What is “Tantric Breathwork”? Is this like pranayama?

Well no, this isn’t like that. Most things folks would call Tantric Breathwork ARE forms of pranayama, but this is a deep experiential reclining breathwork session with music, more like Holotropic or Rebirthing type breathwork. I’m offering and holding it as a White Tantra practice here, with a specific intent.

The idea is that we have ways our system is set up to resist or narrow down the flow of energy, which interferes with our experience of freedom, pleasure, and power in life and in Tantra. There’s an edge beyond which we are uncomfortable with the feeling of energy flowing freely, which forms kind of a ceiling or lid on the energy we can experience, I call that our Alive-O-Stat. It’s like a thermostat that keeps the energy within an allowed comfort zone. That’s usually connected to ways we were suppressed in the past, and our ideas of what is “appropriate” and safe to feel and express. This kind of breathwork helps us expand that range, and lift our Alive-O-Stat setting. Ultimately that feels good, and helps us open to waves of pleasure, which is a Tantric capacity. But often there’s also challenging emotions there that need to flow to open the pipes. So we might experience either waves of pleasure or emotional release in this breathing, in any combination. We also might experience the numbness and disconnection that’s separating us from strong energies and feelings. It’s all part of the process.

Then what’s the cuddles? Are we cuddling while we do the breathing?

No, we’ll do the breathing in our own space, then have sharing and a break. The cuddles are optional after that. It’s not intended to be a sexual experience, and no one will actually have sex. But this isn’t an official “Cuddle Party” brand experience, and we’re more free to explore Tantric connecting and intimacy in ways we feel moved, with our own healthy boundaries, and respect for the comfort of everyone.