Anastasia Williams

Her glutes unclench before she can stay with you. Those deep hip muscles grip when she's still guarding the room. When they soften and her pelvis finally settles, she's stopped bracing. Squeeze her while they're locked and she pulls further away.

Her psoas lets go before she leans toward you. Those deep hip cords stay short when she's bracing for the day. When they lengthen and her pelvis wants to tip forward, she's already choosing you. Rush that and she locks them again.

There are never two equal sides to abuse. There is an abuser, there is a victim, and there is a power imbalance between them. Yet when I turned to the legal system, years of coercive control were repeatedly reduced to two people telling different stories.

I promise you: trauma survivors will break out of every box you try to put us in, literal or otherwise. You have never met a human more hell bent on not feeling controlled or trapped than a survivor recovering from complex trauma.

Her hamstrings soften before she can lean into you. Those long ropes up the backs of her legs stay taut when she's still holding the day upright. When they finally give and her weight wants to sink, she's arriving. Pull while they're locked and she braces harder.

Many of the things we're going to have to do to take care of ourselves, we're going to do w/ an imperfect attitude-- & you know what? That's fine. I don't need you cheerful & whistling while you keep yourself alive. Trauma & recovery suck. Have an attitude. And, do the stuff.

An attitude shift I recommend making in trauma recovery is deciding that you're not available for "maybe." If someone really wants access to you now, they have to be all in on the fact that certain sh*t from yesteryear was uncool-- & certain boundaries are non-negotiable now.

"They" will likely never understand-- what you experienced, what you need, what you deserve, what you can do. We have to stop hoping that someday, somehow, they will. Assume they'll never get it, and build from there. It's a little sad-- but a lot liberating.

New on The Guardian : “‘I turbocharged my career then pressed eject’: why couples are getting divorced later”

Her pelvic floor softens before she can want you. That deep hammock of muscle stays clenched when she's managing the room. When it finally melts and heavy, desire has somewhere to land. Push while it's gripping and she goes numb.

New study highlights key differences in how relationship dynamics relate to sexual desire in men and women

Her sacrum drops before she melts into you. A tucked tailbone is armor dressed as posture. When that bony plate at the base of her spine finally yields and heavy, she's stopped holding the room up. Push before that and she stays braced.

Sexual humor, characterized by sensitivity and intimacy, is associated with relationship closeness, reduced discomfort, and playfulness, correlating with higher sexual and relationship satisfaction. #SexualHumor #Intimacy #RelationshipGoals #SexualSatisfaction #LoveAndLaughter

It is often assumed that the longer a couple is together, the more they engage in sexual self-disclosure. But research doesn't support this. Factors that predict sexual disclosure include: relationship satisfaction, secure attachment, and sexual assertiveness. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Her shoulder blades drift apart before she lets her chest meet yours. Pinched blades aren't mood — she's still wearing armor. When they soften and ease open a fraction, she's already making space. Press then and both lock back.

The tell is her waist. It yields before she lets you pull her in. A tight waist isn't mood. She's still guarding the middle. When that band lets go a fraction, she's already making room. Grab then and she'll lock it.

Sex coaches miss this: her knuckles go soft before she reaches for you. That tiny unclench isn't politeness — her nervous system just dropped the guard. Match that pace.

Sex coaches miss this: her hip crease softens before her thighs open. That tiny release at the fold isn't random — her pelvis just said yes. Follow that, don't force past it.

'differences in views of intimacy outside of marriage' if you think intimacy requires marriage you aren't a feminist.

The promised land always lies on the other side of the wilderness. Havelock Ellis

Sex coaches miss this: her sit bones widen before she sinks into you. That quiet spread in her pelvis isn't accidental — she's making room on purpose. Match that, don't rush past it.

Jennine Estes Powell has built a career helping couples move toward healthier relationships. A PLNU psychology alumna, therapist, author, and business owner, she continues to turn counseling expertise into meaningful support for others. https://bit.ly/4AtqD5V

"Under the Radar" speaks with two intimacy coordinators about making sexy scenes realistic and also safe for all involved. https://bit.ly/3T9j9UZ

Sex coaches miss this: her nail beds blanch before she comes. Watch the half-moons — when they go pale against your back, she's past holding back.

