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Review: A Very Tantric Valentine's Day
Photo by Never Cool in School via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
My girlfriend and I took our first tantric sex class this past Valentine’s Day. Our collective curiosity was peaked as a new erotic adventure stood before us on the most amorous of holidays. Despite instructor Deva Charu’s tantric explanation -- “contrary to popular belief, Tantra is not all about sex” -- I though yeah, right!
It turns out I was wrong. Charu continues on tantra: “it is actually a path of meditation…what sets it apart from other ‘paths’ is that it looks to the wisdom of the body and the senses as a means to becoming more present and alive in every aspect of our life.” That all happened over the course of this three hour session. I was somehow alright with being wrong.
School’s In Session
Having brought our own pillows and blankets (oops -- we left them there,) my girlfriend and I descended upon Sacred Energy Arts, a Santa Monica yoga studio. The students looked a mix of curious first-timers seeking unique Valentine’s Days, and tantric returnees sporting confident looks.
As the day was Valentine’s, the class was special occasion tantra, a Tantra Puja Ritual. Charu described the Puja ritual as “breath, movement, sound, and guided meditation to enrich each meeting throughout the ceremony.” Soothing music was the perfect bed to Charu’s encouraging instruction. With my Blackberry stowed, and Christmas lights and candles providing illumination, it was easy to sink into the moment.
We first split from our partners into same-sex groups. For a moment it felt like a junior high dance. Then I realized I never wore my yoga clothes to one of those pubescent trainwrecks. As we got to know our same-sex group members, Charu encouraged us to to discuss our across-the-room love interests. We told each other through free-association what we sought in significant others. I soon felt like my new friends and I were all more than ready to return to our dates. After all, we had just spent a chunk of the evening in direct eye contact, telling other dudes what we wanted in a relationship.
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The exercises with our partners were in a variety of seated positions -- some more intimate than others, though none too rude. There was a lot of breathing, soft speaking, and eye contact. One interesting exercise involved gliding a rose pedal across your partner while being deeply complimentary. It was then I imagined those who arrived as singles, and joined a random partner, were probably not leaving alone.
Success
Our evening of Tantra Puja wasn’t what I had imagined. Through simple exercises I realized that tantra probably wasn’t about physical closeness as much as spiritual closeness. And that deeper mental connection leads to physical closeness. That’s not the path my brain picks on it's own, but I felt it worked.
As my girlfriend and I walked down Main Street, back to my car, I couldn’t help but squeeze her hand. We were definitely closer. This evening was a great reminder that Valentine’s Day can be spectacular so long as you’re creative. I’d like to try this again.
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Learn more from Deva Charu via her (her blog.) Tantra For Dummies will help you along as well.
Have you ever tried this? Comment below!
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