Tightness an issue?

Relaxation. You do not need to stretch out before use. Focus your thoughts on your tail bone....there's no muscles there, but it might allow you to relax if you can distract your mind a bit.

qwerty,

I agree with 'waveseeker', what your are experiencing sounds like a relaxation problem. There is absolutely no necessity to force stretch your anal sphincter muscles. Trying to do so may actually injure yourself by creating small tears in the anus. It is much better for you to take the time to thoroughly relax yourself before attempting to insert your Helix. Various methods have been suggested to help accomplish this, such as taking a hot shower or bath, soaking in a hot tub/jacuzzi, having a partner (or self) perform a massage of the buttocks/anus area, a glass of wine or a beer, just listening to soothing music, whatever works for you.

One more vote for Relaxation.

I've been very fortunate and for most of the year have been able to achieve what I thought was very deep relaxation. Recently I've been attending my HMO's monthly meditation class. (based on Zazen). Now, sitting I can attain far better states of relaxation. And some of this has carried over into my sessions since I have a better relaxation standard than I did before.

If you are interested in Zazen, it's very simple and here's a link -- Meditation 101: How to Start --

Four tips my HMO teaches that aren't in 101:
1) Allow about 20 minutes for a Zazen session and start by taking 4 slow giant breaths
2) Don't think about anything other than your breathing.)
3) Avoid falling asleep
4) When you cease meditation, stay seated for one minute to stabilize your blood pressure.

hang loose, stay loose, enjoy rook

//// six years later and my answer is the same -- learning to relax remains key to my Aneros experience. A couple of years ago I embarked on a "large toy" trip. Getting a bit stretched out didn't seem to improve my sessions since most of my involuntary responses are further up inside. ///

Can kegals have an effect on tightness in the sphincter muscles?

I have been practicing doing kegals for several weeks, and it seems they have made my sphincter muscles tighter and makes insertion more difficult. I don't want to push and force the device in, for fear of hurting myself; Once the Aneros is in, there is no discomfort.

Some days the tightness is not too much an issue and things seem to fall right into place; some days my sphincter feels so tight you can't get a pencil in there. I am exaggerating but you get the point.

i agree with the others that its probably a matter of relaxation, but aside from that, in my case it helps to gently insert a well lubed finger in my hole before attempting to insert aneros. It helps to loosen the sphincter and after the finger exercise the aneros will slide in with no effort at all.

Definitely relaxation.

The best trick is to tease your hole into desiring the aneros. Then it will relax and open. Lube the tip of the aneros, and use it stroke and tempt your hole. Push it in just a little, move it around, and pull it out just a little. Experiment, and find what feels good. Be creative, be lusty. Maybe with your other hand, tickle a nipple. Use a fantasy like the aneros is somebody's finger or tongue. Only go in as far is your hole lets you.

This might take multiple sessions before you train your hole that the aneros is a friend and lover, not an invader.

Darwin

Relax and use a lot of lube.

Going to chime in and agree with relaxation. I find the tightness doesn't always feel like its under voluntary control, which is probably to be expected since it sort of keeps itself closed all day. I find the kind of relaxation is a little different than normal, like remembering to reset the relaxation and being aware of the tension you're holding. It's not something we're used to doing... or at least I'm not, and it was something I had to get used to mentally.

I'd say relaxation.

As I write this, I am drinking a coffee, and if I draw my mental attention to my outter anal sphincter, I can detect that I am using force on it to make sure it's closed. I am not sure. But I am not completely relaxed.

If I now draw my concentration to relaxing that set of muscle, which takes 10+ seconds, I can detect that I am no longer clenching my sphincter, and I feel as though I am in the process of getting involuntaries, indeed, I just got a very quick involuntary clench out of it.

So it's more than likely relaxation.

Make sure you use lots of lube though. I imagine using bad water based lube will probably dry up and cause issues which might make you clench more.

I find I don't have issues with my aneros normally can get it in quite easily. I just invested njoy pure plug medium and I find it quite tight to get in. It's great once it's in place but with the extra size it's more of an effort.

The others are right, relaxation is the key. I would like to add another thought as well.
It sounds like perhaps there is still a tiny bit of your brain telling you that there shouldn't be anything going in there. Your outer spinckter is under your voluntary control, but your inner one is not. It's probably the one that is being stubborn. I suggest you try conciously telling yourself that you REALLY want your aneros inside you and as you gently apply the pressure to insert it, tell yourself that it'll feel wonderful and that you want to invite it in. You will find that as you start getting better results, your muscles will recognise that and open up very willingly for your best friend! It is the rare time when I have any trouble inserting because my body is looking forward to the pleasure to come. It will be the same for you eventually.
Good luck, have fun and don't get frustrated. Your body will learn to love your helix....just give it the time it needs.

Is it important that the sphincters be loosened to some degree beforehand with a bigger object, say, a butt plug or a dildo? it always seems that regardless of how much I relax, i'm clenching onto the helix. Is this a relaxation problem or a 'stretching' problem?

Hi [USER="6332"]qwerty[/USER], I agree to the RELAX-fraction. Furthermore I would say it may be a size problem and a friction problem. If you are still a stranger to anal play, you may underestimate the size of the helix. Although I'm familiar with some bigger objects I wondered why the slim Eupho Syn was that much easier to insert than the Helix Syn, as it seemed not that much bigger.

On one hand the silicone layer is a big plus for having fun with it, on the other hand it adds some good deal of friction to the surface, making it even more difficult to get it inserted. The silicon surface, too, refuses to adhere any lube (as known f.e. from nanocoated helmet visors). Not knowing whether you own the original Helix or the Syn version it maybe a good advice to apply more lube to your sphincter and your anal canal. For this purpose I bought a special applicator device (for vaginal gel). This tool helps to insert the lube deeper into the anus. Another idea might be to slip a condom over the Helix for better adhesion of the lube.

Last but not least it helps me to screw things in and to use another orientation as usual. For example lying on my left side I would put the Helix as designated if lying on my back. Having fully inserted it I finally would turn it to it's recommended position.

As @karvec1959 said, "Good luck, have fun and don't get frustrated. Your body will learn to love your helix....just give it the time it needs."
Approving all his suggestions, as your mind* is what matters most on your journey, I only want to add: It's worth it, trust us!

(*search for "pdf The Multi-Orgasmic Man")