Interview on ‘The Living Room’
Australian School of Tantra, established in 1987.
‘Our vision is to facilitate access to the theories and practices of contemporary Tantra, including, relationship connection and sacred sexuality to enhance harmony, fulfilment and transformation for individual and couples.”
The Australian School of Tantra has professional accredited educators offering LoveWorks Couples Coaching Sessions around Australia, available in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Byron Bay, New Castle, Nowra and Bega.
About Traditional Tantra
‘Tantra’ means to expand, to be free, to be liberated.
Tantra is a spiritual science from ancient India and in its basic essence is very similar to Taoism from China. Both involve balancing the male and female energies to create harmony and both have an ultimate goal of spiritual unity with the universe or the source or God, (the God within, as opposed to God being separate from us).
The Tantric interplay of the male and female energies was represented in Hindu mythology with Shakti and Shiva, and represented in Taoism with yin and yang. Both Tantra and Taoism aimed to create union of body, mind and spirit. And in both, sexuality was seen and practised in a spiritual context.
It is said that Tantra is the oldest single source of knowledge concerning the energies of the mind, body and spirit. It is the origin and essence of today’s popular studies and practices of Eastern philosophies, including yoga, martial arts, tai chi and the grand philosophies of the Buddha, Confucius and Lau Tzu.
Contemporary Tantra and the LoveWorks Lessons
These sessions draw on contemporary sex research, the traditions of sacred sexuality, effective relationship theory, various personal development and body wellness practices and are about exploring ways to bring more love and intimacy into how you connect with your partner. They are about feeling more connected to yourself in ‘body, heart and soul’ and more connected with each other in ‘body, heart and soul’.
You are guided into how to bring more soulfulness, joy, love and a rich sense of pleasure into your intimacy together in a way that suits you both.
Whether you are so busy with life and kids and work that you suddenly see that you must do something for the two of you as a couple, apart from family, these sessions can open you to a new way of being together.
These lessons are also beneficial in a new relationship and want to start on the right foot, or have been together for many years and want to enrich or renew the connection between you. They are paced in a way to suit you both and are a gift in themselves, a lovely thing to do together, apart from what you will learn and will be able to bring into your life.
They are usually about one and a half hours long. They are very respectful and honouring, inviting a sense of the sacred into your relationship.
Common motivations why people want to find out about Tantra
- Just curious to see what Tantra has to offer.
- Knows there must be more to love and relationship.
- Too busy, too tired, kids etc and want new spark.
- To bring passion back!
- Want to learn some massage skills.
- She has lost her desire or he has lost his so there is a difference in desire.
- S/he wants more intimacy in relationship.
- Want to bring more soulfulness into or love life.
- One or both have broken up before from a long term relationship/ marriage. Now s/he has a new relationship and wants to learn other ways in improve teh arts of love.
- New in relationships/sexuality- want to gain more
- Health or lifestyle issues affecting couples intimacy and relationship.
Laura: Tantric Educator
Laura has been facilitating LoveWorks Tantra couples sessions in Sydney for five years after studying with the Australian School of Tantra. Laura skilfully guides couples through a series of four LoveWorks tantric lessons for couples. During the couples lessons Laura can also teach massage for couples. She also teaches the Loveworks program to singles.
Tantric Tips to enhance relationships,
- Scheduling ‘love and intimacy time’
- Preparing a special space
- Setting an intention, letting go of ‘distractions’ and ‘any negativity’
- Relaxing , using their breath to focus on ‘wellbeing’, ‘connection’ and ‘love’
- One partner to just ‘receive’, enabling that partner to relax, and deeply enjoy their own pleasure and not think about when and what they have to do in return.
- One to pamper or just to ‘give’ massage ( arrange another time to reciprocate )
- Connecting sensuality with emotional intimacy
- Modalities of touch, e.g. soft, firm, slow, fast, long or short strokes, location of touch and more.
- Sensual communication. Learn to ask what your partner would like, (instead of assuming you already know everything that they may like or not) be curious.
- Learn to ask for what you want, with non blame language, e.g., would you go a little softer/firmer please…and then a thank you, would you like this slower? Or would you like it faster?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I am worried that attending a couples coaching session will be confronting, is this true?
The sessions are conducted in a casual professional setting; our practitioners are sensitive to the needs of both partners. The sessions are non-confrontational, clothed and tailored to your individual needs as a couple. The sessions are conducted fully clothed. The LoveWorks will give you some theory and then guide you through some of the key practices, some of which you will practise at home.
Q, Do we have to be in a long term relationship to benefit from these sessions
Practitioners see young couples who have only been together for a couple of months as well as couples who have been married for many years and are much older. LoveWorks Tantra benefits couples of any age group, and stage of relationship.
Q, My partner and I have not practised Tantra, Yoga or meditation before, will these sessions still be of use to us?
Yes, the principles of Tantra are universal.
Simple keys to nurture relationship
It’s about creating and sustaining harmony and passion, whether you are new in relationship or juggling family life, relationship and career.
- Make a date for ‘loving time’, once a week.
- That can be simple as massaging each other’s feet,
- Just hanging out together with no interruptions.
- Remain curious and open
- Practice asking for what you want in single achievable steps.
- Regularly let your partner know that you appreciate them, (don’t just assume they already know).
- Positive feedback nurtures relationship!
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