The Body as a Mountain: An Anatomical Journey Through Trekking

There’s something profoundly poetic about trekking up a mountain. Each step forward feels like a quiet conversation between your body and the terrain. Muscles contract and release, lungs expand like bellows, and the heart beats steadily—almost as if your entire anatomy is working in harmony with nature itself.

Imagine your body as its own mountain. The skeletal system forms the sturdy framework, like the ridges and cliffs that give a mountain its shape. Your bones—strong yet surprisingly dynamic—carry you upward with each step, absorbing impact and adjusting to uneven ground. The joints, especially in the knees and ankles, act like flexible pathways, allowing movement while maintaining balance on rocky trails.

As the climb intensifies, the muscular system comes alive. Your calves tighten as they push you uphill, your thighs burn with effort, and your core stabilizes your posture. It’s a coordinated dance of strength and endurance. Each muscle fiber contributes, reminding you that the body is not just a structure—it’s a living, responsive system built for motion and challenge.

Breathing becomes more noticeable the higher you go. The respiratory system works harder, drawing in cool mountain air and delivering oxygen deep into your lungs. That oxygen fuels your bloodstream, which the circulatory system tirelessly pumps throughout your body. Your heart, steady and resilient, becomes your most loyal companion on the journey.

Even your skin plays a role. It senses the chill of the wind, the warmth of the sun, and the roughness of the trail when you steady yourself with your hands. Sweat forms as your body regulates temperature, a reminder that internal balance is constantly maintained even in demanding conditions.

Trekking also heightens awareness of your nervous system. Every step requires coordination and quick adjustments. Your brain processes the terrain ahead, sends signals to your muscles, and keeps you alert to your surroundings. It’s a silent but powerful command center guiding your ascent.

By the time you reach the summit, there’s a sense of accomplishment that goes beyond the physical. You realize that trekking isn’t just about conquering a mountain—it’s about understanding the incredible design of your own body. Each system, each function, worked together seamlessly to bring you there.

In that moment, standing above the world, you feel not just the beauty of nature, but the quiet brilliance of human anatomy—strong, adaptive, and deeply connected to the journey itself.

Tips for sex during covid

While stating that you or someone in your household is the best choice of consensual sexual partner, the new guidance includes practical advice like sticking with one partner or as few partners as possible. It's also clear that if either person is feeling unwell, then they shouldn’t have sex.

Other tips include avoiding kissing, wearing a face mask and favouring positions where you’re not face-to-face, as well as using condoms or dams for oral sex and rimming.

There's also information about the importance of thinking about sexual health before starting to have sex again. That includes the strong recommendation of getting tested for sexually transmitted infections before starting to have sex again.

Sex is a normal part of life and should always be with the consent of all parties. This document offers strategies to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 during sex. Decisions about sex and sexuality need to be balanced with personal and public health. During this extended public health emergency, people will and should have sex. Consider using harm reduction strategies to reduce the risk to yourself, your partners, and our community.

But can you have sex?

Yes! Here are some tips for how to enjoy safer sex and reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. 

1. Know how COVID-19 spreads.

• You can get COVID-19 from a person who has it.
• The virus spreads through particles in the saliva, mucus or breath of people with
• COVID-19, even from people who do not have symptoms.
• We still have a lot to learn about COVID-19 and sex.
• The virus has been found in the semen and feces (poop) of people with COVID-19.
• We do not know if COVID-19 can be spread through vaginal or anal sex.
• We know that other coronaviruses do not easily spread through sex. This means sex is not likely a common way that COVID-19 spreads.

