What is Tantric Yoga and Why is it So Powerful?

The word tantra itself has origins that mean “to weave or loom.” In more recent years, it has also been defined as “device or technique.” Some consider this to be an advanced yoga practice, so if you are ready for a positive challenge in your practice, Tantra Yoga may be for you. 

Tantra Yoga is an old practice in Yoga. This body-positive form of Yoga combines mantra, bandha, and other yogic techniques with a focus on chakras, or energy centers in the body, to encourage a powerful change in your life. These techniques are used to build clarity, strength and bring bliss, or siddhi, into your life. 

What is Tantric Yoga and Its Benefits?

Tantra is rooted in a philosophy combining Taoist, Hindu, and Buddhist traditions. Meaning “to weave,” it blends these different traditions in a way to help individuals seek spiritual enlightenment.

Tantric is a type of yoga that has been well documented to help improve self-esteem, lower stress levels, and reduce physical pain. It can also help you sleep better and feel better rested overall. Although it’s similar to other forms of yoga, the tantric variety places a greater emphasis on meditation over specific positions and sequences.

How do Tantric vs Traditional Yoga Differ?

Just like any yoga routine, tantric yoga will take you through a number of poses. Some of these tantric yoga sequences include twists, backbends, forward folds, and side bends. The primary difference is the spiritual nature between the two, with tantric yoga resonating more in the realm of West Asia and focusing on meditation.

How do Tantric Yoga vs Tantric Sex differ?

While both forms of tantric expression are based in meditation and spiritual awakening, tantric yoga is not directly related to sexuality. 

People who decide to follow a tantric path in order to fulfill purely sexual needs are mistaken. Using spirituality in the form of tantric yoga to do this is wrong and ineffective.

Why Practice Tantra Yoga?

While all forms of Yoga can help ease your mind and stretch sore muscles, Tantra Yoga is considered a more complex form of practice as it is a blend of many Yoga techniques. If you find yourself ready to practice but aren’t sure what your next steps should be, just remember, it’s all a process. Some benefits of Tantra Yoga are:

Better Health and Wellbeing

Just like other forms of yoga, tantra yoga can help reduce aches and pains in your back and neck. Studies have shown that yoga can be used to significantly reduce pain and boost overall wellness. Your immune system will also get a boost when practicing tantra yoga. Yoga helps to release toxins and can lower blood pressure. During tantra yoga poses, human growth hormones are released, which helps promote healing in the body and can aid with memory loss issues as well. 

While this form of practice is considered advanced, it is less physically demanding than most yoga forms. People of any age can perform tantra yoga. It helps burn calories and is known to improve muscle tone and healthier skin. Active meditations can even burn calories - a great way to improve your health from the comfort of your bed.

Mental Clarity

The art of yoga itself holds the key to connection. Tantra focuses on reprogramming your inner thoughts and conditioning your subconscious and internal belief system to help you determine the obstacles that are blocking your path to happiness. 

Awaken your Spiritual Side

Tantra yoga also focuses on balancing the chakras to achieve internal peace and empowerment. You will transition into truly feeling the energy of other beings and our oneness with the universe when you practice tantra yoga.

Stress

Yoga poses release happy hormones from the pituitary gland that can help fight off depression and anxiety. The rhythmic breathing techniques in Tantra yoga allow your mind to relax, and as tension is released through breathwork your body is strengthened. Taking a few minutes each day to practice mindful breathing will help relieve physical and mental stress. 

Increased Flexibility

The day to day grind of life can put a lot of stress on your mind and body. Tension can build in areas such as your shoulders and back, causing mood swings and a general feeling of displeasure. Tantra yoga poses are designed to release and lengthen your spine, resulting in better posture and less strain on your joints.

Improved posture can also increase blood and oxygen flow throughout your body. All of these benefits add up to not just a better body, but to an overall better feeling. You’ll generally find that you have more energy after a tantric yoga session.

Related: Yoga Postures For Better Digestion

Deepen Your Bonds

While you can practice tantra yoga solo, you can also practice with a partner or in a group. Practicing yoga together is a great way to bond with a romantic partner, family member, or friend. When you take the time to practice together, you and your partner can grow together to deepen and expand your relationship. As you build trust, you become more connected on a spiritual level, and your energies become more aligned.

