You meet someone. You’re sexually attracted. You naturally want to know if the feeling is mutual. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to interpret the signs; just basic understanding of the language we speak with our bodies. Read on, and you will find yourself at a major advantage in psyching out the new object of your affection.

The Approach 

You’ve seen it in the movies. A woman is attracted to a man, and without realizing it, she is tossing her hair to the side, exposing a portion of her neck, or touching some part of her body—an unconscious signal she is interested in knowing more about him. When a man is attracted to a woman, he stares at her unremittingly, and the stare angles downward from the eyes to the lips, and maybe even further south. He likes what he sees, and he decides to investigate. In preparation for approaching his prey, he may also check out his hair in the mirror, and smooth it backward—assuming he has it to smooth—and he might also adjust his tie—assuming he has one on. His process may include sucking in his gut, flexing whatever muscles he can muster, and stretching his body in an upward motion to give the maximum appearance of height and virility. From the outside, a man on the make may seem like a peacock preening himself for the all-important move on the target in his crosshairs.

The Connection 

You have probably read about the process of mirroring—the act of two people moving in sync with each other, often without realizing it. That does not mean that when a man moves his arm to his chest, the woman should do likewise. Rather, it’s a matter of connecting on the same wavelength, projecting the same mood. These movements generally take place after a 10-20 second interval, and seem like a natural extension of the flirtation ritual. You can tell a lot about someone’s interest by how well they face you. When someone is feeling a connection with you, the hands and feet are extended squarely in your direction. If you have particularly keen eyesight, you will notice that their pupils increase in size as they talk with you, and they tend to blink more frequently. In fact, their eyes may even begin to blink in sync with yours.

Closing In 

Once you’ve had a chance to converse and connect, you will get a continuation of clues that will keep you aware that this nascent relationship is proceeding with promise. As you become more keenly aware that body movements matter, you will begin to automatically discover new clues to help you navigate the waters of this potential new romance.