2. Have sex only with people close to you.

• 
  You are your safest sex partner. Masturbation will not spread COVID-19, especially if you wash your hands (and any sex toys) with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after sex.
• The next safest partner is someone you live with. Having close contact — including sex — with only a small circle of people helps prevent spreading COVID-19.
• Have sex only with consenting partners.
• You should limit close contact — including sex — with anyone outside your household.
• If you do have sex with others outside of your household, have as few partners as possible and pick partners you trust. 
• Do they have symptoms or have they had symptoms in the last 14 days? Most people with COVID-19 have symptoms, but asymptomatic spread is possible. Fever, cough, sore throat, and shortness of breath are symptoms to ask about. Note that asking about symptoms is not a perfect way to know whether someone has COVID-19.
• Have they been diagnosed with COVID-19 using a nasal swab or saliva test? People who have recovered from COVID-19 at least 10 days from the day their symptoms started and who have not had fever for at least three days are likely no longerinfectious.
• If two is company then three (or more) is definitely a crowd. Large gatherings of any type are not safe during COVID-19. Close contact with multiple people should be avoided. But, if you decide to find a crowd, below are tips to reduce your risk of spreading or getting COVID-19:
• Limit the size of your guest list. Keep it intimate.
• Go with a consistent sex partner.
• Pick larger, more open, and well-ventilated spaces.
• Wear a face covering, avoid kissing, and do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Always Bring an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• If you usually meet your sex partners online or make a living by having sex, consider taking a break from in-person dates. 
• If you decide to have sex outside of your circle of contacts or a hook up:
• Closely monitor yourself for symptoms.
• Consider getting a swab or saliva test for COVID-19 on a more frequent basis (monthly or within five to seven days of a hookup). 
• Take precautions interacting with people at risk for severe COVID-19 illness such as people over 65 years of age or those with serious medical conditions.
• Be vigilant with face coverings and healthy hand hygiene to minimize risk to others.

3. Having antibodies against the virus that causes COVID-19 or a prior positive diagnostic test do not mean definite immunity. Use test results with caution in helping you make decisions about sex.

• 
  A positive antibody test for the virus that causes COVID-19 may indicate prior exposure, but it does not mean you are immune from reinfection.
• A prior positive diagnostic test (nose swab or saliva) means you have had COVID-19 and may be less likely to be re-infected. We don’t know how strong that protection is or for how long it lasts.
• Be cautious in using these tests to make decisions about who you have sex with and what kind of sex you have since antibody test results are not definite proof of immunity. 

4. Take care during sex.

• Kissing can easily pass the virus. Avoid kissing anyone who is not part of your small circle of close contacts.
• Rimming (mouth on anus) might spread the virus. Virus in feces may enter your mouth and could lead to infection.
• Wear a face covering or mask. Maybe it’s your thing, maybe it’s not, but during COVID-19 wearing a face covering that covers your nose and mouth is a good way to add a layer of 3 protection during sex. Heavy breathing and panting can spread the virus further, and if you or your partner have COVID-19 and don’t know it, a mask can help stop that spread.
• Make it a little kinky. Be creative with sexual positions and physical barriers, like walls, that allow sexual contact while preventing close face to face contact.
• Masturbate together. Use physical distance and face coverings to reduce the risk.
• Condoms and dental dams can reduce contact with saliva, semen or feces during oral or anal sex. 
• Washing up before and after sex is more important than ever.
• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Wash sex toys with soap and warm water.
• Disinfect keyboards and touch screens that you share with others.

5. Skip sex if you or your partner are not feeling well.

• 
  If you feel unwell, or even start to feel unwell, avoid kissing, sex or any close contact with others. For more information, visit nyc.gov/health and search COVID symptoms.
• If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, avoid close contact with anyone outside your household and follow NYC guidance about how to prevent exposing others. People exposed to COVID-19 should get tested for the virus using a swab or saliva test.
• If you or your partner have a medical condition that can lead to severe COVID-19 illness, you may also want to skip sex.
• Medical conditions include lung disease, moderate to severe asthma, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, liver disease, cancer or a weakened immune system (for example, having unsuppressed HIV or a low CD4 count).

6. Prevent HIV, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy.

• HIV: Using condoms, taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and having an undetectable viral load all help prevent HIV. 

Sex during Covid-19

Let’s start with what we know right now. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, so direct contact with saliva—through kissing, for example—can easily pass the virus. While COVID-19 has not yet been found in vaginal fluid, it has been found in feces of people who are infected. So this means that rimming (oral/anal contact) and anal sex may spread COVID-19 as well. Remember that condoms and dental dams reduce contact with saliva and feces during anal and oral sex or oral/anal contact.

All close contact (within 6 feet or 2 meters) with an infected person can expose you to the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) — whether you're engaged in sexual activity or not.

