The 4 Myths about Meditation

If you resist meditation, you may be buying into one of four common myths about it, says Ronald Alexander.

The majority of my clients resist mindfulness meditation at first, although the time commitment is small and the payoff is enormous. One insisted that it wasn't necessary and that she didn't have enough time in her day to devote to a regular practice. Then she went through the loss of a parent, and had such trouble coping that she couldn't even drag herself out of bed. After missing work 10 days straight, she called me for my advice. I told her to mindfully meditate while in bed. Terrified and bewildered, my client did and, in a few days, found that she could face going to work again. After that, whenever she was in an overwhelming state of grief or so distracted that she couldn't focus, she would close her door, tell her assistant to hold all her calls and do a five minute meditation. Slowly, her grief lessened.

Typically, those who resist meditation are buying in to one of the following four common myths from my book, "Wise Mind, Open Mind" that create resistance to regular mindfulness meditation practice. Read more

What Happens in a Tantric Coaching Session?

What happens in a Tantric coaching session? This video describes the benefits of a coaching session led by Tantra teacher Crystal Dawn Morris.

Good Breathing Equals Great Sex

Tantra teacher Pam Babbitt describes two Tantric breathing techniques to promote a better sex life.

Good breathing can promote a better sex life. Sound outrageous? Too simple? The truth is it’s outrageously simple. Breath is the ultimate catalyst for sexual pleasure. It is the bridge between mind and body, and focusing on it can anchor us to the present. It unhooks us from all those thoughts cursing through our brains and connects us with our essential life energy (prana, chi, ki). Breath­ing creates receptivity in our body and an intimate connection with our partner. Are you breathing? Read more

Five Necessities for a Safe and Permanent Kundalini Awakening

Umaa Tantra teacher Tao Semko discusses the five necessities for safe and permanent kundalini awakening.

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the 8 Limbs of Yoga

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is a book that covers many aspects of life, beginning with a code of conduct and ending with the goal of yoga, a vision of one’s true Self.  The Yoga Sutras is probably the most authoritative text on yoga.  It defines yoga as a focusing of the attention to whatever object is being contemplated to the exclusion of all others.  Yoga isn’t only about postures or meditation. It is a way of life.  In this influential scripture, there are eight steps to enlightenment through yoga.  These eight astanga or limbs of yoga are yamas, niyamas, asanas, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi. 

The yamas consist of lessons in moral and social conduct in our environment. It teaches us to restrain from lying, stealing, and greed.  Non-violence and consideration toward all living things is the key.  Communication with sensitivity towards others and moderation in all things we do is revered.

The niyama focuses on attitudes towards ourselves: compromising, cleanliness, serenity, devotion, and asceticism. One should study and give reverence to a higher intelligence.  There is an acceptance of our limitations in relation to God.  It is key to have removed the impurities from the mind and body.

In the asanas, one focuses on posture practice, positioning the body while incorporating the breath to achieve a greater awareness in the mind. One is alert and relaxed without tension, while observing the reactions of the body and breath to various postures.  This minimizes the effect of the external influences on the body, such as diet and climate.

Pranayama is the restraint and control of the breath. Pranayama helps with concentration and energizing and balancing of the mind and body. 

Pratyahara is the relaxation of the senses, where no distractions actually activate the mind.

Dharana, or concentration, is the ability to direct the mind toward a chosen object and focus in on it alone.

Dhyana, or meditation, is the ability to develop focused interactions with what we seek to understand.

Lastly, but most importantly, Samadhi is the ultimate state of self-realization, or union with the Source.

Play the Tantra Sex Pleasure Game

For a fun and effective way to rekindle the passion and romance in your relationship, play the Tantra sex pleasure game, says Tantra teacher Crystal Dawn Morris.

At the beginning of a relationship sex is often spontaneous, intense and erotic. This phenomenon is called the 'Honeymoon phase.' It is when the 'New Relationship Energy' or NRE, makes everything exciting. Over time the NRE naturally fades, ro­mance dwindles, passion begins to wane and sex often becomes routine.

The Pleasure Game is a fun and effective way to rekindle the passion and romance in your relationship. Read more

Getting in Touch with Your Chakras

Tantra teacher Suzie Heumann gives a simple technique for getting in touch with your chakras.

I think about my charkas all of the time. They’re kind of ingrained in my mind. I have a relationship with my charkas. They inform me about how I’m doing, what I might want to shift about what I’m doing, how to perfect a certain posture or attitude, when to connect my heart with my powerful drive and more things like that. By using the understanding I have of my chakras in these ways I can promote my own better wellbeing.

One of the best ways I get in touch with my charkas is to sit and breathe from the base of my spine up to my crown, following my spine all the way up with my mind and breath. Read more