The Energie from Natural Contours is an ergonomically shaped barbell kegel exerciser. This one-pound trainer is phthalate-free, comfortable and safe to use, and recommended by health professionals. By using for several minutes everyday for the first two weeks then every other day to just several times a week, you can strengthen your pelvic muscles before and after childbirth, increase bladder control, and gain control over your orgasms. Because of its shape, the Energie can also be used as a g-spot toy. But its smooth surface and non-flared base means that it is also unwise to use anally.

The Energie is made from iron-ore encased in ABS plastic. It is non-porous, phthalate and latex free, hypoallergenic, and an 8 on Eden's material safety scale. The exerciser is not at all realistic looking, it actually reminds me of an older telephone receiver. There is no smell, taste, or texture to the item. It is very firm and inflexible with a seam that I can only feel by hand. There are two small circles in the middle of the concave side that I can only feel by hand as well.

The shape of the Energie is (as I mentioned above) similar to an older, curved telephone receiver. It is ergonomically shaped to be comfortable for vaginal exercising. Because it is smooth and easy to use, it is good for beginners and more advanced users. The toy is rather discreet looking; if someone were to pick it up and not know what it was, they would probably assume that it was just an oddly shaped barbell (which, technically, it is). Even though this has more weight than your average small toy or vaginal exercise balls, it still is easy to travel with without being cumbersome.

Length: 7"

Circumference:
-Around larger end: 4"
-Around middle shaft: 2 1/2"
-Around smaller end: 3 1/2"

Diameter:
-Larger head: 1 1/4"
-Smaller head: 1"

Weight: 1 lb

The Energie comes with a very informative sheet of instructions in English, German, French and Spanish. There is a small drawing showing how best to use the exerciser. Though there have been some questions on how to exactly squeeze or work this, I found the instructions very easy to understand (though I do attribute that to years of reading women's fitness magazines).

To use the Energie, lie on a bed or the floor with your head propped up with pillows. Bend you knees with your feet flat on the floor. I found bending my knees slightly with my feet farther away from my bottom better than a more pronounced bend with my feet closer to my bottom in the beginning because this helped me feel that I was using the correct muscles for the exercise. Insert the exerciser (the drawing shows the Energie inserted to about right before the cervix) and take a deep breath. As you breathe out, pull up with the vaginal muscles as if you're trying to pull the Energie in. Hold for 30 seconds and release. Relax for about 30 seconds then repeat for 10 total repetitions. For fast results, perform this routine everyday for two weeks, and then continue for about 5 minutes every other day or so to keep your muscles strong.

On the instruction sheet, there is a note that says: "Simply 'squeezing' or 'contracting' may not engage the correct muscles. Imagine pulling the 'ENERGIE' up towards your belly button. This is how to engage the vaginal muscles." I know some people have confused that to mean to try to actually pull the exerciser inside them with their muscles (or to push it in with their hand), but it just means that that is what you should feel you're doing. You should feel that you're pushing the Energie up toward your belly button with your vaginal muscles, not bearing down on it or just simply squeezing.

It is also recommenced that you start with the larger head because it is easier to grip and feel at first. The weight is equally distributed throughout the entire trainer, so neither end is heavier than the other. Once you get stronger, the smaller end will be easier to grip/feel during use.

Because the Energie is plastic coated iron-ore, it is non-porous and completely safe to use with any type of lubricant. Cleaning the exerciser is also very easy using soap and water. The Energie comes with its own plastic storage box, which it sets right into. The box is small, discreet and easy to slip into a drawer or toy box.

The packaging for this exerciser is very nice! It comes in an 8" long, 2 1/4" wide, 1 1/2" deep white plastic box. The cardboard sleeve shows several photos of the green Energie, the manufacturer, product name and what it is, and a brief list of expected results from use. The white plastic storage box has "Natural Contours", "ENERGIE" and "vaginal muscle trainer" on the top. Inside is a shelf about half way down into the box with a cutout for the exerciser to sit into. Also included is the information and instruction sheet in several languages.

Without the cardboard sleeve, the Energie's box is somewhat discreet. If someone were to notice it out of the corner of their eye, it would just appear to be a jewelry box or something similar. It would become clear what was inside the box if someone were to read the top. But the packaging is very nice and would be suitable for gift giving.

I have personally never been one for kegel exercises. I have on occasion received the nickname "The Cooter of Power", but kegels were never my thing. The only time I ever really got any PC "exercise" was in the morning. I'm too lazy to get out of bed right away to urinate and, because I'm usually very horny first thing in the A.M., I'd just lie there and try to orgasm by squeezing my vaginal muscles as tightly as I could without having any "accidents". Doing that most mornings is as close to kegels that I've ever gotten.

I've never given birth (nor do I really want to) and I have no trouble controlling my bladder, but I've never experienced any mind-blowing, toe-curling orgasms. That is the reason I purchased the Energie. I figured that if you want to make your other muscles stronger, you lift weights, so this product should do the same down south. And so far, it is doing just that!

I purchased the Energie over a month ago, but I only had the time to start using it this past Monday. The very first time I used it, I had trouble actually performing the exercises the correct way. Instead of lifting the muscles (and exerciser) up, I was only able to accomplish mostly squeezing. But it was much easier the next day, and today (my fourth day of use), I'm able to do it exactly as instructed. I still have to squeeze my abs and buttocks instead of just the PC muscles completely by themselves, but I have no worries that eventually I'll rely less on those surrounding areas. And again, this is only my fourth day of use, so I think I'm doing pretty well so far.

There was some slight muscle soreness the first few days, as to be expected in the beginning of any strength training routine or from adding weight/reps to an already existing regimen. The soreness is not unbearable, uncomfortable or bothersome. Honestly, most of the time, I didn't really pay attention to it (plus it just helps me feel that this product is indeed working). After four days of use, there isn't much soreness anymore, so it doesn't last long.

As for how it's actually working so far: well, I can honestly say that yes, after only four days, I do feel a difference. Before, even though I was told that I had quite a bit of grip down there, I couldn't personally feel it. I could feel resistance when I tried to insert a toy or pull one out while squeezing, but just holding something inside me and squeezing — I couldn't really feel anything happening. Now, I can feel quite a bit more grip while inserting or pulling out a toy as well as being able to really squeeze something while holding it inside myself. Even just sitting and squeezing during the day I can feel more of the clenching than before. So yes, I really feel that this trainer is working.

As for some other reviewers trying to hold this in while standing? Yep, I tried that, too. The first time I used this, I inserted it while standing and tried to see if I could hold it in. And I was able to for a bit. I have tried since then and I haven't been able to. Though I attribute that to the surface being too slick and it was easy for the Energie to slip right out of me. The first time I inserted it, I didn't use lube (I actually don't use any at all whenever I use this), so the toy wasn't slick and I was able to get a better grip on it.

All in all, this is an awesome product. It does exactly what it was designed for. It's easy to use, clean and store. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to quickly strengthen their vaginal muscles because it works.