Anal Training for Fun & Profit

A Self-Paced Guide to Discovering What Your Body Can Do

By Tom & Aria

Introduction

This guide is what we wish we'd had when we started.

Not another "grit your teeth until it stops hurting" manual. Not vague reassurances without practical detail. Just honest advice from two people (neither of whom experiences prostate pleasure) who've learned through careful practice, sharing what actually works.

Your body, your pace, your reasons. We're here to help you explore safely and enjoyably — whatever that looks like for you.

What This Guide Is For

This is about getting to know your own body.

Not pushing through pain. Not "getting used to it." Not suffering now for some promised payoff later. Just exploring a part of yourself you might never have paid much attention to, and discovering what it can do.

Think of it like yoga. Nobody asks "what's the point of yoga?" — it's practice, presence, developing a relationship with your body. This is the same.

You might be here because a partner sparked your curiosity. Maybe you read something interesting. Maybe you've been thinking about this for a while and finally decided to look into it. Maybe you just thought why not?

Whatever brought you here — your reasons are your own.

What you'll find here:

Practical advice on what to try and what to expect
How to listen to what your body is telling you
Techniques that actually work
A caring voice that wants you to enjoy the process

What you won't find:

Pressure to push through pain
Assumptions about why you're doing this
Rigid timelines or schedules
The message that this has to hurt before it gets good

Some people explore this to share with a partner eventually. Some people do it purely for themselves. Some find it becomes a meaningful daily practice — a few minutes of mindfulness and self-connection that's genuinely good for you. All of these are valid.

The real challenge is starting. Once you've gotten familiar with how your body works and your current toy feels comfortable, you'll either naturally want to try something more challenging or you'll decide you're happy where you are. Both are fine. There's no scoring system here, only opportunity to know yourself better.

Anatomy

Understanding the basics helps you work with your body instead of wondering what's happening.

The Path Inward

The Anal Canal (1.5–2 inches) The entrance. Two muscular rings (sphincters) live here, controlling access. This is where most of your conscious control exists, and where beginners naturally focus.

The Rectum (4–6 inches) Just past the entrance. A more spacious area that can accommodate quite a bit once you're through the canal. Most basic anal play happens here.

The Sigmoid Colon (10–16 inches) The first major curve. The sigmoid is an S-shaped bend connecting the rectum to the rest of your colon. This is where depth exploration becomes interesting — and challenging. The sigmoid doesn't open automatically; it learns to yield over time.

Beyond The descending colon runs up your left side, the transverse crosses your upper abdomen, and beyond that is territory most people never explore. We'll cover depth training later for those who want to go further.

The Two Sphincters

You have two distinct muscular rings controlling the entrance. Understanding them makes everything easier.

The External Sphincter (Voluntary) The outer ring. This is skeletal muscle — you can consciously control it. When you "clench" or "relax," this is what you're operating. You can train it like any muscle.

The Internal Sphincter (Involuntary) The inner ring, about an inch deeper. This is smooth muscle — it operates automatically based on nervous system signals. You can't directly control it, but you can learn to influence it.

This distinction matters. Many people focus only on relaxing the external sphincter and wonder why they're still hitting a wall. The internal sphincter is the real gatekeeper, and learning to work with it is one of the most satisfying parts of this practice.

How Your Body Learns

The muscles involved are smooth muscle. They don't strengthen like biceps, but they do adapt:

Stretch adaptation — Smooth muscle exposed to consistent, gentle stretch learns to accommodate that stretch as normal
Sensitivity adjustment — The muscle learns to relax in response to familiar sensations rather than treating every insertion as a threat
Resting tone changes — Over time, baseline tension adjusts, making relaxation easier

This is why gentle consistency matters more than intensity. Regular practice creates more adaptation than occasional intense sessions. Your body learns what's "normal" based on what you actually do, regularly.