A recent study has also found the coronavirus in semen, both in men who had active infections and those who had recovered, but it isn’t clear at this point if it can be sexually transmitted through semen.

The virus spreads by respiratory droplets released when someone with the virus coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can be inhaled or land in the mouth or nose of a person nearby. Coming into contact with a person's spit through kissing or other sexual activities could expose you to the virus. People who have COVID-19 could also spread respiratory droplets onto their skin and personal belongings. A sexual partner could get the virus by touching these surfaces and then touching his or her mouth, nose or eyes. In addition, the COVID-19 virus can spread through contact with feces. It's possible that you could get the COVID-19 virus from sexual activities that expose you to fecal matter.

Based on current evidence, coronavirus - the virus that causes COVID-19 illness - is not passed on through vaginal or anal intercourse.

If you or your sexual partner are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 – a dry persistent cough, temperature, or difficulty breathing – you should limit all close physical contact to stop the spread of the virus. This means avoiding physical intimacy, such as kissing and cuddling, as well as anal, vaginal, or oral sex.

If you decide to go online, be aware of what you are sharing and who you are sharing it with. Remember to only do what feels right. Your partner may want to explore this new way of being sexual but you shouldn’t feel pressured to share sexual content over the phone or internet if you don’t want to.

If you live in the same house as a regular sexual partner and you both have no symptoms, then you can continue having sex (with consent) as normal for your relationship. 

If your partner is having sex with other people who don’t live with you, then this increases your risk of getting COVID-19.

If you have sex with someone you don’t live with there are a few things you can do to lower the risk of getting or spreading COVID-19.

• Avoid kissing or exchanging saliva with anyone outside of your household.
• Avoid sexual activities which include licking around the anus.
• Use condoms or dental dams to reduce contact with saliva or poo.
• Take a shower and wash your hands and body thoroughly with soap and water both before and after sex.
• If you use sex toys, wash these thoroughly with soap and water and do not share them.
• Consider sexual arousal techniques that don’t involve physical contact – like talking.
• Mutual masturbation while physical distancing.
• Limit your physical interactions by reducing the number of sexual partners you have overall, and/or at the same time.

Having sex with yourself, masturbation, has no COVID-19 risk and is one of the best ways to keep enjoying sex during this pandemic. You can also explore other ways to have sex without anyone physically present, including through phone or webcam.

Leng Altura Controversial Photo

Recently, a Facebook user named Joshua Dela Torre has shared the photo of Leng endorsing a clothing line “KainPepe” owned by “Boss Toyo”. The photo garnered various reactions from the online community.

In the photo, it can be seen that ‘Boss Toyo’ is slightly holding Leng’s lower body behind while posing for a photoshoot. However, the photo shows that Altura permitted the guy and has no malice regarding the incident.

In the photo, it can be seen that ‘Boss Toyo’ is slightly holding Leng’s lower body behind while posing for a photoshoot. However, the photo shows that Altura permitted the guy and has no malice regarding the incident.

The social media icon Leng Altura’s “Nagpahawak sa Pwet” controversial photo is now circulating online and elicited comments from netizens.

Arlene Altura or popularly known as “Leng” is one of the most popular female personalities on social media. Leng is known for her dance cover videos on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and other social media platforms.

Altura rose to fame and garnered instant popularity after posting daring photos and dance videos such as “Neneng B,” “Ivana Dance,” “Macarena,” “Catriona,” and other entertaining video clips.

What can you say about this? Just feel free to leave your comments and reactions to this article.

Removing a condom during sex can result in dangerous consequences

The act of removing a condom during sex can result in dangerous consequences, leaving the person to a risk of pregnancy or STDs. The bill was filed in the House of Representatives and the solons said, they want to prevent the spread of sexually-transmitted diseases (STD), as well as unwanted pregnancies. "A violation of this conditional consent is not rightfully considered a form of sexual assault," the bill reads.

There are many sex trends out there that people try to either experiment or spice up their sex life. But ever wondered if a sex trend could seriously cause trouble for some? The latest sex trend that everyone has been talking about is called stealthing. According to Urban Dictionary, stealthing is an act ‘when a man removes a condom during sex despite agreeing to wear one so that he can cum inside the other person without their knowledge.’ This is a major issue as it’s an explicit breach of consent and once the consent is revoked it turns into a form of sexual assault. In several countries people who indulge in this creepy sex trend can be punished under the law.

