Is Tantra / Tantric Massage Sexual ?
" Is Tantric Massage sexual"- This is most frquent question that plays in people's mind. Most have the misconception that tantra massage is a sexual practice, but reality could not be more different from this. Tantra comes from philosophical Buddhist and Hinduist traditions that focus in the union with the divine. Amongst the extensive toolkit of this philosophy you can study meditation, breathwork, mantras (sound), yantras (images or mandalas), yoga and other physical practices that prepare the body to achieve higher stages of consciousness. Some practices can be done (and are recommended) in solitude and some others can be practiced in partnership.
The bodywork or massage is one of the practices that can be done in partnership, to relax the body and help moving the sexual energy (more dense), our life force energy, and spiritual energy (a lighter energy) around the microcosmic orbit, a series of points that follow the spine up to the crown and down to perineum along the chest and belly area. In the west this is misunderstood as a sexual practice since in Tantra Massage we actively work with awakening the sexual energy and expanding upon it through the energy points in the body however the intent is not the same as sexual intercourse or sexual pleaure . The intent is to experience something deeper, where the mind becomes still and the strongest force in the nature of our existence expands on releasing something deeper than just our desires. It helps in the release of deeply held traumas, blockages, incorrect breathing leading to fatigue and exhaustion.
Sometimes the body accumulates tension, and emotional weight that blocks the flow of that energy with the consequent disruption of the energy moving that is needed to achieve those higher state of consciousness, and massage with an experienced therapist can shortcut what could take ages or even never achieved with solo practices.
Tantra massage can involve sensuality, body awareness, breath, relaxation, emotional connection, and the exploration of physical sensations, but that does not automatically make it a sexual service.
So is Tantric Massage the same as an Erotic Massage ? Is Tantra Massage Sexual ?
No, Not necessarily ( with the exception of when its happening between partners )
A tantra massage focuses on awaken areas of the body that due to this energy shortage can feel numb or rigid, and it can also restore some areas where the nervous system is in stress mode. During a tantric massage, the practitioner assess whether if the client need to bring other areas of the body to a more sensory state. The intention in a session is also very important, and it may be relaxation, mindfulness, emotional release, greater body awareness, or a sense of connection with oneself.
This is the difference if we compare with an erotic massage, which specifically offered for sexual stimulation or pleasure, no judgment on that, but the word tantra has been used to refer to this kind of practices where there’s no awareness or knowledge about what was explained above, in regards to the clients emotional body, trauma body etc.
Tantra is about awareness, not simply sexuality
Modern culture often associates tantra almost exclusively with sex. Traditional tantric practices, however, are much broader.
They may incorporate:
* Conscious breathing
* Meditation
* Movement
* Mindfulness
* Body awareness
* Emotional presence
* Relaxation
* Connection
* Energy practices
A tantra massage can feel sensual, but then this word comes from senses, touch, temperature, scent, sound, breathing, movement, and physical awareness. Still a person can experience a massage as deeply sensual without the session becoming sexual, even some say it can feel like a quite spiritual or out of this worldly experience.
Some questions that are recommended to ask before choosing your tantric practitioner could be:
* What the treatment includes
* What it does not include
* Which areas of the body may be touched
* What clothing or draping is used
* The purpose of the session
* The client's boundaries
* How consent can be withdrawn at any moment
When expectations, boundaries, and consent are established from the beginning, tantra-inspired bodywork can be understood for what it is intended to be: a practice centered on conscious awareness of the body rather than assumptions about sex.
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