Starting Out

What You'll Need

A first toy

Look for something small, body-safe, and tapered. A good starter plug is typically:

Around 1–1.4 inches diameter at the widest point (larger people may prefer the higher end)
Body-safe silicone (non-porous, easy to clean)
Tapered for gradual entry
A good base that keeps it in position and helps with removal

On bases: people with penises tend to prefer a T-bar shape, while people with vulvas often find a round base more comfortable. But the space between everyone's buttocks is unique, so it's worth starting with something small and inexpensive to see what works for you, then upgrading based on what you find.

Small silicone plugs are cheap, and there's no harm in getting a 3-size variety pack so you have immediate options to experiment with. Don't start too ambitious — something that feels almost too easy is perfect. You're learning your body, not proving anything.

If you're curious about depth exploration later, there are toys designed specifically for that — see Depth Training. But for starting out, a simple plug is ideal. Build confidence with the opening first.

Lubricant

A few options:

Silicone-based lasts the longest, but isn't safe to use with silicone toys (it degrades them over time)
Water-based is universal and safe with all toys, but dries out faster and may need reapplication
Fractionated coconut oil is a great middle ground for solo play with silicone toys — it's natural, has a lovely texture, lasts for hours (especially once inside), and it's good for your skin

Note: Oil-based lubricants aren't compatible with latex condoms. If you're using toys with a partner and condoms are involved, stick to water-based or silicone-based lube.

Cleaning supplies

A good toy cleaning spray (kills bacteria, prevents odours)
Wet wipes designed for intimate use (for yourself, before and after)
A clean towel (for drying toys and protecting surfaces)

A comfortable, private space

Somewhere warm where you won't be interrupted. After a shower is ideal — you're clean, warm, and relaxed.

First Wear

Preparation

Give the toy a good run under the hot tap before towelling dry. This isn't just about cleanliness — warm silicone feels completely different from cold silicone against sensitive skin. The warmth helps your body relax and accept.

Apply plenty of oil. A gentle coat all over the body of the toy, and liberal amounts on the tip. More than you think.

And if you get partway in and realise you need more? That's completely fine. In fact, using the tip to get some oil inside is a great way to warm up the outer opening and start waking up the inner one. Think of it as a practice run before the main event — get partway in, take it out, add more oil, and continue. You're not abandoning progress; you're being kind to yourself.

Finding the Entrance

Some people like to start with a finger to get oriented. Others prefer to let the taper do the work and go straight to toys. There's no right answer — just whatever feels comfortable for you.

Position-wise, what works varies by person and by toy size. Some options to try:

Foot on the bath/bed — lets you lean into your knee while having good access, easy to rock forward and back
Lying on your back — knees up, feet pulled toward your buttocks, on a towel to catch stray oil. Good for relaxing.
Crouching with knees apart — offers maximum passage for larger toys

Experiment. What works for a smaller toy might not be ideal for a larger one. If something feels challenging in your usual position, try a different one before assuming the toy is too big.

Insertion

Rest the tip at the entrance. Don't force anything — just recognise that something's there. It might tickle slightly. Breathe slowly and let yourself relax.

While the tip is waiting, gently press while rocking your hand slowly back and forth — rocking, not rotating. Rotating adds friction and stress to the opening; rocking is more like a gentle knock on the door, asking permission. You're not pushing in so much as inviting.

Resistance is okay. The external sphincter is designed to stay closed. Gentle, patient pressure teaches it that this is safe.

Pain means slow down. Not "push through it" — actually slow down. Take a breath. Let your body catch up. Pain is information, not an obstacle to overcome.

For your first time, the main thing is just to relax. Breathe slowly. Let your heart rate settle. Don't overthink it — you're using a small toy, and if you're calm and patient, your body will figure it out. The opening responds to relaxation, not force.

There's a deeper muscle (the internal sphincter) that you'll learn about over time. For now, just know that if the toy seems to stop partway in, that's normal. Maintain gentle pressure, keep breathing, and often it will ease through on its own. If not today, then tomorrow. Each time you practice, your body learns more.

