calories or more and is beneficial to your heart health by elevating the heart rate slightly and allowing it to come back to resting afterwards.

It is completely up to you to do what you are comfortable with. Bottom line: your body is capable of incredible things, so unleash all its potential.