What is Tantra?

Tantra is a way of life that developed in the 1st millennium AD from the Indian religions of Hinduism and later Buddhism. AD from the Indian religions of Hinduism and later Buddhism. The word comes from Sanskrit (ancient Indian language) and means something like "neutrum, fabric, continuum, connection". This is intended to illustrate the connection between the polarities, male and female, worldly and spiritual aspects. It is a path of self-love that leads you to authenticity, more intimacy and true heart-to-heart encounters with other people.

Unlike other traditions that view the body and sensual experiences as sinful, Tantra sees the body and the pure pleasure it can generate as a channel to the divine and not as an obstacle. Tantra is about inner mystical experiences, spiritual growth and personal empowerment. This Indian love teaching deals with the questions of life and promotes conscious awareness. It teaches you to appreciate your own body, whereby sexuality plays an important role. It is less about fancy sex practices and more about an inner state of mind. In general, tantra prefers positions in which the couple can remain for a long time without provoking an orgasm.

Tantra rituals

Through certain rituals you learn, among other things:

- develop a natural approach to sensuality and sexuality.
- experience more energy.
- resolve sexual blockages and problems in your relationship.
- feel and communicate your needs while respecting your own boundaries.
- to sensitize body awareness and strengthen its resources.

The path to the goal leads through mastering simple techniques that serve as transformative tools with which you can improve your sexual self-confidence and your relationships.

Particular attention is paid to preparing for sexual union. Erotic massages are often used for this purpose. In the Indian conception, the body consists of 7 energy centers, the so-called chakras. Through targeted touch, their energetic activity is stimulated and increased, which can lead to ecstatic experiences. Barbara Carellas, author of "Urban Tantra", suggests five tantric techniques that are perfect for beginners. We briefly introduce two of them here:

1. deep breathing

Breathing offers an inexhaustible potential of energy. But most of us breathe just enough to stay alive. Simple breathing techniques connect all five senses and help you to become centered, relaxed and grounded. Start by taking a big breath. Pay attention to the inhalation and then the slow exhalation. Notice how your body feels and how your sense of smell, touch and hearing differs at the end of the breath. You may feel happier, lighter and feel like you are taking up more space in the room.

Next, take a small breath, followed by another. Notice how small you feel when you are breathing shallowly. Are you hunched over, with tight shoulders? Simply observing the breath, even in everyday moments, can teach us a lot about how our emotional state is doing. You can test this wherever you are.

It is also recommended to match your breath to a person you want to connect with. This does not have to be in a sexual context, but it can greatly enhance and deepen a sexual connection.

2. looking into each other's eyes

This practice deepens self-love, removes shame and opens the heart. Look yourself in the eye. First take a moment to breathe. Then try to have a dialog with yourself: out loud, or quietly, as you feel comfortable.

Carellas suggests using these "conversation starters" as guidelines:

"I love you for ..."

"I forgive you for ..."

"If I really loved you, here's what I would do..."

"Because I really love you, I will do the following ..."

It may feel strange at first, but it's a transformative, intimate practice: a kind of self-therapy or relationship therapy, depending on whether you do it alone or with a partner.

How and can you learn Tantra?

If you want to learn tantra, you can take courses or download an app to your smartphone. You can find schools and teachers online or in esoteric magazines. However, you can also learn self-taught online or from books. Feel inside yourself to find the best way. We hope you enjoy enriching your (love) life!