If It Goes In

It will probably feel VERY strange at first. Your body is used to this being an exit, not an entrance. The sensation of something staying there is unfamiliar.

It's completely okay to remove it and try again, or just rest and try another day. Each time you practice, your body learns more. There's no failure state here — only information.

Removal

Hold the base firmly between finger and thumb. Don't yank — just apply gentle outward pressure and let yourself push it out from inside. It's the reverse of insertion: you're working with the muscle, not against it.

The first few times, you might want to do this over the toilet or in the bath, just for peace of mind. You'll be fine, but feeling safe helps you relax.

If it feels like a lot, stop, take a breath, then try again in a minute. You have plenty of time.

Next Steps

Mastering the Inner Sphincter

Now that you've had your first successful wear, you might be curious about that internal gatekeeper — the muscle that sometimes seems to have a mind of its own.

The good news: many people never need to consciously "master" it. They just relax, breathe slowly, let their heart rate settle, and the muscle opens on its own. If that's working for you, great! Keep doing that.

But if you want more control — or if you're finding that inner muscle stubborn — here's what to explore:

The internal sphincter is involuntary, meaning you can't directly tell it to relax. But you can learn to send it a signal. Some people describe it as "bearing down without pushing" — a specific sensation somewhere below the base of your spine. It's hard to describe until you find it.

When you do find it, the feeling is unmistakable: not "it's okay to open" but "it's time to open now." A gentle command, and then the toy suddenly moves smoothly through with almost no friction. Your body doing what it's told. That satisfaction is real.

Some ways to explore:

Hold the toy in place with gentle pressure and simply wait, relaxing, seeing if the sphincter releases on its own
Experiment with that "bearing down without pushing" sensation — it takes practice to isolate
Try different positions; sometimes a slight angle change makes all the difference
Notice what mental state helps (calm? focused? distracted by something else?)

This takes days or weeks of conscious practice, and even then can be hit-and-miss. Don't stress about it. The "yield command" is mastery you can enjoy later — not a requirement for good experiences now.

Building Comfort

The more regularly you wear, the easier everything becomes. This isn't about pushing duration or size — it's about familiarity. Your body stops treating insertion as unusual and starts treating it as normal.

Even fifteen or twenty minutes a day makes a real difference over time. Some people wear while watching TV, reading, doing work. It becomes background rather than the main event.

Width Progression

Once your current toy feels easy — insertion is smooth, wear is comfortable, you barely think about it — you might naturally want to try something a bit more challenging. Or you might not! Both are valid.

If you do want to progress:

The next size up should feel achievable, not intimidating
A gentle guideline: no more than about 0.2 inches wider per week. That sounds small, but 0.2" feels bigger than you'd think
Expect the internal sphincter to need some retraining for each new width
The process gets faster each time — your body already knows how to adapt
Consistent gentle increases are healthier than jumping sizes and wearing yourself out

The real progress isn't the size — it's the relationship you're building with your own body. The knowledge of how it works, what it can do, how to work with it instead of against it.

Rest Days

It's perfectly fine to take a day off. You won't lose progress overnight.

In fact, if you've done a lot in one session — especially with a new size — a rest day can actually help. The muscle recovers, and you often find the next session easier than if you'd pushed through.

Listen to your body. If you're sore, rest. If you're eager, practice. There's no schedule you need to follow.

Noticing Change

Here's something worth trying: next time you're in the shower, take a moment to feel how your opening feels. At the beginning of this practice, it might have felt tight, locked, impenetrable.

After a few days or weeks of regular use, check again. It's more supple now — still strong, but it knows it can allow entry when it wants to. It's learned.

That's progress you can literally feel with your fingertips. Your body has changed because you changed it, gently and patiently.

Diet & Hygiene

Taking care of yourself and your toys isn't just maintenance — it's part of the practice. You feel cleaner, more comfortable, more confident.