A man removing the condom during sexual intercourse after agreeing to put it on, could soon be a criminal offence in the Phillippines. A House Bill 3957 or Anti-Stealthing Law was filed in the House of Representatives by AKO BICOL Party-List Reps Alfredo Garbin and Elizaldy Co in the month of August. If the bill is passed into law, then stealthing can become a punishable form of sexual assault.

The man will be penalized if he agreed to put on a condom first and thus lead to consensual sex. But during the sexual activity, if the condom is not used or removed without the consent of the partner, it can account to sexual assault. In a case of tampering the contraceptive even before the sexual activity, the person will still face charges. "With this bill, even children, teenagers, and seniors of any gender who are victims of sexual assault through stealthing may bring their offenders to face the police.

The disturbing sex trend was examined by Alexandra Brodsky for the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law who said the practice is not new but is rarely spoken about. Stealthing leaves a victim vulnerable to pregnancy or STIs and can cause emotional and physical harm. Often the partner doesn’t even realise or understand whether rape or sexual assault has taken place. Non-consenual condom removal is considered by most to be sexual assault as it forces an individual into a sexual situation they were not agreeing to.

Those who indulge in acts of stealthing will be sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined P100,000 to P500,000. In a case of passing on an STD or impregnating the woman, a man will be sentenced to 20 years and fined P200,000 to P700,000. And those who purposely commit the act with the intention of getting their partner pregnant will face stricter punishments. They could land a maximum of 40 years in jail and fined about P1 million to P5 million. In a case of forcing the partner to have sex after removing the condom, the partner stealthing will be held liable to rape and sexual assault. Apart from the Anti-Stealthing Law, it would be counted as a separate crime.

While the Phillipines will soon have an Anti-stealthing law, there are several countries where the dangerous sexual trend is already illegal. It is illegal in the UK, with consent being an important factor in the sex act. In the year 2017, A Swiss court also convicted a man for rape for an act of stealthing. In 2018, a first of its kind case of stealthing was prosecuted in Germany.

Sexual Anatomy & Sex

As HIV can be transmitted sexually, youth need to understand their sexual anatomy and different types of sexual activity. It is important that adolescent sex education lessons include basic male and female anatomical structures and physiology, where these structures are located, and their function related to sexual activity and reproduction.

To be inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth and to educate young people about the positive aspects of sexuality, lessons should include:

Puberty (brain development, biological sex, and reproductive anatomy and physiology)

• Sex (types of sexual activity, risks associated with different types of sexual activity)
• Sexuality (sexual expression)
• Sexual health
• Sexual Anatomy

Beyond the four biological functions of reproduction, most people use their sex organs (penis, vagina) to express their attraction to or love for a sexual or romantic partner.

Female sexual and reproductive organs include (in alphabetical order):

• Accessory glands
• Fallopian tubes
• Ovaries
• Uterus
• Vagina
• Vulva
• Male sexual and reproductive organs include (in alphabetical order):

Bulbourethral glands

1. Network of excretory ducts (epididymis, ductus deferens (vas deferens), and ejaculatory ducts)
2. Pair of testes
3. Penis
4. Prostate
5. Seminal vesicles
6. In both females and males, the perianal region (area around the anus) and anus may also be used for sexual arousal.

Sex
Sex can be defined in many ways. While some people believe sex only includes vaginal sex (penis inserted in a vagina), sexual health experts know sex involves a spectrum of activities. Some people engage in no, some, or all types of sexual activity. Everyone is different and the way they express their sexuality is also different.

Types of sexual activity include (in alphabetical order):

• Anal sex (penis in anus)
• Dry humping (genital-to-genital)
• Fingering or hand jobs (hand-to-genital)
• Kissing (lip-to-lip or lip-to-body)
• Masturbation (exciting one's own genitals)
• Oral sex (mouth-to-penis, mouth-to-vagina, mouth-to-perianal region)
• Outercourse (sexual stimulation between partners without anal or vaginal penetration)
• Vaginal sex (penis in vagina)

While each activity is a way to express attraction to or love for a romantic or sexual partner, it comes with varying levels of risk for HIV, other STIs, and unintended pregnancy.

