A practice called karezza, in which couples have sex but don’t climax, is currently in vogue. Supposedly, it creates a feeling of closeness unlike sex with the usual goal. All that teasing and no reward at the end? That heightened intimacy had better feel amazing!
The practice isn’t new, says the Daily News. Karezza dates back to 1896 at least, when Dr. Alice Bunker Stockham “encouraged ‘male continence’ as a way to strengthen marriages, and suggested women follow suit on the basis of equality.”
Fair enough. We’d imagine that men in 1896 would probably need a little “encouragement,” as it were, not to, ahem, end the encounter too soon. One author elaborated in a 2009 book:
“Even for those with the highest libidos, performance can become a grind and drive a craving for novelty,” she says. “It’s a practice about not-doing, about getting your goal-driven mammalian mating system out of the way long enough to fall into a state of relaxed union.”
Ah, we get that. But if you decide to practice karezza (from the Latin word for “caress”), make sure your partner is onboard too. There’s nothing worse than getting hot and bothered and then watching your significant other snoring next to you. Total buzzkill.
Follow Sexcerpts on Twitter!: @Sexcerpts_SK