Toy Care

Before use:

Rinse under hot water (warmth matters!)
Dry with a clean towel
Apply lubricant generously

After use:

Rinse with warm soapy water
Spray with toy cleaner to kill bacteria and prevent odours
Dry thoroughly before storing

Personal Care

Shower beforehand when you can. Being clean helps you relax and enjoy without worrying.

Keep intimate wet wipes handy for a gentle wipe after removing the toy. It's a small thing, but it helps you feel fresh and taken care of.

The Fibre Secret

Some people douche regularly. It works, but it's not ideal for daily practice — it can irritate tissue and disrupt gut bacteria over time.

The gentler option: psyllium husk powder.

It's a type of fibre, cheap and widely available (Metamucil is one brand, or buy plain psyllium). A teaspoon a couple of hours before bedtime helps everything stick together on the way out the next morning. The result: predictable, complete bowel movements that leave you feeling genuinely empty and clean — like a pipe cleaner's been run through your system.

How to take it:

Put a teaspoon in a couple of fingers of water in a glass
Drink it quickly to get past the slightly mushroomy flavour
Rinse the glass with a bit more water and drink that too
Follow with at least a full glass of water so the powder has plenty to work with

It thickens fast, so don't let it sit. And do drink plenty of water — fibre needs liquid to work properly.

You may notice results as soon as the next morning, or it might take a few days for your body to adjust. Either way, you'll learn your rhythms — when you're reliably empty, how long after eating, what times work best.

Knowing Your Window

Once you understand your own patterns, timing becomes easy.

For example: you might find that after your morning coffee, you have one complete movement within half an hour, and then you know you're clear until evening. Everyone's different — the key is paying attention and learning what's true for your body.

You don't need to be obsessive about timing. Just notice your patterns and work with them.

Depth Training

This section is for those curious about going deeper — beyond the rectum, into the sigmoid and beyond. It's entirely optional. Many people are perfectly happy exploring width and comfortable wear without ever going here.

But if you're curious...

The Sigmoid

About 6 inches in, you'll encounter the sigmoid colon — an S-shaped curve that connects the rectum to the rest of your digestive system. (See Anatomy for more detail on the path inward.) This is a natural stopping point for most toys and most play.

Getting past the sigmoid requires:

A suitable toy (long, slim, very flexible, soft silicone)
Patience (the sigmoid is smooth muscle — it yields slowly)
The right angle (it's a curve, not a straight line)

Technique

Position matters more for depth work. Many people find lying on their left side helps — gravity works with you, and the sigmoid naturally curves that direction.

Use a slim, flexible depth toy. Rigid toys can't navigate the curve safely. The tip should be narrow enough to find its way, and the whole thing should bend easily.

Insert slowly until you feel resistance. This is the entrance to the sigmoid. Apply gentle, consistent pressure — not forcing, just asking. Breathe. Relax. Wait.

The sigmoid will gradually yield. You might feel the toy curve or turn slightly as it finds the path. When it releases, you'll feel it — a sense of the toy moving deeper with less resistance.

Resistance means wait. Pain means stop immediately. The tissue here is delicate. There is never a reason to force anything.

What It Feels Like

It's hard to describe until you experience it. There's something genuinely novel about feeling an object 12, 14, 16 inches inside your body. You might be able to feel it from the outside, pressing gently on your abdomen.

Some people find it intensely satisfying. The knowledge that your body can do this, that you've trained it to yield, that you're exploring territory most people never even consider.

Long-Term Depth Training

With regular practice, the sigmoid can learn to accommodate more easily. Some people wear slim depth toys overnight, allowing hours of gentle presence to teach the sigmoid a new resting position.

This is advanced practice. Don't attempt it until you're comfortable with significant depth while awake, and always use appropriate toys (slim, flexible, secure base).

The Satisfaction

There's something uniquely rewarding about depth work. It's not just physical — it's the satisfaction of knowing you've trained your body to yield to you. That you're in control. That you know yourself more deeply and intimately than most people ever will.

If you choose to share this with a partner eventually, that preparation makes everything easier and more comfortable. But even purely for yourself, there's real value in this kind of self-knowledge.