There is no exact definition or specific meaning behind the term Tantric Massage. It is used to express people’s own personal brand of touch therapy that is sexually orientated but also conscious, energetic and healing.

I like this explanation: “Most Tantric Adepts believe that a powerful spirit energy lives in our Base Chakra, situated between our legs.  This vital energy- Kundalini – is ‘fed’ along channels called Meridians. Any obstruction lessens energy flow, much as a kinked hose-pipe produces only a reduced water supply.”

“Tantrikas, and some modern therapists, believe we can develop blockages in our energy system and that trauma, such as remem­bered grief, pain, embarrassment, physical or emotional abuse, remains stored in our body. The effects of this early blocking continue throughout our life, reducing our well-being, our energy – for example we may perhaps constrict our throats because of childhood conditioning to ‘don’t cry,’ or ‘don’t shout’; our pelvis may be rigid through our attempts to stifle our genital urges; our anal sphincter may have tightened, and remain tight as the result of our early – and long forgotten- attempts to repress anger.”

“Believing (and listening to!) our body is utterly central to our well-being; Tantrikas use many techniques to ‘repair’ the damage done. One such is a means is massage. It is believed that massage and Tantric techniques can help break down blockages and flush them out – that the massage can heal us.

Tantra is a letting go, a sensual journey that can lead to astounding joy. Striving to be open and honest, it is an uplifting but disciplined approach to the body. It permits – encourages – a freedom to experience, experiment, enjoy and openly delight in our body in a way that we in the West can find in turns, alarming, exhilarating, shaming and – perhaps – ultimately liberating.

Tantra is the ultimate massage – the ultimate gift to yourself and others.”

For me, the difference between a sensual or erotic massage and one that is more “tantric” in style would be the aspect of conscious awareness. You would also be more interested in expanding sexual energy rather than stimulating excitement and building tension.

This can be a wonderfully adventurous exploration, provided you are willing to connect honestly and openly and are not just looking for a thrill or for basic genital release. If there is genital tension, the route we would take to working with that would differ vastly from what is commonly known as a “hand-job.” I recently watched a movie which showed a lady at a massage parlor having a totally unrelated but very animated conversation with her client while vigorously stimulating him genitally for a few minutes and once it was over, moving on with hardly any recognition of what had just happened. It was funny and sad at the same time.

Tantra touch is conscious touch and all of the experience is done deliberately and slowly with a deepening awareness of what is occurring.  Deep slow breathing is used to to slow down the bodies reactions and through staying very connected at all times, the heights to which the experience can take you differs vastly from a tense, friction-based touch experience.

I welcome you to talk to me further about how this might work for you.

(Extracts in this article have been taken from an article by William Martin)