Up for some erotic exercises? No, they aren't part of a new workout regimen, just a of carnal caresses that will fire up desire and add oomph to your bedroom encounters. (Sex Skills).

Hey, we're all for ravenous gotta-have-it-now nooky, but there are also times to indulge in leisurely lovemaking. And as it turns out, taking it a little slower in bed can actually supply a much bigger payoff. Intrigued? Thought so.

Here's the deal: Meandering down the passion path instead of breaking into a sprint allows you to become more aware of the textures and contours of each other's bodies and relish the sheer pleasure of touching and being touched. You can up the intensity further by embarking on this steamy step-by-step plan in which each level builds on the last. It's composed of three specific tactile exercises designed to tune you in to your partner's body ... and vice versa. The one catch: Breasts and genitals are off-limits--at least for a little while. But don't worry, you'll get to those goody baskets eventually. Happy trails!

SEXERCISE 1

take turns touching

Begin by letting him touch you exclusively--without having to reciprocate simultaneously, you can shut off your need-to-please impulses and completely concentrate on all of his skin-tingly caresses. Then it's his turn for the hands-on treatment, but be careful where your fingers wander--his member is to be ignored for now. "For many people, touch is genitally focused," says Mark Schoen, Ph.D., director of sex education at the Sinclair Intimacy Institute in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. "Concentrating on other body parts gives you a chance to experience different sensations."

You might want to try a slow muscle-melting massage. Besides boosting blood flow, which makes every inch of you that much more sensitive, "massage decreases stress hormones, making you more relaxed and receptive to sensation," says Hilda Hutcherson, M.D., author of What Your Mother Never Told You About Sex.

Erotic extra: Don't speak--talking distracts you from ...