In short, exercising will leave you in a much better mood than you were in before you started.* The chemicals released during exercise are mood elevators and help to alleviate stress, which as everyone knows is the kiss of death to a good sex life. That's why sex feels so great when you're on vacation, especially when you're alone together as a couple. No job + no family + no alarm clock = no stress = great sex. What a nice equation, eh?

2. Pain relief. When done properly, exercise prevents and even relieves many forms of chronic pain. (If exercise is causing you pain, for heaven's sake seek professional assistance. Honestly. I shouldn't have to tell you these things.) Here, exercises like yoga or tai chi that are designed to increase flexibility along with strength are optimal.

Far too many of us spend way too much time doing exactly the same thing all day long. But our bodies weren't really designed with intense, unnatural repetition in mind. (Can you say, "carpal tunnel"?) Monotonous, repetitive activity - not to mention just sitting down all day - can lead to all manner of physical ailments, including chronic neck pain, chronic back pain, chronic leg pain, circulatory problems, do I need to continue? It's bad, OK? Really bad.

And chronic pain can be a double whammy to a sex drive. If the pain is bad enough that you're highly conscious of it, you'll be reluctant to do anything that might aggravate the problem. That doesn't exactly lead to free, uninhibited sex play. On the other hand, if the pain is low enough that you aren't always conscious of it, it will still be a constant, subconscious irritant, and that's going to leave you in a generally foul mood. Chronic pain = stress + irritability = lousy sex life. (See how simple these equations are?)

Regular exercise can undo (and prevent) most of the chronic problems of an otherwise sedentary lifestyle. Paying attention to ergonomics in the workplace isn't a bad idea either. But even if your office has furniture that vaguely reminds you of the Inquisition, an exercise plan that includes an emphasis on flexibility can work wonders.

[Swimming is great aerobic exercise, but remember not to swim without a buddy. Photo by Martin Harvey for The World Wildlife Fund]

3. Self-image. Honestly, how you feel about how you look has more to do with a great sex life than what your partner thinks. For one thing, confidence is a turn-on, to both men and women. I'm not talking about arrogance, OK? Nobody likes arrogance. But self-confidence is big attraction. (If you find that you prefer nervous, weak-willed partners you can easily dominate, again for heaven's sake seek professional help. I'm not kidding. I really shouldn't have to tell you this stuff.)

For another thing, liking how you look - and regular exercise will make a difference - makes being nude with your partner a comfortable and even erotic experience in and of itself. Being nervous or embarrassed about your partner seeing you naked is just another form of the icky "s" word - stress, the evil mood killer. When you feel good about how you look, you'll find you want to show it off. You and your partner will reap the benefits together.

And of course, if you happen to be single, feeling good about yourself will help you find someone great to be with. As I already said, confidence is a turn-on. It will also give you the courage to pursue the prospects you're really interested in (no more settling for "the best I can probably do," thank you very much). And it tends to promote open and honest communication, generally preventing you from getting in your own way. (Nervousness and anxiety are the biggest factors that lead us both to "bend" the truth and to misinterpret other people's intentions in negative ways. But more on that some other time...)

So there you have it. Tip #1 for a great sex life: get some regular exercise. It will put you in a better mood, you'll feel better physically, and you'll like what it does for your figure. Not to mention the fact that a well-rounded exercise plan will work wonders for your stamina, strength and flexibility, and at least for now, I'll leave to your imagination all the fun and wonderful things that could do for you.

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*It's worth mentioning that the specific combination of drugs released during exercise - due to the physical activity of exercise itself as well as due to our emotional responses of achieving a goal or enjoying "play" time - is highly complex. But the net result is clear: exercise makes us feel good.

In fact, the possibility exists that for some people it might feel too good. There seems to be some correlation between high levels of exercise and eating disorders in human beings, and rats have been found under some conditions to literally run themselves to death. So if you're exercising excessively while maintaining a very low caloric intake, again, please, seek medical attention.