Tantra Massage - Is it a massage?
William Martin
Originating in what is now modern India; Tantra is at least
5000-7000
or more years old, pre-dating and influencing both Hinduism and
Buddhism.
Many religions believe you can have either physical pleasure or
spiritual growth, but not both. Tantra flatly disagrees, believing
that physical and sensual pleasures are themselves the key to our
spiritual growth; without one, you can't have the other.
Tantrics
believe working on our bodies can
clear them of accumulated rubbish, enabling healing and
re-integration with the surrounding spirit energy. Central to Tantra
is its belief in this spirit or energy force, and that the universe
– and us individually - are all filled with the same energy.
Crucially, Tantrics believe that any repression of this energy
leaves us unbalanced and damaged.
Tantra rejects the
repressive, moralistic, self-denying code of living propounded by
many religions, where our body’s sexual or sensual needs are met
with guilt, more guilt, repression, denial and punishment. Where,
when attention is paid to bodily needs, it’s usually aimed at
avoidance, for example of disease or pregnancy. Little attention is
paid to the development and expansion of our body’s sensuality; no
teaching us how to embrace it, value it.
Tantrics
believe that to grow as complete
beings, blockages need clearing from both our physical and psychic
systems. Most people accept the idea of physical systems. We all
know we have a Liver, Heart, and Stomach for example - but psychic
systems? Controversial - but nevertheless, most major religions, do
believe that we are more than our physical body.
Tantrics
believe that a powerful spirit
energy, lives in our Base Chakra, situated between our legs. Once
released, it rises through our system. If dormant, our knowledge is
limited; aroused it allows the natural spiritual growth we should be
experiencing. 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.
Many believe
that one manifestation of the ‘Life Energy’ is the Aura. Whether it
is actually an aura, with its quasi-religious overtones or ‘only
electricity’ is, hotly debated. Some recent scientific research
however confirms a generalized electromagnetic current around our
body and that all tissue and each individual organ, such as the
Heart and the Brain also generates an individual impulse.
Is there a link between this comparatively recent research and the
Tantric belief in the Chakra system - spinning wheels of energy,
spiraling throughout our body, where the various aspects and levels
of our ‘being’ are merged? As with the Meridians, however, factors
such as lifestyle, conditioning, guilt, diet, prevent them from
fully functioning. Once they're ‘clogged’ we become sluggish,
under-performing.
Tantrics, and some modern therapies, believe we have many such
blockages 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; 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 our body is utterly central to our well-being; Tantrics
use many techniques to ‘repair’ it. One such is massage, it’s
believed that massage and Tantric techniques can help break down
blockages and flush them out, – that the massage can heal us.
Tantric massage uses many techniques familiar in other massages, so
what differentiates it from other forms of massage? We would suggest
five things:
|
1. |
Therapeutic masseurs focus on direct physical benefits;
sensualists see pleasure as an end in itself. Tantrics
go further, believing that the pleasure is the gateway
to spirituality - the means to an end. |
|
2. |
In Tantra we give without seeking a return; receive
without feeling we have to reciprocate. |
|
3. |
It is a way of giving and receiving sensual pleasure
without needing to perform in any sexual way.
|
|
4. |
No externally imposed barriers exist as to where, what
and how to touch. The only barriers are those that we,
as responsible adults have decided will be there. If the
agreement allows exploration of the whole of your
partner’s body, they, and you, may find new, totally
unexpected, areas of enjoyment. Many Westerners tend to
be very genitally orientated. We overlook the other 95%
of our body, much of which is capable of giving
differing but equally exquisite responses. In this way,
Tantra continues the liberation many feel when they
realize that touch is both natural and mutually
enriching. |
|
5. |
There are techniques for both breathing and massaging
particular areas of the body, such as the Chakras or
genitals that are specific to Tantra, or the Chinese
Tao. |
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. The
results of this openness, allied to it’s emphasis on the journey not
the destination being important can be astounding for those used to
concentrating on the journey’s end ( i.e. ejaculation for the man
which it discourages, and, if she’s lucky, orgasm for the woman). It
allows time for us to focus on our partner and their body’s varied
sensations. Tantra has, few, if any, taboos, provided – and it is a
big proviso – that whatever is done is done with mutual respect and
unforced agreement. Power, coercion, emotional blackmail or
exploitation is not acceptable in Tantra.
Tantra is the ultimate massage – the ultimate gift to yourself and
others.
