Never one to shy away from talking about sex or intimacy, Gwyneth Paltrow is now tackling women’s lack of sexual desire and how they can find pleasure in their bodies.
The 45-year-old lifestyle guru’s website, Goop, has published an in-depth interview with sex and intimacy expert Michaela Boehm about how readers can unleash their inner ‘wild woman’ and reconnect to their lower bodies.
Boehm, the author of The Wild Woman’s Way: Unlock Your Full Potential for Pleasure, Power, and Fulfillment, explains that consciously engaging with our bodies ‘is the secret to finding deeper, greater pleasure.’
Sensuality: Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle website, Goop, is exploring how women can find pleasure in their bodies
Advice: Goop spoke with sex and intimacy expert Michaela Boehm, whom Gwyneth recently interviewed at the ‘In Goop Health’ wellness summit in June (pictured)
Paltrow is a longtime fan of Boehm, whom she recently interviewed at the ‘In Goop Health’ wellness summit in June.
In her book, Boehm explains that the ‘wild woman’ is the archetype of someone who is ‘deeply connected to the natural world’ — not an uncivilized creature as some would believe.
She works with this archetype to promote natural empowerment and help women understand that they don’t need to change who they are to be loved.
‘As women, we are uniquely connected to our lower bodies,’ she tells Goop. ‘The power to create, our instinct, and our ability to feel pleasure, as well as to procreate, sit in the lower part of our body.’
Look of love: Boehm explains that ‘desire arises most when the body is open, relaxed, and flowing.’ Paltrow is pictured with her fiancé Brad Falchuk at their engagement party in April
Boehm says that many women she works with become disconnected to their bodies because they are stressed out and feeling overwhelmed, which can cause tension and tightness.
Expert: Boehm is the author of The Wild Woman’s Way: Unlock Your Full Potential for Pleasure, Power, and Fulfillment
‘Desire arises most when the body is open, relaxed, and flowing,’ she explains. ‘Add lack of time, sleep, and emotional intimacy to the mix and for many of us, the thought of being sexually engaged with ourselves or a partner just feels like yet another chore to do.’
First and foremost, Boehm advises women to take time away from electronics, social media, and other obvious stressors.
She also recommends ‘exercises to bring back sensory awareness and, with that, sensual sensation to the body.’
Boehm says the easiest way to do that is to move the body freely, whether you are dancing to your favorite song or doing hip circles to loosen up your lower half.
When trying to identify tightness in the body, she suggests standing barefoot with your feet firmly planted on the ground while exploring how your body wants to move, paying close attention to any areas that need extra movement.
Passion: Boehm says consciously engaging with our bodies ‘is the secret to finding deeper, greater pleasure.’ Paltrow is pictured in the 1999 film Shakespeare in Love
Hot topic: Paltrow explores romance and owning your desire in the second edition of Goop magazine, which features her and Brad on the cover
‘To me, sensual pleasure enhances and contributes to sexual pleasure. They are inextricably connected,’ she says, adding that taking note of everyday sensations can help train the body to be more aware of sensual connection.
Rather than provide more stimuli, Boehm explains that focusing on sensual awareness and creating sensitivity will allow sexual pleasure to be more readily available.
According to Boehm, even the feeling of a hair brush across the neck can help someone connect with the perception of pleasure.
When trying to create a more meaningful intimate relationship with a loved one, she suggests spending 10 minutes or more looking at each other and connecting through touch.
For those who would like to speak during the exercise, she advises complimenting each other or choosing a similar topic that will help create a deeper connection.
‘Before engaging in elaborate workshops, counseling sessions, or weekend getaways, consider whether you can accumulate daily pockets of connection that interrupt the status quo of the relationship,’ she says.