Tantric Yoga

It’s not just about the hanky-panky

Tantric yoga, one of the eight major forms of yoga, is also often called tantra yoga or tantrism. It has several incarnations including Hindu, Buddhist, Bönpo, Jain and New Age. Tantra yoga is divided into two parts: left-hand and right-hand.

Left-hand tantra is concerned with sexual practices. This is what we associate with the word tantra – as in tantric sex. However, right-hand tantra is barely seen, but is rather a mental practice.

Tantra literally translates to “expend beyond all limitations.” It actually covers about 33 areas of living including breathing, cooking, saving money, happy marriage and even setting a dinner table. Sex is just a very small subset of tantra, compared to its true breadth of fulfillment; which is attaining mental, creative and spiritual wisdom.

Tantra yoga is more like a secret philosophy than an exercise, because you can not learn it from books. To study it, you have to absorb the knowledge and learn to practice from the Tantrikas, the gurus and tantric acharyas who hold the correct answers.

During tantra practice, the gurus sit calmly with purified minds (which means they’re free of any desires or impure thoughts). To become a tantra student, you must be gifted with characteristics of faith, purity, loyalty, dispassion, courage, humility, truthfulness, cosmic love, non-covetousness, satisfaction and devotion to your gurus.

Many of the tantra yoga poses are similar to other forms of yoga. However, the difference lies in what one brings to the postures, as well as their understanding of what is attained from practicing them. Relaxation plays an imperative role in accessing the full benefits of tantra. Tantra gurus will guide you through the movements, teaching you how to open yourself up to a richer, more fulfilling life.