If you've ever heard of tantric sex, it was probably something along the lines of multiple orgasms or pop star Sting referencing his infamous marathon sex sessions. These instances, while potential byproducts of tantric sex, are not direct examples of the discipline of Tantra. Rather, Tantra is more a way of life than a sexual act, something that Mark A. Michaels and Patricia Johnson — as teachers of Tantra — have explored for years in their day-to-day lives. The married couple, which has taught workshops and online courses on tantric sex, recently penned a book — “Tantra For Erotic Empowerment: The Key to Enriching Your Sexual Life” (in stores now) — which serves as a guide of sorts for those looking to exploring Tantra and amping up their sex lives in the process. 210SA caught up with Michaels and Johnson to chat about how they came to practice Tantra, its many sexual benefits and which gender encounters more trouble embracing the discipline.
 

Telling the truth about Tantra According to Mark A. Michaels and Patricia Johnson's book, “Tantra For Erotic Empowerment: The Key to Enriching Your Sexual Life,” here are the 10 biggest myths about Tantra. 1. To practice Tantra, you must make love for hours. 2. Tantra and the Kama Sutra are the same or closely related. 3. Tantra is a set of techniques or positions. 4. Tantra is couple's therapy. 5. Tantra is all about sex. 6. Tantra is a form of erotic massage. 7. You have to be young, fit and beautiful to practice Tantra. 8. You have to participate in orgies or be polygamous to practice Tantra. 9. Men who practice Tantra don't ejaculate. 10. G-spot orgasms are a goal of tantric practice.

So when you two first got together, how did tantric sex get brought up?

MM: I was giving a lecture in New York on Tantra, and she came to it, so we started exchanging e-mails.

PJ: To be honest, I wanted better sex. In my first sexual experiences, I had a sense that something profound was there, but I wanted to know if I could cultivate it, harness it and find ways to expand it. Long story short, we met and discussed him becoming my teacher. ..... He suggested we practice together, and I really like that sharing because we didn't date in the traditional or common sense. ..... We both value sexuality. It's the gateway to the divine.

MM: (Tantra) is all for being open, honest and straightforward about sexuality. People who try to hide it really suffer as a result, and the relationship often flounders because people never bring it up.

How long did it take before you two really got it (Tantra) right?

PJ: Talk to us in 50 years (laughs). It's kind of like a process, a state of being where there's no arrival. The beauty of it is it takes a simple tantric principle and begins right now. You don't have to adopt the whole lifestyle or anything.

For those looking for a specific definition, what exactly is Tantra?

MM: One easy definition is to say that Tantra is an ancient Indian tradition that recognizes sexual energy as a form of spiritual empowerment.

PJ: You may also say it's a spiritual science of feeling a mystical experience.

What are the most common misconceptions about Tantra? The one I hear a lot is Sting talking about his nine-hour sex sessions.

MM: That nine-hour one is one of the biggest ones. The idea that practicing (Tantra) means this or that or it's all about how long you can last, that's really a distortion of the truth in Tantra. ..... It's not about keeping a clock by the bed.

PJ: Another misconception is that Tantra is for young, fit, beautiful people who are heterosexual, monogamous and non-kinky. We teach to the BDSM (bondage, discipline, dominance and submission, sadism and masochism) community, the transgender community and the gay and lesbian community. The point is not how you achieve your arousal, just that you achieve it.

For whom is Tantra tougher to master ..... men or women?

MM: I think as a general rule, it's probably a little bit tougher for men, although it can be a challenge for women as well.

PJ: The experience is very localized, and to move your sexual energy and have a feminine experience in sex, it requires men to really apply some awareness and think about things differently.

MM: Especially with men who are on the macho side, it can be very threatening to open up to the more feminine experience of sex. A lot of it is about moving the sensation through the whole body rather than localizing it. For men who are used to being macho and in control, it can be threatening to look at this a little differently.

CLINT HALE | 210SA