Tantra Yoga And The Seven Chakras

There is a lot of misunderstanding about what chakras really are, and how they are pertinent to learning tantra. To begin with, it is important to understand that chakras are not real in a material sense. Rather, they are psychic centres in our body that the ancient Indian yogis identified in the course of their studies. As your tantra teacher will clarify, these chakras are in fact centres of incredible consciousness potential.

The chakras are repositories of psychic energy that are hard-wired into the overall state of the body and mind. Though chakras are often represented as lotuses on charts, the actual translation from the Sanskrit word ‘chakra’ is ‘spinning wheel’. These wheels represent a system of seven energy centers located along the spine, and each corresponds to an area of the body, a set of behavioral characteristics and stages of spiritual growth.

The technical names of the seven chakras are as follows – Muladhara (at the base of the spine), Svadhisthana (in the abdomen, genitals and lower back), Manipura (the solar plexus), Anahata (in the heart area), Visshudha (in the throat), Ajna (at the brow) and Sahasrara (at the top of head, or cerebral cortex.)

As already explained, each chakra is associated with a particular body location. However, each of them is also associated with a colour, a central emotional or behavioural issue and also many other personal aspects including identity, goals, rights, etc.

Practicing tantra yoga under the guidance of a tantra teacher can help you focus your energies with the help of different postures and tantric breathing techniques. It then becomes possible to align your chakras and get all the wheels spinning in the same direction, at the same speed. An experienced tantra master can help you understand how to fine-tune and control these energy centers via specific yoga and tantric meditation techniques. As a result, you will experience spiritual balance and complete harmony at the mind, body and spirit levels.

The spiritual energy that is in question here is also called kundalini energy. In its dormant state, kundalini energy may be seen as a coiled snake resting at the base of your spine, or the Muladhara chakra. Since the chakras act as valves or pumps regulating the flow of energy through your system, the controlled and purposeful movements of tantric yoga can help realign your chakras.

Through the movements and postures of tantra yoga, you can learn to concentrate and direct your kundalini energy to and from the various chakras in your body. In this way, you can compensate for areas that may be inactive or out of synch with the rest of your body. By balancing the energy among all seven chakras, complete physical, mental and spiritual balance can be achieved.

Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta is a Tantra Teacher with an in-depth knowledge of traditional Indian sciences and Sanskrit literature. Visit his tantra online guide for Tantra Lessons, kriyas and mudras from this young Tantra Master.

How To Understand And Practice Tantra Yoga

Tantra yoga is not a concept that has been clearly grasped by a majority of people.  It is definitely not a series of sexual gymnastics, which is what the most common understanding of tantra yoga seems to be. It is difficult to describe this very important aspect of ancient tantra in laymen terms, but essentially it is a more spiritual version of kundalini yoga.

One significant difference between tantra yoga and kundalini yoga would be that the poses and techniques are usually performed by two partners who share or wish to share a deep emotional/spiritual connection. In kundalini yoga, these are performed solo, and for reasons of personal development rather than the development of a relationship or bond.

The basis of tantra yoga remains firmly rooted in the ancient Indian and Tibetan traditions. What is special about it is that, when learned and practiced under a qualified tantra master, it has the power to strengthen relationships and our connection with ourselves, each other and the universe.

It cannot be over-emphasized that tantra in any of its various manifestations does not focus solely on sex. While it does have the power to increase sexual intimacy, erotic pleasure and one’s overall wellness quotient, the fundamental objective of tantra is to deepen the spiritual aspects of our relationships.

The ancient scriptures pertaining to yoga teach us that the spine is the seat of all our energy. By learning and practicing tantra yoga under the auspices of an experienced tantra teacher, you can learn how to strengthen and harness this energy and direct its flow to. Among other things, this will help you achieve your deepest sexual and spiritual objectives.

In a way, sexual intercourse could be seen as the ultimate tantra yoga technique, but it is not only about coitus. When practicing tantra yoga postures, partners maintain eye contact with each other and also maintain physical contact in many ways. In the process, they will have an opportunity to explore their own hang-ups and spiritual blockages towards that intimacy.

For instance, in the sacred embrace technique, the partners face each other without actual physical contact, practice tantra breathing with shut eyes and then open their eyes to gaze reverently and wordlessly at each other. The next step involves wrapping each other in a close embrace with the heads on each others’ shoulders, staying in this pose for a prolonged moment. Invariably, most initiates will soon find themselves wishing to break the embrace.

At this point, their tantra master will train them to ask themselves what the reason for this is. These reasons are then explored and overcome with the practice of more advanced tantra yoga techniques and instructions, until the blockages are vanquished and greater intimacy is achieved.

Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta is a Tantra Teacher with an in-depth knowledge of traditional Indian sciences and Sanskrit literature. Visit his tantra online guide for Tantra Lessons, kriyas and mudras from this young Tantra Master.

Three Tantra Games To Spice Up Your Sex Life

At the baseline, tantra is all about weaving female and male energy – the Yin and Yang – into a powerful stream. A tantra teacher adept at instructing in the ways of ancient tantra achieves this in a number of ways, each of which positively affect lovers at the levels of thoughts, emotions and physical sensations.

Instructing his students in the intricacies of tantra yoga, tantra meditation, tantra breathing and worship of tantra deities are inalienable components of a tantra master’s repertoire. However, the sexual aspects of tantra can also be explored in fun ways that address lovers’ sexual aspirations directly. Under the tutelage of an accomplished tantra teacher, tantra games – often inappropriately clubbed under ‘sexercises’ – can vastly improve lovers’ sensual and sexual experience.

A certain degree of adeptness in the deeper aspects of this ancient art of erotic love is necessary before lovers can explore the joys of sexual tantra games. Once the requisite proficiency in the basics has been reached, lovers can use these sexual games to significantly enhance their ability to communicate intimately with each other. A tantra master will often introduce tantra games early in the course of his instructions if a couple reports that their sex life has lost a lot of its sizzle and appeal.

If you want to instantaneously revive some of the lost intimate and spiritual connection between yourself and your partner, you may use certain basic tantra games for immediate results. However, do remember that instructions from a proficient tantra teacher are necessary before you use these tantra techniques. Without the right mindset, these three ‘sexercises’ will fall seriously short of their fullest effect.

Here are three such tantra games:

• Disrobe each other languidly and reverently – yet provocatively – to the strains of soothing music. Do not hurry – rather, let each item of clothing fall in synchronization with the rhythm of the music. Keep your gazes locked as much as possible during the process.
• Submit completely to each other in turn. Assign five to ten minutes during which your lover can do with you as he or she pleases – however, avoid direct genital contact during this game. Then take your own turn. Remember, complete surrender is essential. While in the submission phase of this tantra game, you may either keep your eyes fixed on your lover’s or keep them closed. A blindfold is also an excellent prop for this ‘sexercise’.
• Put on soothing music and follow its strains to play your lover’s body like a musical instrument. Let your imagination take over and pretend that his or her body is either a stringed instrument to be plucked or a piano whose keys need to be tapped to evoke musical magic.

Acharya Subhojit Dasgupta is a Tantra Teacher with an in-depth knowledge of traditional Indian sciences and Sanskrit literature. Visit his tantra online guide for Tantra Lessons, kriyas and mudras from this young Tantra Master.