What Do You Know About Tantric Sex?
Question 1 of 6
Which of the following best describes the lovemaking of a couple who practice Tantric yoga?
1. erotic and passionate
2. conscious and premeditated
3. spontaneous and beautiful
4. all of the above
Answer: conscious and premeditated.
The sexual sacraments of Tantra are highly ritualized. Not only do Tantric couples plan and prepare for their encounters; but in lovemaking, the movements themselves may be prescribed and premeditated. The result may be beautiful, passionate, and erotic, but Tantric sex is never spontaneous in the way we Westerners are led to believe. Spontaneous is overrated in our culture.
Question 2 of 6
In the Tantric practice of a "nurturing meditation," a couple would engage in which of the following activities?
1. lying together like spoons
2. breathing in unison
3. breathing alternately
4. having no expectations of sex
5. all of the above
Answer: all of the above.
The nurturing meditation is the Tantric equivalent of "happy hour." By breathing first in unison and then alternately, couples will tune each other's energy centers and come into a blissful harmony together. If one of you knows how to do yoga breathing practices, this is a good way for the other to learn. Try it! It also relaxes the couple. Stress is a powerful drain on sexual desire and satisfaction.
Question 3 of 6
In Eastern religions, such as Hinduism, yin symbolizes feminine energy, while yang stands for a masculine energy. In Tantric yoga, should a man's lovemaking be yin or yang?
1. Yin
2. Yang
Answer: Yin.
Surprise! Men who answered this question correctly know how to use a soft touch with women. Conversely, in Tantric yoga, a woman's lovemaking should be yang. Both men and women have a combination of male and female energy, and both energies should be acknowledged and used in their lovemaking. If she wants to please her partner, a woman may caress and play with a bit more force and firmness than she'd like herself. Tantra encourages many forms of sexual expression. For instance, a "soft-on" is simply considered a yin manifestation of the penis (or lingam as it's known in Sanskrit.) The Western orientation to lovemaking gives a hard-on too much importance.
Question 4 of 6
Which of the following best describes the Tantric yoga practice called "the conscious touch?"
1. Touching your partner's seven "chakras" or energy centers
2. Being consciously aware of your experience, whether you are giver or receiver
3. Alternating yin and yang touching
4. All of the above
Answer: being consciously aware of your experience, whether you are giver or receiver.
The "conscious touch" is sometimes called "kissing with the hands." If you think of caressing as kissing with the hands, you'll see how thinking--that is, consciousness--can electrify the experience. This is about being in the moment so that you concentrate all your senses on "seeing your partner."
Question 5 of 6
Tantric yoga suggests that during intercourse, couples practice "bandhas," or contractions of the muscles around the genitals. What modern Western practice does this resemble?
1. orgasms
2. Kegel exercises
3. kinky sex
Answer: Kegel exercises.
In Tantric practice, "bandhas" are part of "the dance of love." So do your Kegels while making love! (What are Kegels? If you contract the muscles around the urethra very tightly, the other muscles of the pelvic cavity are exercised, too. If you do twelve repetitions twice a day, you will strengthen these muscles.)
Question 6 of 6
In the practice of Tantric yoga, couples are advised to keep their eyes closed during a sexual encounter. True or False?
1. True
2. False
Answer: False.
In Tantric yoga, the eyes are seen as a primary organ of lovemaking. Nourish your soul with the light in your lover's eyes.
