Intimate relationships can be a source of great fulfillment and joy ... or of frustration, stress, loneliness and unfulfilled longing. In this workshop, we'll practice a more sensual way of experiencing ourselves and each other. We'll practice enlivening our senses and remaining sensually aware from moment to moment. Experiencing a lover from this perspective can change the whole experience of romantic love and partnership.
When a lover connects with their beloved in a fulfilling, romantic, erotic way, it raises the blood level of oxytocin, sometimes called "the cuddle hormone," a key biological factor in happy pair bonding. Oxytocin is an essential element in making a woman's body a fertile environment for conception. For couples seeking to conceive and deliver a healthy child, raising the prospective mother's oxytocin is profound, not only to increase the chances of pregnancy but also to strengthen the bond between her and her beloved. In this workshop and in the assignments between sessions, we'll practice ways of breathing, touching, caressing and being present for each other that are known to consistently raise oxytocin and, with it, a pleasurable sense of well-being.
Topics and Exercises
Masculine and Feminine ways of perceiving the world ... and each other
The senses and how they relate to romantic love
Taking awareness more deeply into the body
Connection exercises
Oxytocin, "the cuddle hormone," is a brain chemical that makes us feel the warmth of belonging and the urge to merge.
Experiences that generate oxytocin
Experiences that supress the release of oxytocin
The adoption paradox, where a frustrated couple adopts a child ... and soon thereafter becomes pregnant
Cortisol, a stress hormone that is antithetical to oxytocin
Mirror neurons — neurological capabilities that enable us to relate kinesthetically to the experience of our partner
Breath awareness
Synchronizing your breath with your beloved's
The movement of intention and live force through the body
Boundaries and personal space
Linkage — connecting intentionally with personal energy (about the relationship) and impersonal energy (about objective matters)
Balanced-response communication based on clarity about how you feel and what you want and on your ability to discover unmet needs in your partner
Maturation of an intimate relationship's dynamic from dependence to independence to interdependence
These topics will be covered in optional followup sessions:
The importance of vaginal lubrication and orgasm in promoting health and fertility ... and how to orchestrate them
Female sexual anatomy, response, behavior and experience
Male sexual anatomy, response, behavior and experience
Basic principles of being a magnificent lover
After the honeymoon wears off -- dealing with habituation to one's partner and the brain's inherent program to seek new lovers
Skillful communication about difficult topics and conflicts couples often encounter
Reflective Listening
Balanced-Response Communication — Offering feedback and listening with respect and with ownership for what I observe, how I feel and what I want
Other topics the participants identify
Things You Can Do Today to Deepen Your Sensual Awareness
[Animation under development: Inhaling to the crown of the head, exhaling to the fingertips. Inhaling to the crown of the head, exhaling to the pelvis. Inhaling to the crown of the head, exhaling to the toetips.]
