Meditation is the act of turning your attention inward and accepting the present moment.
With orgasmic meditation, you might incorporate your sexuality and heighten your usual meditation practice.
The sensual system intertwines mindfulness with intimacy and eroticism.
What is orgasmic meditation?
Orgasmic meditation, also known as OM, is a mindfulness and presence practice with an emphasis on pleasure.
The practice of orgasmic meditation can offer many potential benefits, but it also has a somewhat controversial history.
Around 2009, the companygained massive media attentionand many followersbefore an FBI investigation sent it crashing down.
The defunct organization is now facing accusations of sex trafficking, labor law violations, and cult-like business operations.
(Note: The experts interviewed for this story are not affiliated with OneTaste.)
All that said, the practice of OM can and should be divorced from the contentious company.
How meditation and sex work together.
How orgasmic meditation is different from regular meditation.
Meditation welcomes all of your thoughts and bodily sensations as you focus on the awareness of your breath.
Benefits of orgasmic meditation.
It elevates female pleasure.
For women especially, theirrelationship to sexualitycan be complex, with pleasure often being viewed as a burden.
“Wrap your head around that,” Richmond says.
“Your partner is not judging your body or thinking you’re taking too long.
You deserve the pleasure, and they want to give it to you.”
On a more practical note,women take an average of 20 minutes4to reach full arousal.
“OM dials that back and takes 15 minutes to tune into that arousal,” Richmond says.
You feel more present.
Porn and pop culture often describe sex as a series of frenetic, rushed steps designed to reach penetration.
You could get in your head about doing things a certain way instead of surrendering to the experience itself.
Awareness of your body heightens pleasure.
OM facilitates acloser connection to your bodyand removes disconnection.
According to sex educatorSuzannah Weiss, as you notice these pleasurable sensations, the pleasure grows.
You learn more about your body without shame.
Society is changing and becoming more sex-positive, but intimacy and sexuality can still be a touchy subject.
It strengthens the bond with your partner.
Sexual satisfaction then evolves into a multidimensional exercise of vulnerability.
Plus, sex feels better once you know exactly what your partner likes.
It can be healing.
Through incorporating OM, it can help your body safely process the trauma somatically.
“OM can help with embodiment where you’re not feeling dissociated,” Richmond says.
Starting your practice.
The position.
To begin, apply lube to a finger.
Setting the timer.
Weiss herself teaches a looser version of OM based on theextended orgasmor deliberate embodied orgasm model.
For that time, it’s all about you."
Varying the stroke and placement.
Touching the clit directly provides a new form of sensation."
The orgasm.
Weiss says practitioners of the practice often need to distinguish between what a climax and an orgasm is.
“Under this definition, orgasm can go on for minutes or even hours.
For people with penises.
Traditionally, women with clitorises are the ones who receive the stimulation in OM.
Richmond and Weiss both teach the practice for all bodies, including men and people with penises.
The giver can play around with the speed, stroke pattern, and pressure.
(Ourlingam massage guidemight also be helpful here.)
Tips to keep in mind:
Build your nest.
“You could do this in the bath or the shower too,” she says.
There isn’t a wrong way to do it.
Create a ritualized experience out of it.
“Do you usually have aself-pleasure practicein the morning?
Be thoughtful about the time of day you want to experiment with it,” Richmond recommends.
Thinking about the details in advance helps you focus on the experience when it happens.
Start solo at the beginning.
(you’re free to reference ourguide to tantric masturbationfor ideas.)
When you’re comfortable, involve a partner that you trust.
Focus on calming your daily thoughts.
If you are new to meditation in general, it may be useful tolearn the basicsbefore jumping into OM.
“OM is more of a practice, and the journey takes time.”
Prioritize mindfulness over a goal.
Take the performance piece away from it,” Richmond advises.
Let in all emotions.
Depending on your mental state, meditation will shift with each session.
The same goes for OM.
It won’t look and feel the same way each time.
All experiences are welcome.
Consider bringing in toys.
Here are somecouples' sex toysandclitoral stimulation toysto consider.
The bottom line.
I encourage people to apply these principles when they’re having sex."