Berman Center Juno Weighted Pelvic Exerciser - Cal Exotics

This month California Exotics have sent me Juno, which is a weighted pelvic exerciser. This is very different to kegel balls, and can’t be inserted internally while you perform your daily tasks. Those who find kegel balls difficult to use might benefit more from Juno, due to its shape and size difference.

Why Kegel Exercises are good for you:

I’m a firm believer in kegel exercises and the benefits they provide. Most women who come across kegel exercise, and kegel exercise devices, have turned to these due to urinary incontinence, effects of child birth, or just a general belief that their vaginal wall isn’t as tight as they expect. So far I have not had any of those experiences, but I still perform kegel exercises daily due to the other possible advantages gained through having strong and well maintained pubococcygeus muscles (PC muscles). Having control over well toned PC muscles can benefit men and women of all ages. In women, kegel exercises can help tighten the vaginal wall, increase blood flow and lubrication to the vagina, produce stronger and more enjoyable orgasms, and be used as a way to stimulate oneself without using hands or a toy. In men, kegel exercises have been known to help prevent premature ejaculation, and even produce ‘dry’ orgasms, meaning that they are able to experience multiple orgasms.  In both men and women, having strong control in your PC muscles can also make anal sex more enjoyable, because you are able to learn how to relax the rectum. During intercourse both men and women can feel the benefits of kegel exercises, and flexing your vaginal muscles over your partners’ penis can make the experience more exciting and enjoyable for you both. So if in the past you’ve felt that there’s no need to do kegels, think again, as you are missing out on a lot of advantages.

How you find your PC muscles, and getting them working:

The kegel muscles/PC muscles/pubococcygeus muscles are a group of muscles that can be found in both men and women; they range from the pubic bone to the coccyx bone. Within the muscles’ area, you will find the urethra, anus, and in women, the vaginal orifice. The PC muscles encase these and give support to the bladder, uterus, and rectum. Knowing the whereabouts of the muscle isn’t enough for most people, especially if you are unused to using your kegel muscles. There are two mains ways to help you distinguish your PC muscles. One way is to stop the flow of urine when you are next relieving your bladder; the muscles used to stop the flow of urine are your PC muscles. The next way is to insert two fingers into the vagina and open them up in a V formation, similar to the peace hand gesture, and try and squeeze the muscles within your vagina to make the fingers close; the muscles you are contracting to do this are your pc muscles. Once you have found your PC muscles, it is recommended to empty your bladder before trying to perform kegels. Before using an exercising device such as Juno, you might benefit from doing kegel exercises without a kegel device, while you are still becoming confident in using them. Start of by doing a few sets of repetitions a day, and then working up to doing longer sessions, varying the speed and strength of the muscular contractions. You can do standard kegel exercise lying down, standing, sitting; anywhere and anytime, no one will know you are working out your PC muscles. If you experience any form of abdominal pain, urinary infection, or you are on the first few days of menstruation, it is advised to avoid doing kegel exercises until these problems subside.

Juno Kegel exerciser:

Dr. Laura Berman Intimate Basics Juno is a firm plastic kegel exerciser, with weighted stainless steel balls positioned inside it. The plastic is firm, seamless, and smooth, which reminds me of a glass toy. This toy is different from a glass toy though; one thing that makes it different is that the plastic is at room temperature, whereas a glass toy would be cooler. The plastic is slightly coloured and reminds me of the brown tint you find in cola bottle jelly sweets. This toy is free from latex and phthalates. There are four weighted stainless steel balls inside the plastic. Unlike duo tone or ben wa balls, these do not move about. The circumference of each ball is the following: 4.5 cm for the smallest, 6.5 cm for the next sized ball, 9 cm for the third, and approximately 11 cm for the largest ball. The toy curves from one ball to the next, with the distance between each ball varying slightly. From the smallest to the second ball there is a 4 cm gap, the second to the third ball there is 4.5 cm gap, and the third to the fourth and last ball is 6.5 cm. The total length of the toy is 17 cm. The weight of the toy is approximately 120gms – my scales aren’t the best.

 The toy comes in a clear plastic blister pack. Inside you will find a cardboard insert placed behind the toy. The piece of cardboard has a small amount of information regarding what Juno is used for, and there are guidelines on how to use Juno effectively.  It is recommended you start off only inserting the smallest ball, and trying to support it with you PC muscles while standing. You can use a hand to support the rest of the toy. After you are confident in performing you kegel exercises with the first ball, you are then recommended to work up to inserting the next size ball. Once you have built up more confidence and pelvic strength, you can flip Juno round and insert the larger ball, and try and hold Juno in with your PC muscles. Again you can work up to inserting the next ball to make the exercises harder. If you have trouble inserting Juno you are able to use any type of lubricant, including silicone, with Juno, in order to aid insertion.  If you are nervous about using Juno while standing you can use it either in a lying position or kneeling too.

Juno size difference compared with Lelo Luna Kegel Beads

When using Juno I did find gripping the smallest ball difficult - not because my muscles couldn’t hold it, but because I feel the waved curved between the smallest and second ball wasn’t long enough to accommodate my PC muscles. When gripping my PC muscles, I feel the main grip around 2inchs into the vagina, but the gap between the first and second ball is only 1.57 inches. Some people may not experience this problem as everyone’s anatomy is slightly different. I feel that the product could overcome this by either making the distance between the balls larger, or making the first ball larger in size, but not weight, so it acts as an anchor when placed past the main PC muscle threshold. Also the two smallest balls become very slippery to hold within the vaginal walls, and even if your vaginal muscles are strong enough to support them, they can still slip out easier than the larger balls, as their shape doesn’t anchor like the larger balls. When the two smallest balls were inserted I could grip my pelvic floor muscles round the toy and support it easier, and when contracting my muscles tighter the toy moved back and forth. I could feel my muscles gaining a slightly harder workout than when performing kegels without the device. When switching the toy round to use the largest ball I did find it slightly difficult to insert. You may need some form of lubricant to help. My PC muscle seemed to naturally grip round the larger ball, and thanks to this I was able to focus on doing more rapid and intense exercises, as well as being able to feel greater results. After working up to inserting the larger ball with success, I was then able to insert the ball just before the largest one; again I was able to comfortably grip the two balls, though I was unable to work my muscles as long as when I was only working out with just the larger ball.

To make the workout even harder you are able to gently tug Juno when inserted, while you contract you PC muscles. This will act as a form of resistance training, and give you muscles more to work with.

I have tried using Juno as a dildo, but found the rigid plastic and shape to be uncomfortable, especially if the smallest ball is inserted first. It feels like a sharp prodding when a thrusting motion is used. I do find this slightly strange considering that when the toy is used as a kegel exerciser, it doesn’t seem to cause much discomfort.

Cleaning Juno is very simple. Due to its smooth hard exterior, you only need to use your standard toy cleaner and give it a quick wipe over.

Overall, I like the Juno kegel exerciser, but I feel I still need something slightly more challenging. I’m sure that I am still experiencing greater benefits from using it as compared to when I don’t use any device, but maybe I need a toy a level up in weight? I still think this would be a great kegel exerciser for most people, especially as you can work up the different weight levels. I also feel that it’s a good option for those who don’t like kegel balls.


You can purchase Juno here.