We are often told that the perfect morning routine involves meditation, a green juice, or hitting the gym. But as a sex and relationship coach, there is one foundational, body-honouring activity that I recommend to my clients above everything else: starting your day with an orgasm.

Masturbation is still one of the heaviest taboos in modern society. It is frequently labeled as dirty or shameful, wrapped in unhelpful rules that tell us our sexuality should be kept hidden away in the dark. This cultural hush creates a massive wave of self-consciousness, guilt, and body shame that can directly trigger mental health issues. It stops us from discussing solo play with our friends or partners, when sharing these ideas is exactly what brings us closer to our bo

Stigma is essentially a pleasure killer because it keeps the body in a state of fight or flight. When we feel like self-pleasure is a secret or a chore, our cortisol stays high and the blood never makes it down to the 10,000 nerve endings where we need it most. Whenever I see my clients, the first thing we talk about is that feeling loved has to start from within. If you can’t love yourself, you can’t fully love another, and this is exactly where masturbation comes in.

Let’s talk about a dirty little secret that is currently hiding in one in five bedroom drawers. Recent survey data has revealed a shocking statistic: 20% of people are not cleaning their sex toys after every use.