What's That About Sex?

So I just taught 2 sensual yoga movement workshops yesterday at UCLA's Sextravaganza put on by UCLA Res Life and I'm still high on life! Must share the feels and the knowledge!

First question I always got yesterday when I told people why I was at the event was, 

“What’s sensual yoga?”

Let's break down the words here:

Sensual is "of or arousing gratification of the senses and physical, especially sexual, pleasure" according to the first definition that popped up on Google. And "yoga" is "union" in Sanskrit. So, what was my goal here? 

To use the yogic poses and philosophies that unite your body and mind, but flow through them while being guided to focus on specific feelings and sensations of the present moment. This time spent immersed in awareness of your body and your existing in it produces gratitude, joy, feelings of connection to one's body, and a heck of a lot of confidence.

Last night, I showed my students a small set of yoga poses that we would later be flowing through: child's pose, upward dog, bridge, and everyone's favorite, shavasana (corpse pose). After a warm-up consisting of various sequencing of poses together through rhythmic and repetitive movements, the routine-learning began! 

I taught a routine that, if viewed by the outside world would be considered risqué or seductive. It was derived from the floor work of pole dance, as I have the most experience teaching pole. Let me elaborate and say that pole dance itself is not stripping, but a lot of the original movements are derived from strippers. In case you haven't seen the likes of Marlo Fisken or Marion Crampe and Edouardo Doyle, you should check them out, because they, and all the women and men of pole, have taken this apparatus and created art through expression. And here is one of mine in case you haven't seen it! (Note: clothing must be scant in order to prevent death when flipping and flopping around 12 feet high on a pole since, you know, the friction between your flesh and the metal is the only thing keeping you from slipping off.)

Any who, I can go on a rant about pole for days.  Back to the workshop!

The beauty of doing a workshop or class with this type of dance is that we all know that seduction isn't the point. Everyone is just learning together, then expressing together. We can use the very poignant and powerful movements that are typically used to please others and TRANSFORM them into a source of self-pleasing. It's all about self-love.  

This workshop was so dear to me! This was a night for dorm-dwellers of the hill to feel comfortable and open to discuss and ask questions about all things sex-- from my sensual yoga workshop to a complimentary coupon for the local dungeon-for-rent to Planned Parenthood to LGBT organizations. There was even a condom fashion show. I mean... COME ON! IT WAS SO FUN!

This is vital. Sex cannot be something scary. Sex cannot be a conversation left unspoken. This leads to ignorance. Ignorance leads to uneducated decisions. These decisions can have life-changing or endangering effects.  Facts.

I met some amazing UCLA students and faculty who were willing to contribute to this space of vulnerability and let loose to learn with curiosity. I had several students approach me after class to ask me when I would possibly teach next because they wanted more and I just about peed myself with excitement! I'm so grateful for the chance to facilitate this space of growth and to connect with such beauties. Thank you to everyone who made this event happen, it was a dream!! 

Now, time to study for that MCAT...!

Songs I played for the event can be found on my soundcloud.