Tantric massage

Tantric massage emerged from Neo-Tantra in the circle of the Indian philosopher, founder of the Sannya movement, and mystic Osho. He studied the centuries-old Tibetan and Indian tantric texts, translated and interpreted them, and made their ideas accessible to a Western understanding and audience.

The connection between spirituality and sexuality emphasized in Osho's approaches prepared the field for tantric massage, which draws essential elements from tantric thought.

In the 1970s, Andro Andreas Rothe developed the now-famous tantric massage. Massage and sensuality remain untouched in the tantric traditions. Tantra and tantric massage are therefore two truly distinct fields.

The tantric massage "invented" by Andro was subsequently further developed by various schools, with its elements given different weightings and supplemented. (Margot Anand, Joseph Kramer, Annie Sprinkle, and others)

Essential aspects of tantric massage are:

Connection of body and mind and the power of sexual energy: Tantra massage strives to connect body and mind. This spirit of Tantra can be experienced even by people who are skeptical of spiritual ideas and experiences. Tantra massage affirms all human aspects, such as sensuality and sexuality, which are life forces for every human being.

Ritual: The massage is embedded in a ritual that can be highly individualized. In a conscious step, an encounter between Shiva and Shakti—the divine within man and woman—occurs. Everyday life fades into the background. There are no fixed routines. The external structure gives the massager authority and responsibility. The ritual begins with a greeting and ends with thanks to the person being massaged. This concludes the intimate shared experience, and the two people return to their personal reality.

Adoration: In massage, the person being massaged is venerated in their femininity, their masculinity, even in their divinity. This attitude allows one to immerse themselves in a new sensual space, forget everyday life, and dwell completely in the here and now, experiencing and enjoying oneself in dignity and beauty as the receiving person.

Holistic approach: A hallmark of tantric massage is its holistic approach. The massage touches the whole person, leaving no part of the body out. It integrates and awakens sexuality in its affirming life force. In our culture, sexuality is often linked and burdened with other issues: relationships, love, guilt, shame, neediness, victim-perpetrator relationships, contempt, marriage, politics, etc. Tantric massage, however, is about sexual power itself. This is the power without which there would be no life. It can be enjoyed, playfully and individually.

Breath, voice, and movement are key to a deep massage experience. No matter what happens, be it feelings that arise, tears that erupt, serenity, or orgasm: everything is allowed, everything is welcome. The guidance of sexual energy can be encouraged and supported.

Of course, there are also very quiet massages that simply provide relaxation and an unspectacular experience. That's fine, too. That's also a pleasure. Whatever the moment demands. There's no pressure to perform.

So this isn't about a "spiritual exploitation" of sexuality. Rather, it's allowed to be what it always was and is: sensual and transcendent, pleasurable, natural, and self-evident.

What remains is deep respect and appreciation. Respect is the attitude we adopt and the attitude we demand.

Source: Tantra Massage Association