Accountability, openness and duty of care are paramount to us, so we want to address any of your concerns prior to your session, getaway, workshop or retreat. Please don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions – we’re here to help.
We find that sometimes people have very colourful imaginations when Tantra is mentioned and much of what we hear is far from reality. From the outset we want to get it straight that Tantric clichés such as orgies in rainforests are definitely not our thing. All processes that part of our teaching processes are entirely optional – you are invited to participate only as fully as you feel. No one is coerced into doing anything that is uncomfortable for them. Respect is central to our practices.
Question: I’m single, so I need to have a partner to take to the workshop?
Answer: No. Tantra is first and foremost about your relationship with yourself, and your own sexuality. There is a range of singles and couples at all of our workshops (except for our couples only events like Ecstasy & Intimacy). As a single, often the most relationship work is done prior to entering a relationship (and indeed helps to break old patterns and attract the partner you want). We all learn from each other, whatever stage we are at.
The exercises are solidly directed at self discovery, even for those within a relationship. Some exercises are practiced individually, some with a partner, and others with the whole group.
Question: Will I have to get naked for the workshop?
Answer: No, none of our sessions or workshops require nudity. Most often, having clothes on becomes actually more revealing in a personal sense.
Question: Will I need to have intimate relations with someone on the workshop?
Answer: No, sexual intimacy and explicit behaviours are certainly not required or stipulated. We fully respect people’s choices to do what is right for them, and encourage people to start listening to their bodies more to understand what is authentic to their experience and desire.
Question: Will there be group sex on the workshop or retreat?
Answer: No, we fully encourage people to focus on their primary relationship – that is, with themselves. Intimacy with self is a precursor to intimacy with others. There is no group sex.
Question: Will my partner be required to be sexually intimate with another person during the workshop or retreat?
Answer: No, it’s important that we respect ourselves, our partners and the other participants in the workshop or retreats. It’s vital that boundaries and agreements are kept and not violated. We fully support behaviours with integrity and respect.
Question: Will I ‘paired up’ with someone for the workshop?
Answer: No. We do not pair single people up. Participants are free to work with whomever they choose for the different exercises. It is important to maintain an attitude that all participants reflect aspects of the Divine, and have common human needs, fears and weaknesses, much like your own. We all deserve equal respect and honour and there is much we can learn from each other.
Our experience has shown that things work out perfectly if you can maintain this perspective. It is also great practice for when you ARE in a relationship.
Question: Are your workshops suitable for gay or lesbian singles/couples?
Answer: Yes. Tantra is about working with the masculine and feminine aspects within each of us, which is in a broader context, more than just our male or female selves.
Question: Will I be allowed to bring non-prescription drugs or alcohol with me in the workshop?
Answer: No. All Oztantra workshops are drug and alcohol free. Smoking is permitted in approved areas only.
Question: Why do you run group workshops, rather than just holding individual sessions? Isn’t that a violation of privacy?
Answer: We are here to work together, for individual and collective healing and transformation. We run groups because, whether we are aware of it or not, a large part of what limits us in our sexuality is fear, shame and guilt, even in today’s more ‘liberated’ society.
We still have questions or fears about whether we are good enough, or wrong somehow in our sexuality. The only way shame can be healed is by sharing with others in a supportive environment, where we can learn that we are all unique individuals with similar fears. This is the power of the group space.
Question: I have heard that working with Kundalini energy can be dangerous. Should I be worried about this?
Answer: No. Over the many years that energy practices have been taught with Oztantra, we have been found to be very safe. We work at an incremental pace, each stage building on the last. This is another reason why we choose to teach in the workshop format, so that we teach face to face, and create a supportive environment with all participants.
Question: If I or my partner already have a high sex drive, will practising Tantra make it more so?
Answer: No. Ultimately Tantric practices support a more expansive, and integrated perspective in sex, and can reduce the need for frequent ‘purely physical’ sex. Of course regular sex is still great, there is just a deeper level of satisfaction once a Tantric approach is introduced.
Question: If I am not too sure whether Tantra is right for me, do you have any introductory sessions available, before I commit to a whole workshop?
Answer: Yes. Our weekend workshops are perfect to experience a bite-size introduction to Tantra. The Friday evening session of every weekend workshop is open to anyone as an Introductory Session, at no cost, however you must book. Check for the workshop schedule.
Question: What follow up support can I expect after the workshop?
Answer: Because Tantra works at very deep levels we encourage participants to keep in touch after a workshop. We are readily available by phone. Please call us (at a mutually agreeable time) on 1800 TANTRA if you have an issue you need to discuss. More formal phone/skype counselling also can be arranged.
We provide some written information during and after the workshops, and have supporting material such as books and DVDs available for sale as well.
Question: What is your opinion on safe sex practices?
Answer: As practitioners who work in the area of sexuality we see it as our responsibility to promote safe sex practices at all times, not only in relation to possible pregnancy or disease transmission, but also with being responsible in the choices we make about when and who to have sex, or exchange sexual energy with.
In the journey towards sexual empowerment we can feel very open to trying out new skills, which is why we also teach about containment, as this enables us to have greater choice about whether to act on our feelings or not. Containment, boundaries and clear agreements nourish feelings of self-empowerment.
