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Legal highs: Tantric sex

Tantra is a 5,000-year-old Hindu and Buddhist practice involving yogic and shamanic techniques to achieve enlightenment through sex. Quick western orgasms (there we go) are considered the sexual equivalent of a takeaway, whereas tantric sex is a slowly prepared, Michelin-starred meal. If you graphically depicted the curve of arousal (sorry), you’d see it rising quickly, then dropping off instantly after ejaculation (oh God). This speedy flooding of dopamine leads to a sharp emotional low directly after sex and the quicker the act, the lower the low. Tantric teaching is all about taking the emphasis off the orgasm and concentrating on the journey.

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 Is Tantra about sex or divine liberation? Why followers are split over the ancient yogic tradition

In a world of alternative therapies and new-age spiritual practices, Tantra holds a special place. This concept is largely associated with techniques for improving your sex life – but there’s a lot more to Tantra than sex. Modern Tantric sex practices, or so-called neotantra (which began at the turn of 20th century), sit alongside the ancient philosophical tradition of classical Tantra, for which written traditions go back to the 8th century and oral traditions even further. Practitioners from both sides, or Tantrikas, have tended to view each other with suspicion. But they have much to learn from one another if only they tried to understand each other more deeply.

Articles of Interest

A No-Bullshit Guide To Getting Into Tantric Sex

For many in the West, the word “tantra” conjures up images of Sting engaging in seven-hour marathon sex, but the practice has roots in both Buddhism and Hinduism going back thousands of years, and it contains many facets. According to the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion, tantra is an umbrella term that refers to a range of esoteric, spiritual and sexual schools of thought that “span several religious traditions and cultural worlds.” It seeks to address everything, from our understanding of liberation to pleasure, hedonism and death. Tantric sex, for its part, forms a crucial part of the larger tantra canon.

How to have tantric sex

But, believe us, tantric sex isn't just some kind of gimmick, it's an ancient practice. Tantra is basically an approach to exploring sexuality in a more ritalistic, spiritual or yogic context. Rather than being goal-orientated (aka orgasm-orientated), it's about exploring the sexual journey. If you're ready to open your mind and leave behind any preconceptions, tantric sex can lead to a pretty intense experience..

Sex in the slow lane

It is difficult to approach the subject of tantric sex with a straight face and an open mind when you have browsed the reading list of the SkyDancing Institute. SkyDancing, 'an ancient metaphor for the ability to achieve ecstatic states', is an organisation founded by Margot Anand, teacher of tantra and distributor of the rather platitudinous advice, 'instead of having sex, try making love'.

Tantric Sex For Beginners: It's Not All About The Orgasm

Between work, kids, and other daily stressors and responsibilities, sex can start to feel less like a priority and more like something you squeeze in whenever you get the chance. And while there's nothing wrong with the occasional quickie, slower, longer sex can help foster intimacy, emotional connection, and even more orgasms. Enter: tantric sex. Tantric sex is that long, slow, "souls-connecting" type of sex that prioritizes pleasure and connection over all else. “It’s sex that’s characterized by its emphasis on deep intimacy, sensuality, and mindfulness,” says Melissa Cook, an AASECT-certified sex therapist.

Tantric sex promises to transform your sex life. 10 tips for beginners, if you're keen to try

Ask anyone about tantric sex and they’ll probably tell you two things. That it's meant to be amazing, but that they don't actually have any clue what it involves. Don't worry - that's where this handy guide comes in. A bit like with the best sex games or fun sex ideas, you've all heard rumours about how it could improve your sex life. Steamy tantric sessions supposedly last for hours on end - but just how much of this is actually true? And if it is, how exactly do you try it yourself at home?

The art of tantra: is there more to it than marathon sex and massages?

The west reduced tantra to a quest for sexual liberation and wellness. But a new show charts its darker depths – from avenging goddesses to blood-drinking and self-decapitation

The Transcendence of Tantric Sex

A psychologist argues science can take a lesson from ritual about how to heal.

The Ultimate Guide to Tantric Sex & 7 Tantra Techniques For Tonight

This complete guide is going to teach you exactly what tantric sex is, what positions work best and how to use tantra to connect more deeply with your partner.

This is how we do it: ‘I bought a book on tantra – erections are not necessary’

Knowing my physical limitations, I bought a book on tantra, and suggested we reject the normal sexual agenda. Instead, we do a lot of very tender kissing, caressing and stroking. Erections are not necessary. There is a real overlap between mindfulness and this form of love making.

Weekend Sex Challenge: Tantric for Beginners

You may have heard of the sex scandal rocking the yoga world. It's kind of a big deal. Tantric sex in the yoga community is a no-no, but between two committed people it can be an incredibly powerful way to up the sexual intensity.

We’re Just Here for the Sex, Please

When learning tantric sex in paradise, it can be hard to separate the physical from the emotional.

What Is Tantric Sex? How To Practice Tantra's Intimate Form Of Sex

Tantric sex is a whole new way of being in sexual connection that allows you access to deeper levels of feeling, sensation, and energy, and ultimately more of who you really are. This path is simple but profound: It's about wholeheartedly celebrating the sacredness of our bodies and desires while bringing a quality of mindful awareness to the shared expression of pleasure.

Resources

5 Tantric Sex Secrets I Learned From a Goop Email (Thanks, Gwyneth!)

Sexy! The more you trust each oother, the more you can experiment. While most of us are a little afraid to experiment too much or let all of our sexual moods show in the beginning, the time to let all of that out is actually later on in the relationship—right when most people do the opposite and get comfortable in a routine. Instead, use that comfort level to go deeper and try the things in the back of your mind. You never know what's going to turn him on (or turn you on), but the point is to use the deep love and trust you have as a platform to explore it.