Sex coaches miss this: her scalp tightens before she comes. When the skin at her hairline pulls taut under your palm and tiny goosebumps rise, her body's already mid-wave — watch that, not her face.

Understanding Your #Love Languages movingpastdivorce.com/2019/03/unde...

6 Ways Single Parents Can Deal With #Dating Challenges movingpastdivorce.com/2026/06/6-wa...

5 ways to make small gestures count in #marriage by Terry Gaspard www.gottman.com/blog/5-ways-...

1 in 3 Gen Z men and nearly half of Gen Z women say they haven't masturbated in 90 Days or longer. Social media fads like "NoFap" appear to be sticking, despite a lack of scientific backing. https://www.playboy.com/read/sex-relationships/gen-z-sex-survey-masturbation

Sex coaches miss this: her toes flatten before she moans. Curled toes mean she's still bracing. When they uncurl and press wide into the sheet, her body's already ahead of her mouth — chase the sound and you miss the wave.

Do you have a soundtrack to your sex fantasies? If so, you're not alone. It's common for people to imagine specific songs or types of music while they fantasize to facilitate a certain mood. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2021/11/15/sexy-sounds-the-songs-people-hear-in-their-sexual-fantasies/

Your partner says, “I don’t want that.” You hear, “I don’t want you.” That gap between what happened and what we decide it means is a pattern I see across my coaching work.  Learning to hear the information before creating the story makes room for safer communication. #Relationships

Sex coaches miss this: her pinkies uncurl before she stays. Hooked pinkies mean she's still half out the door. When they soften against your ribs, she's already choosing — rush then and both hands lock.

A woman’s success or confidence doesn’t take anything away from her partner. I see this with high-achieving women who find themselves shrinking at home to protect someone else. Healthy confidence doesn’t require a partner to be less powerful, less successful, or less visible. #Relationships

Sex coaches miss this: her upper lip goes quiet before the kiss. When she's in, the fidget under her upper lip stops. That stillness is the green light most men talk right over.

Sex coaches miss this: her tongue tip softens before the kiss deepens. That soft tip against her teeth means her nervous system already said yes. Match that pace and she opens; hurry the kiss and she stays polite.

Sex coaches miss this: her eyebrows lift before she says yes. Watch that half-second rise. Her nervous system already chose you. Match it and she stays open; talk over it and the yes goes cold.

Sex coaches miss this: her nostrils give her away first. Watch the flare right before she leans. That's her body saying yes half a beat before her words. Match the pace and she stays open; rush and the lean dies midair.

Her eyelids go heavy before she says yes. Not sleep — permission. When the lids linger half-shut and don't snap open, she's already in. Push talk then and they fly wide again.

Her cheekbones flush before she admits she wants more. Warmth climbs the bone under her eye first — not shame, desire. Catch that and stay. Call it out too soon and she cools.

Could too much estrogen be quietly wrecking men's erections? 📬The full edition drops tomorrow—don’t miss it! 📩 Want it sent straight to you? Tap the link to subscribe and get it delivered to your inbox! 👉 https://newsletter.renamalikmd.com/

Could the way you breathe at night be affecting your sex life? 😮 Learn why mouth breathing and airway health have a bigger impact than you think. Discover the science behind sleep, nitric oxide, and blood flow in our latest episode! Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/iRbvUS9XUGs

Talking about sexual struggles feels hard for many couples. In this episode, Dr. Rena Malik, Dr. Alan Shindel, Dr. Christian Nelson, and Dr. Justin Dubin explains why just starting (even briefly) can change everything. Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/aJlK0qZD-Xo

Has anyone ever made a sex education book for young people that actually talked about how to ENJOY sex?

The Partitioned Psyche: Understanding the Divergence of Emotional Intimacy and Sexual Arousal Introduction A central paradox in relational psychology is why certain individuals experience a fundamental divergence between emotional closeness and sexual arousal. For many, deep affection, safety, and…

Her temples warm before she decides to stay. Cool and tight = still scanning exits. Warmth under your thumb = her mind stopped leaving — hold still a beat longer.

Her sternum softens before she lets you closer. Flat and high = still braced. Softens a notch and her chest opens = already choosing — rush and it climbs again.

Her collarbone drops before she lets you closer. High collarbone = still braced. Drops a fraction and her chest opens = already choosing — rush and it climbs again.