A Better Sex Life

Tantra yoga is often interpreted as a sexual form of yoga. While that’s not 100% true, there is a connection that can be made between your practice and your sex life . This form of yoga is body positive and helps you find a deeper connection with your body. The renewed energy levels associated with tantra yoga can heighten sensations. Practicing Tantra leaves you more open to intimacy with a greater sense of awareness and stamina. 

Would you like to learn more about yoga and the changes it can make in your life? Take a look at Yoga Society’s blog to learn more!

Unplug

All forms of yoga are great to help you connect to yourself while disconnecting from the rest of the world. There are no outside demands in the moment of practice. No phone, no email - just you, your breathing, and your body. In the busy world we live in today, our demanding schedules can burn us out all too easily. Tantra yoga forces you to focus just on yourself and your inner awareness. Through practice, you will hone in on how each part of your body functions. 

All of these are great reasons alone to start a yoga routine.

Different Poses of Tantra Yoga?

Tantra yoga is about finding the balance between Shiva and Shakti, Yin and Yang, dark and light to find the balance within ourselves. Through the practice, you will find the truth and learn to live from and with it, and consistent practice will lead you to absolute personal freedom. Here are three poses to get you started. 

Related: How Often Should You Do Yoga?

The Mountain

You will start off standing tall with your arms by your side and palms facing forward and your feet hip-distance apart. Engage your legs by drawing your shins towards one another and lifting your upper thighs. Lengthen your tailbone and lift your lower abdomen. Begin to inhale and bring your arms forward and above your body. Focus on filling your upper back and chest with your breath. Upon your exhale, lower your arms and focus on tightening your navel toward your spine. Fully empty your lungs when you exhale.

Warrior Pose

Begin by stepping your left foot about 3.5-4 feet in front of your right foot. With your foot pointing straight ahead at the 12 o’clock position, bend your left knee down but keep it in line with your heel. Keep your right leg straight while you pivot your left foot so that your toes are at the 10 o’clock position. Place both of your hands over your navel. Upon your inhale, lift your arms upward, with palms facing up. Fully expand your chest and emphasize lifting your spine. As you exhale, lower your hands back to your starting position just atop your navel. Be sure to avoid exaggerating the arch of your lower back by drawing your tailbone towards your front heel.

Chair Pose

Begin this pose with your feet hip-distance apart. Inhale and bring your arms over your head. Upon the exhale, slowly draw your navel towards your spine. Bend your knees and fold yourself forward until your chest is against your knees. Place your hands on the floor by your feet to feel your neck relax. Inhale and slowly lift your arms over your head again and lean back into a shallow squat. Gradually lift yourself by straightening your legs. At the top of your inhale your legs should be straight. 

While you practice these positions, be sure to wear comfortable clothing that doesn’t restrict your movement. Yoga Society has everything you need to begin your yoga journey. Even if you’re a seasoned practitioner, you’re sure to find something to add to your wishlist.

Tantric Yoga Poses for Couples

Tanta is a fantastic way for couples to develop a stronger connection. Through simple exercises, you can nurture a stronger connection with your spouse while keeping each other healthy and positive.

Here are a few simple couple yoga poses to get started.

Boat Pose

This tantric yoga move improves flexibility in the core. Simply face each other on the floor, reach for one another’s hands outside of your legs and maintain eye contact.

Place the bottoms of your feet against each other, at first with legs slightly bent. Ultimately you will want to try and straighten them as best you can while moving them upwards. Through steady eye contact as well as the physical connection, you will feel a sense of closeness with your partner.

Dancer’s Pose

This standing pose has you holding one of your partner’s hands while you reach for your ankle or shin with the other hand. Eye contact should be maintained throughout.

The difficulty here is balance. You may only be able to do this with one person at a time while the other person assists them with balance.

Yab Yum

Have the larger of the two people sit cross-legged on the floor, while the smaller person sits on top of their thighs and crosses their ankles behind their partner’s back. Using core strength, you will try to stay aligned with each other while bringing your foreheads together and touching them gently.