Recently, Kathryn and I had the great pleasure to attend Charles and Caroline Muir's Tantra Seminar Weekend for Beginners. We have actively practiced Tantra together for over four years. We aren't beginners, but when the opportunity arose to attend, we jumped at the chance anyway. We were not motivated as much by what we would learn, but more by the opportunity to meet the Muirs, experience their teaching style, and to review the seminar for our site. To us, Tantra is a spiritual practice in which sex is a sacrament by which you worship your beloved. We had heard that the Muir's approach was somewhat less spiritual, and somewhat more overtly sexual. We wanted to experience their seminar for ourselves.

We were pleasantly surprised at how much we got out of the seminar, and how much it did for us as a couple. Singles are also welcomed to the seminar. They participate with other singles, and there are plenty of assistants to help maintain gender balance. Our weekend started by joining the Muirs for breakfast at their hotel on Friday morning. Their time was limited, but they were friendly, gracious, engaging, and generous. We had a great conversation, with a highlight being a description of the new docudrama film "The Best Ever," in which they and their work are prominently featured. The film will be released in 2003. The seminar itself started early Friday evening. The schedule for the seminar was intensive. With the class schedule and the homework, it consumed the entire weekend. If you plan to attend, be sure that all other aspects of your life are taken care of (such as children), so you can devote the weekend to the seminar, and to the homework. From the very beginning, we knew it would be entertaining, because they had us laughing within minutes.

Charles and Caroline know their material so well, and have so much experience working together, that the presentations are seamless and fascinating. Lectures, even engrossing ones, can be too long. But the Muirs knew just when to lead the class in yoga or exploratory exercises. The classes were nicely divided between White Tantra (solo yoga practices) and Red Tantra (partner practices). There was never any nudity or touching of genitals in class (however, we were assigned it in our homework!). The discussions, the questions, and the presentations were frank, honest, and explicit. In a class of this type, it's required. You just cannot teach someone about ecstatic sex without talking about equipment and techniques. They talked in detail about sex, and they were very clear about its place in relationship. They stressed the healing, connection, spirit, oneness, and intimacy that can be achieved through healthy and ecstatic sex. The Muirs encourage their students to be more aware of the energy in their bodies... To sense it, feel it, move it, and enjoy it. They encourage everyone to bring God (or spirit, or whatever your beliefs are) with you into the bedroom. They also honor the feminine and the inner child in each of us. One of the major topics of the weekend was teaching about the female "sacred spot," (known by some as the "G-spot") and how to access it. This erogenous zone has been largely neglected in Western sexual culture.

For the female sacred spot homework preparation, the group of about 70 students was segregated into men, who worked with Charles, and women, who worked with Caroline. Lots of time was devoted to questions, and we were encouraged to share our feelings and concerns. The next day, participants were invited to share their experience of the homework. There were many who expressed great joy at the levels of ecstasy they achieved the night before. There was a lot of healthy laughter, and a few tears. The Muirs' casual style and their open and generous personalities make the participants feel honored and truly safe. They presented a lot of important facts. But the even greater value of the weekend for us was their wisdom, attitude, encouragement, support, enthusiasm, and love of their subject. We learned a lot of wonderful new techniques, opened our hearts a few more notches, and feel newly motivated to put even more time and energy into our lovemaking practices. We left with a commitment to take the week-long intermediate workshop with the Muirs on Maui, as soon as we can fit it in. I cannot recommend the Muirs highly enough.

After only taking one seminar, I know that their wisdom is vast, their experience is deep, and their hearts are huge and open. If you want to transform your sex life and your entire relationship, take the weekend seminar when it comes to a city near you. This seminar is a safe and enjoyable place to bring your partner to introduce them to the possibilities of healing and connection that ecstatic sex can offer your relationship. You won't regret it!