10 Best Workouts for Your Sex Life

Sexy exercises

By Sarah Klein

It's no secret that exercise boosts your mood, jump-starts your sex drive, and improves your overall health. But that still doesn't always get you to the gym.

So what could be better than a workout that takes your mind off the fact that you're working hard to burn those calories? 

"Sexy workouts help us tune into our bodies in a sensual way, so we feel more receptive and more interested in sex," says Marianne Brandon, PhD, a clinical psychologist and sex therapist in Annapolis, Md.

Apart from doing the deed itself, these 10 exercises are the sexiest ways to break a sweat. They'll get your heart racing—in more ways than one!

Pole dancing

No longer just for exotic dancers, pole-dancing classes have sprung up around the country—and appear to be here to stay. Private studios and nationwide gym chains alike offer lessons, no experience necessary.

For women with flagging libidos, it can even act as treatment. "I often recommend this with my patients as homework," says Brandon.

Just don't expect it to be a walk in the park! Sessions can involve hours of strength work (how else do you stay on the thing if not for clenched muscles?) and sultry swiveling to upbeat tunes.

Salsa lessons

Hit the dance floor for steamy salsa lessons and burn 200 calories in half an hour. You don't need to be a great dancer—classes across the country are full of people of all backgrounds and levels. Plus, a workout where you get to don a flirty dress and racy heels can't be bad! 

To really stoke the flame, grab your significant other and take a lesson as a couple. Studies show partners who try something new together reap big benefits both in and out of bed!

Strip aerobics (cardio striptease)

You don't have to look like Carmen Electra to test-drive her striptease-as-cardio workout plan. And don't worry—you don't actually take all your clothes off! 

This class is more about sexy, stripper-like moves than disrobing—although you can feel free to peel off a sweatshirt or T-shirt, if you want to.

While strip aerobics could still seem intimidating, devotees stress it's fun and sexy at any size or shape. Join a class where a choreographer can help you learn the steps, or slide into some fishnets and pop in a DVD at home—with or without an audience!

Chair dancing

Chair-dancing workout DVDs seem to have been predominantly relegated to late-night infomercials. But there's a fitness gem buried even in this risqué routine. Gyrating and jiggling is highly encouraged—and the result is tight abs, legs, butts, and more. 

Many private studios are beginning to incorporate these moves into their pole-dancing or other sultry dance classes.

"I tell [patients] they can then use those skills with their partner at home; they can give it as a gift on Valentine's Day," says Brandon, author ofMonogamy: The Untold Storyand co-author of Reclaiming Desire: 4 Keys to Finding Your Lost Libido.