If you’ve been skipping the art of cuddling and other forms of foreplay to rush into erotic encounters, you are wasting a powerful aphrodisiac! While your body and mind might want to jump to the main event, engaging in foreplay serves to heighten sexual tension and leads to a more intense sexual experience.

As defined in Merriam-Webster dictionary, foreplay is erotic stimulation preceding sexual intercourse. Foreplay includes touching, hugging, kissing, cuddling, caressing, and every act of love that excites your partner or sends a passionate message. Foreplay is important because it helps provide you and your partner with enough stimulation for enjoyable and satisfying sex. Some benefits:

• Foreplay lowers inhibitions and increases the level of comfort within the couple.
• It stimulates a man to achieve the strong erection needed for penetration.
• Women require time to be sexually stimulated, foreplay helps with this goal immensely.
• Foreplay encourages vaginal lubrication to flow, which allows comfortable vaginal penetration and pleasurable sexual intercourse.
• Foreplay increases the strength of desire and passion in lovemaking.

Sex is a combination of psychological and physical reactions, but it all starts in the brain. Compliments, love notes, and sexy phone calls all help set the mood. If you build up the sexual tension throughout the day, both of you will enjoy a passionate night ahead.
All over the surface of our bodies are sensory receptors, which react to stimulation and makes you feel good. These sensors require stimulation to work though, so touching and caressing will make you feel excited and ready for sex.

A recent study showed that couples who cuddle regularly and spontaneously not only have stronger relationships, they also have lower levels of personal stress. Stress often leaves your muscles tight with tension, so if you want a really relaxing cuddling session, find a comfortable place to stretch out your arms and legs completely. For relaxing cuddles, there's no need to embrace tightly. The desired effect will be achieved just by soaking up each other's energy in the places your bodies touch.

Cuddling is a very tender and intimate way of connecting with your partner, so it's natural that sometimes it leads to an even more intimate experience. Touching skin makes you more aware of your own body and the body of your partner. Capitalizing on this heightened awareness can create some very sensual foreplay. The most intimate embrace allows you to look into your partner's eyes while also connecting your erogenous zones. Try intertwining your legs with your partner’s so that you are facing one another in a full body embrace, leaving your arms free to touch softly or offer a sensual neck massage.

Massages are another way of touching; they can be strictly therapeutic or sensual. If you visit a professional, there are many types of massages he or she can offer you. However, you don’t have to be a professional to give your lover this treat! Massages are helpful before physical exercise, assisting muscle warm-up and blood circulation. Massages are also helpful after a workout because they help keep carbonic and lactic acid from settling in to muscles, thereby reducing muscle contractions and aches. You can use your hands or a mechanical device. For the sake of intimacy, it is probably better to use your hands. Whether it is a stress reliever for the end of a tough day or a precursor to something more intimate, a good massage definitely goes a long way in adding that spark to the evening.

Setting the stage for a sensual massage:

• You do not want to be interrupted, so lock all your doors and unplug the phones.
• Play soft, relaxing music such as classical, New Age or jazz. Avoid loud vocal music or beats, and anything else that might be distracting.
• Light candles. If you use scented candles, choose just one or two complementary scents.
• Adjust the room temperature so it’s comfortable for someone wearing minimal clothing. Ask if your partner feels comfortable.
• Scatter some rose petals to add an extra romantic touch.
• Try experimenting with touch using props such as silk, feathers or flowers. Touch lightly enough to tantalize, but not tickle.
• A glass of wine or champagne with tropical fruits adds to your romantic setting.
• Several massage oils are available to aid the gliding of your hands over the skin.

Giving a sensual massage is almost as good as receiving one. It's a special time for just the two of you, an alternative universe where you can focus all of your care and attention totally on your partner. The both of you come together physically and emotionally. While sex is not a necessary outcome from a sensual massage, and should not be the only goal, the pure physical intimacy can lead to some very passionate moments. 

Additional ideas to turn the heat up:

Take a shower - Cleanliness leads to good sexual performance. A shower builds up your senses and loosens muscles. It naturally increases your blood circulation, making you more receptive to sensual touch. Better yet, you could go in for a shower along with your partner, making it a good beginning of foreplay.

Use a light touch - Turn your hand over and very, very lightly trace patterns or circles on your lover’s body with your fingertips or nails. It's certain to send shivers up and down their body. The key here is to start slowly at first and gradually increase the level of passion as you both shoot for the moon.

Kiss - Start kissing in a very subtle and gentle manner on their lips. You could start using your tongue, enticing his or her mouth to open, while pressing your lips harder and more passionately. Then you can increase the kissing, moving to the back of the neck and ear lobes. Then, once your partner is turned on, you can move on to explore other areas.

Start at bottom - It has been observed that during foreplay, a lot of attention is given to the face and upper abdominal parts. For a change, try to start from the bottom. Try out the toes first, then the legs, moving to the inner portion of the thighs. Kiss the backside of ankles, blow on back of the knees. Stroking and massaging the inner and outer thighs helps in increasing the flow of blood to the genitals, making the genitals more receptive to touch and orgasm.

Use blindfolds - Whenever one of the senses is forcefully covered, the other senses become keener. Blindfolding leads to anticipation while he or she attempts to use more of touch and feel.

Next, try oral foreplay. Oral sex is one of the most common forms of foreplay used by couples. The use of dental dams or condoms is advised if you are unsure of your partner’s sexual history. Oral foreplay can be performed in a variety of positions to help increase the stimulation and excitement of either partner.                                                         

Star 69 - Starting with this classic, you face each other's genitals for a great double oral sex session. In this position, your partner lies on the bottom and spreads his or her legs in the air, while you make your way on top. While on the bottom, the partner can use each free hand to provide extra stimulation. You can also use your fingers if your tongue starts to get tired.

The nosedive – The partner rests on her back, raising her legs over your shoulders. You should place your hands under her buttocks to provide added support. Because this position can be strenuous, pillows should be placed under the shoulders and neck.  Take this position slowly and ask your partner how she is feeling a couple of times.

The dairy cow – The man is on all fours, while the partner lies on their back with his or her head directly beneath the groin area. One benefit is the man has the option of controlling the movement and the intensity of how he gets pleasured. Also, he can "teabag" it: dropping his scrotum into the partner’s mouth for extra gratification. This position lets the partner lie back and give a great ride without having to do as much physical work.

Throughout your exploration of foreplay, make sure you vary your approaches and ideas on a regular basis. Changing ideas will electrify your sexual encounters, leading to new pleasures one or both of you may have never experienced before. Ask your partner what he or she likes and what feels good. When you show your lover you are committed to their pleasure and are willing to try new techniques to please them, it brings both of you closer together. Never put your pleasure first. Have a goal to send your partner to new heights every time you have sex. You won’t regret it!