Somehow, somewhere, someone has decided that May is “Masturbation Month,” and if you think about it, there’s never been a better time to explore a little self-stimulation, now that we’ve had more than a year of self-isolation.

There are plenty of resorts around the world eager to greet people like these with open, oiled up arms. Whether you’re an experienced swinger or a young couple looking to test the lifestyle for the first time, the one thing everyone talks about after visiting is how welcoming this community is.

Buying lube can be, at best, embarrassing and, at worst, downright confusing, especially if the only type of lube you’ve purchased before is from the drugstore. But if you have resigned yourself to a life of using less-than-perfect lube (or you’ve avoided it entirely), you probably just need to try a different type to notice better results.

As much as sex-positive folks love to say, “Consent is sexy,” and, “If it isn’t a ‘Hell yes!’ it’s a ‘No,’” (two statements I wholeheartedly endorse), the omnipresent existence of rape culture makes understanding the intricacies of consent a bit difficult.

For those who want to keep using Instagram, Daniel Saynt, founder of sex-positive club NFSW, has a few tips. Saynt has been banned from Instagram multiple times, but managed to get his accounts recovered by asking other account holders to message Instagram on his behalf to ask for his account to be reinstated. “Unfortunately,” he says, “when you’re doing things alone you have little chance of getting your account back, but when you’re doing it collectively the amount of messages Instagram receives is enough to make them take notice.”

"Mindful masturbation is designed to increase your understanding of your body, discover new feelings, and help you explore new ways of pleasuring yourself," says Saynt. "The 'goal' is to be able to say, 'I really know my body. I know what toys and touches I like. I’ve spent this time with it. I’ve pleased myself.'"

“And if they're looking for untethered access (in the most literal of terms) to the most successful of their peers, they're not just joining Raya or The Wing. Indeed, NSFW (New Society for Wellness), takes things far beyond mere elbow-rubbing.”

"It's more focused on the mental over the physical, which is why it's more of an ongoing spiritual practice than a one-night stand or quickie. It's mostly about connection, but many tantra practices can also be applied to mindful masturbation, helping you self heal through its practice," Saynt tells us.

“More so now than ever, enthusiastic consent is something that people are talking about. ‘How do we take people from no means no to yes means yes?’ A lot of that has come from the maturity of the play scene,” Saynt tells Bustle. 

Bisexuality, pansexuality, sexually fluid, queer and simply “not doing labels” – all are different ways people identify to indicate that they are not exclusively attracted to either men or women.

Submissives were decked out with collars and leashes while they and their Doms were treated to some tutorials reviewing consent and safe impact play. 

"While past sex experiences may have been less than fulfilling, approaching new partners with a mindset dedicated to gaining the most from each other sexually and a vocabulary to navigate those situations will help you weed through those unwilling to put in the effort and find the gems that really know how to stimulate you."

“When I think of some of the earliest images that turned me on, I think of Tom of Finland,” Saynt tells Hornet. “His images captured a real moment in the emergence of gay/bi culture, of fashion as a part of an identity. He captured a strong, sensual side of male sexuality and in the process inspired a global movement of gay/bi men embracing leather.”