Let’s face it, it’s not as if swinging is the most common lifestyle out there, so it’s understandable for first time swingers to want to research some more information on the subject before they get involved. Today, we’re going to take a look at what swinging is, why people do it, how to prepare yourself beforehand and what you can expect from your first encounter.

Swinging, put simply, is an act where individuals or partners in a relationship have sexual encounters with other people. The most common form of swinging is where one couple exchanges sexual partners with another couple and has intercourse with one another. Of course, swinging isn’t limited at all to sexuality, gender or extent of sexual activity – in fact, the variety of options available to swingers makes the activity accessible to everyone and anyone.

So why swing? Swinging has a number of benefits beyond the obvious one – sex! We all know that sex is healthy, natural, good for the mind and a great way to burn calories, but swinging brings a lot more to the table than just the benefits of sex. Being honest with your partner about sexual activities outside of your relationship is important. Swingers do not promote or consider ‘cheating’ to be any less of a problem compared to the general population. Swinging is a way for couples to be truthful about their desires and to avoid heartache – with swinging, you remove the secrecy of an affair and remain honest to your partner. First time swingers should be aware that research on swinging has found that it increases the happiness within a relationship, with one Internet questionnaire finding 90% of those asked felt their relationship improved after they started swinging.

It’s important to note that swinging clubs and party holders should encourage openness; couples should be fully aware of what their desires are and how far they are willing to go well in advance of becoming first time swingers. The most successful swinging encounters are backed with communication, a must have virtue when dealing with relationships and sexuality. If you’re considering being involved with swinging, sit down with your partner(s) and analyze what you both want from the experience and explore how you are going to deal with the situation. While you may not think it’s a possibility now, jealousy does occur from time to time and dealing with how you evaluate that emotion during the encounter is important. Discuss every detail that could affect your encounter and do so honestly; the swinging experience depends on being truthful and open.

Swinging etiquette is a very important part of the swinger’s code – if you’re new to the idea of swinging and are not sure of what is permitted, be sure to read up on swinging customs so you’re fully aware of what’s expected of you. First time swingers should be comfortable and confident when it comes to their initial engagement – a process made easy by proper planning and prior reading.