Between the Sheets

Many people believe that sex is a great workout, and with good reason. A study by Indiana University stated that “The sensation one gets from core-centric exercises such as roman chair and pelvic tilts can be just as intense as the sensations one can feel while masturbating or having sex.”

According to Laura Berman, Ph.D., a Chicago-based sex and relationship expert, if you rush home after a workout “and get busy for at least 30 minutes- you’ll burn an average of 140 calories and 20 more if you climax.”

A study printed in the October 2004 issue of the Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality cited that “88 percent of women who exercised five times per week rated themselves as way above average between the sheets and 69 percent of men who exercised six to seven days per week rated their sexual desirability as above average.”

Hence, exercise also accounts as a confidence booster that can greatly enhance your sex life. The more you are in shape, the less self-conscious you feel about your body, and you’ll be more adventurous in bed.

Not only will exercise improve your sex life, it will help avoid the commuter student sedentary lifestyle and increase your learning abilities and concentration, especially during long lectures.

The endorphins released during sex and exercising “make problems such as depression less likely and increase happiness,” according to health expert Mark Stibich, Ph.D.

Stibich explained that exercise can also decrease your sexual age as you get older by quoting a study that, “examined the sexual frequency and satisfaction ratings of swimmers aged 60 and found that they were the same as those 20 years younger.”

Erectile dysfunction usually occurs due to circulatory problems. Working out increases the blood flow that leads to a healthy heart and arteries, reducing the likelihood of impotence “by 30 percent more than men who are inactive,” according to a study Stibich conducted in the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.

Sex itself is an intense physical activity that requires strength and endurance. If hitting the gym is impossible, there are certain sex positions that double as workouts. The missionary and lotus work out the core and glutes; doggy-style works out the quadriceps, glutes and arms; cowgirl focuses on the abs, pelvic muscles, quads and calves; bridge that works out the biceps, triceps, abs, glutes, quads, calves, and inner thigh muscles.

Since the average Baruch student is in their mid-20s, health concerns are far from their minds. If you’re physically fit, you have more sex options .

Regular exercise is the key to success for students. It increases focus, happiness, and alertness in a huge lecture class. It slows aging and increases confidence. A better sex life means a stable mind, body and soul.