Sexual practices originating on the Asian continent are rich in history and symbolism. They reveal an atypical focus on intimacy and connection between partners. Unlike the West, Asian people see sexual delights as a path to spiritual evolution. While some traditions in this region are well known, there are many practices that remain little-known in the rest of the world. In this article, discover 3 fascinating, little-known Asian sexual practices. We’ll shed light on their origins, significance and role in Asian culture.
Tantra
Tantra is a sexual practice originating in Hinduism and Taoism (India), then adopted by Buddhism. It’s about using sexuality to merge body and soul, a practice that differs from traditional sexuality. It’s a spiritual path, the only one in the world linked to sexuality. It doesn’t see sexuality as something to be ashamed of, or to be used only for reproduction. Rather, it’s seen as an energy that promotes encounter between partners. This sexual energy, or kundalini, is coiled inside the body at the level of the lumbar vertebrae and the sacrum (lower part of the spine), and can be expressed in the form of desire and excitement. In this way, the practice brings pleasure up through the body, transforming your being. Your partner will appear as a carrier of divine light. This will connect you even more, and you’ll be able to experience ecstasy to varying degrees.
At the same time, Tantra practice will enable you to control your orgasm, and develop your sexual, sensual and sensory senses. In other words, you’ll have transcendent moments of intimacy. To sum up, Tantric sexuality is made up of four (4) fundamental elements:
- connection between partners ;
- sensuality ;
- energy;
- relationship with the divine.
In concrete terms, you can imagine tantra coming from a simple contact of free bodies. You don’t need to caress or lick your partner. A gentle touch, the pleasure of tasting the other’s body and your own body in contact with your partner will suffice.
To practice tantra, you can use aphrodisiac and relaxing herbs. You can also eat fruit and vegetables. Before getting down to business, you’ll need to relax and set up a place to enhance comfort, with cushions, soft blankets and scented or unscented candles. Next, kiss and caress each other before undressing, without stopping to touch each other. You can then start the massage from the lower part of the body, the center of sexual energy. Finally, listen to your body to know when to move on to penetration, without necessarily seeking orgasm.
Shibari (Kinbaku)
Spicing up your lovemaking is one way to achieve sexual fulfillment and strengthen your relationship. And you’re bound to have your own preferences when it comes to ways of bringing a little more sensuality, originality and risk into your sexual relations. Maybe you’ve already done the trick, but if you haven’t tried Shibari (Kinbaku), you haven’t tried everything yet.
Shibari is a Japanese term meaning “tying”. It originates from Hojojustsu, a martial art that originated in Japan. Before it became a sexual practice, this art consisted of tying up or torturing prisoners using specific ropes and knots. Despite such origins, this sexual practice is different from bondage. Indeed, shibari seeks a certain aesthetic. It aims to sublimate the beauty of the body, of the mind, while practicing only with ropes. It’s important to remember that ropes can leave very specific marks on the skin. In any case, you’ll need to discuss shibari with your partner beforehand. This may be where his or her limits lie.
Nyotaimori
Nyotaimori is the practice of eating sashimi or sushi off a woman’s naked body. This art of eating off the body is often perceived as an exclusively sexual practice. A number of specialists place the beginning of this practice in the late 1980s. During this period, many businessmen would sit down to eat sushi off the bodies of naked women, as if they were the plate or tray. Other specialists trace this practice back to the days of geisha houses. In any case, there is a variation on this practice: when the platter is a man, it’s called nantaimori.
The practice of nyotaimori suggests that the person indicated must endure cold food for a prolonged period of exposure. Above all, he or she must respect a number of fundamental rules, namely shaving the whole body and taking a bath just before the meal is served. The bath should be taken with a special, odorless soap, followed by a cold-water rinse to lower body temperature. This practice has begun to be adopted in the major cities and capitals of Europe, Latin America and the USA.
In conclusion, Asian sexual practices are diverse. Exploring these traditional practices will not only enrich your understanding of sexuality, but also help you discover new dimensions of intimacy and human connection. This will enable you to cultivate a more conscious and fulfilling sexuality.