The sexual response cycle is the sequence of physical and emotional changes that occur as a person becomes sexually aroused in response to sexual activity. There are four phases in the cycle: excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution.

Pregnancy is caused by semen (ejaculate) or pre-ejaculate getting inside the vagina or vulva. Usually this occurs as a result of male orgasm achieved during vaginal sex. It may also happen if pre-ejaculate is released during penis-to-vulva contact without penetration. The most effective ways to prevent unwanted pregnancy are to: 1) choose not to be sexually active or 2) if sexually active, use a dual method (condom and another kind of birth control) every time.

To be inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth and to educate young people about the positive aspects of sexuality, lessons should include:

• Puberty (brain development, biological sex, and reproductive anatomy and physiology)
• Sex (types of sexual activity, risks associated with different types of sexual activity)
• Sexuality (sexual expression)
• Sexual health

SAVE VAGINA NOW!

To maintain a healthy vagina you must know what to do to avoid infection and it is equally important to educate your sexual partner on some of them to also help you help the vagina.
Here are some few things you can do or avoid.

1. Fingering 
During foreplay or romance, as part of it some people insert their finger or fingers into the vagina. The question is, how many people wash their hands before sexual intercourse? Some people do not even keep their nails clean so it gathers a lot of germs and during the fingering, these germs are deposited in the vagina...leading to infection. Same thing apply to autopleasure acts or masturbation.

2. Anal sex
I am not here to tell anybody to have anal sex or not to but I simply want to draw the attention of those who engage in anal sex with the opposite sex that it is dangerous to have anal sex and continue having penovaginal sex. If this is done, the penis will pick bacteria from the anus and deliver them to the vagina even if you are using a condom....which will lead to infection.

3. Quest to make the vagina TIGHT
Some guys complain bitterly about the vagina of their sexual partners. They complain that it's too big and they no more feel any sensation during intercourse. Some ladies are therefore pushed to find a quick solution and in the process some use herbs or other substances in the vagina with the hope of making the vagina tight. Some of the substances cause infection or sepsis. Some of the herbs can cause the vagina to get tighter to the extent that penetration is no more possible. This will require treatment.

4. Douching 

Some parents, when bathing for their baby girls put warm water in a milk tin or dip a towel in the warm water and pour the water through a hole made beneath the tin or squeeze the water out of the towel into the vagina of the baby. This is sooooo WRONG as it can damage the hymen.
Some parents also insert ginger or pepper or both into the vagina of adolescents as a form of punishment. This is sooooo WRONG as it can lead to infection.
Some people are use to bathing by adding dettol or other detergents to the water and they put this solution inside the vagina with the help of sponge or towel or just the hand with soap to clean the vagina. This is soooo WRONG as it will change the normal flora in the vagina, leading to infection.

5. Use of water closet
Some people have the habit of not sitting on the seat of the WC when using it so they end up urinating on the seat. The possibility of picking infection when using it in that condition is high. Don't let your pant be at the thigh level when using the WC especially the public ones as the inner of the pant may rub the surface of the WC. Where the water is not running and people have used but have not flushed and you don't have any choice but to also use it, use enough toilet roll to cover before using the WC to avoid any splashes on the vulva.

6. Washing and drying 
Develop the habit of disinfecting your panties frequently...depending on the number of pants you have. Keep exclusive panties to wear whenever you are menstruating and don't mix those panties with your regular panties. Pay particular attention to those panties when washing. Ensure that the panties are made of cotton and are dried in the sun or well ironed to kill germs.

7. Change sanitary pads
Some people try to economize the use of their sanitary pads so during the period they tend to still wear the pad because there is little or no blood. This is soooo WRONG as it can lead to infection.

NB: If there is any bad scent from the vagina or there is a discharge coming from the vagina then it might be an infection which you have to have it treated.
Help save the vagina by ensuring that you get the message to as many friends as possible. Help save the vagina by getting the message to your sexual partner or sisters.