Fifteen years ago, to add fuel to the fire in the bedroom in the pursuit of getting back together, my husband and I abandoned our three children and decided to stay at the Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa in Tucson for “better communication, better sex.” I attended a weekend couples retreat called. In Arizona, there are separate workshops for women and men, with in-depth reviews of anatomy, exercises to promote affection and expression, and nightly “homework,” including accessories (think feathers and massage oil). (please note) was also available. End result: The fire is still burning.
It turns out we've been at the forefront of the latest sexual wellness retreat trend. There, relationship experts, bodywork therapists, and medical spas offer programs centered around intimacy and desire, as well as treatments to improve sexual well-being. Research shows that the need is real: even in long-term relationships, people are only 60 percent aware of their partner's sexual preferences and only 25 percent dislike them.
A variety of retreats are emerging, and the experiences vary, with an emphasis on experiential exercise, group discussion, bodywork, or a combination of all three. But they're all aimed at helping participants find comfort in their bodies. Enhances intimacy and communication regarding safety, desires, and boundaries. Heal past wounds. And build the confidence to foster a deeper sexual connection.
“Retreats take on a whole new meaning because they take people outside the home, into nature, and awaken their senses,” says psychotherapist and author of Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence. says author Esther Perel. “People bring the same problems to therapy that they bring to retreat, but the experience is completely different. They come to the therapist's office to talk about their problems. They want to improve something or I go on retreats to experience new things.
Here are five all-inclusive destinations and retreats that offer sexual wellness programs and treatments. Most of these workshops are open to individuals, couples, and LGBTQ participants, but there are also some gender-specific workshops. It's best to check before making a reservation.
Nosara, Costa Rica
From February 15th to 22nd, Ms. Perel, along with a team of therapists and teachers of Afroflow Yoga (a fusion of yoga and African-inspired dance moves), will be presenting “Erotic intelligence: Guide guests through “Cultivating Desire and Vitality.” ” is an immersive sexual wellness experience at the Blue Spirit Retreat Center overlooking the Pacific Ocean on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula. Up to 140 participants will discover how to connect, listen and understand their erotic selves through workshops, group discussions, exercises and on the yoga mat.
Intimacy and desire (why does great sex fade for couples still in love?), the need for safety, deep listening and courageous conversations, and an exploration of infidelity in this work that delves into the meaning of erotic intelligence. This is the starting point for the shop. According to Perel's philosophy, this is the foundation of sexual health.
“Everyone knows that you don't feel anything when you have sex,” Perel says. “That's not the purpose of this.”
Seven-night retreats start at $2,880.
Located on a rugged coastline, Esalen Institute is known for its natural hot springs and holistic learning center. The 3-5 day program covers sexual health topics such as personal empowerment, partner massage, erotic communication, and intimate healing.
“Rewilding Eros: Dedomesticating the Erotic Body and Reclaiming Erotic Sovereignty” (May 30th to June 1st) will feature sexuality educator and coach Victor Waugh Mr. Ring uses exercises such as movement, consensual touching, and group interaction to explore and develop sexual desire. Understand what it means to liberate your erotic body.
In another workshop, “Authentic Consent: An Intimate Weekend of Play, Exploration and Clarity in Connection” (July 11-13), sexologist and intimacy coach Amina Peterson will teach guests about intimacy, pleasure and , provides a safe space to explore connections. communication strategy. Physical or body-focused tools such as breathing and muscle relaxation. and practicing physical consent, that is, listening to the body's signals to determine whether consent has been given.
Standard shared rooms start at $930.
Kripalu, a yoga and wellness center located in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts, offers a number of expert-led weekend retreats. Offerings include “Yoga of Intimacy: A Spiritual Path to Intimate Relationships” from August 1-3 (with the option of a private concentration after the group retreat) and “The Love You Want” starting in August. Get it: A Couples Retreat. 1-3 are centered around Imago Relationship Therapy, which uses workshops and practice sessions to foster effective communication, promote emotional healing, and recreate passion.
“Sexual fulfillment is a big issue for many people, and we create a safe and secure environment where people can speak up and have the courage to say what they want,” says social worker and relationship counselor. said Linda Bloom, director of the Love, Sex and Intimacy Association. ” She will participate in the retreat from October 24th to 26th with her husband Charlie Bloom, who also holds the qualification. This retreat offers experiential exercises to explore intimacy and sensual pleasure. “We define sexual happiness in a very broad sense. If we can harness the power of our intention to connect in a sensual way to bring each other pleasure, it can become even more wonderful.” There is a sex.”
Retreat prices vary by program and start at $299. Room rates start at $149 per night and include three meals per day.
joshua tree, california
Founded and run by somatic wellness educator Pamela Madsen, Back to the Body offers monthly, female-centered retreats grounded in sexological bodywork. This includes breathing exercises, mind-body exercises, body exploration, erotic touch techniques, and therapies to relieve tension and restore coordination. In the pelvic area. Located in the high desert, this retreat site sleeps up to 12 women and features a private chef, pool, hot tub, and access to hiking trails.
“Women come looking for exploration, to understand themselves as erotic creatures,” Madsen says. “Through voice, dance, breath, touch, and movement, children become embodied in every way and grow more sovereign as they learn to trust their bodies.”
Several participants stated that they felt the retreat significantly improved their sexual self-image, body image, and sexual assertiveness. Juliana Chen, 46, of Torrance, Calif., and Debra Foster, 62, of Milliken, Colo., said, I was able to appreciate that it was a gift to my partner.” , explained that the retreat helped her create a strong body image, and that the combination of individual, group, and bodywork sessions ranged from “relaxing to erotic to spiritual experiences.”
The 8-day intensive program includes expert-led hands-on bodywork sessions, exercises to overcome body shame and explore your desires, one-on-one coaching sessions, understanding dynamics and boundaries, naming your desires, and more. Group discussions on topics such as disability are provided. To joy.
For those seeking a similar men-focused retreat, two members of the Back to the Body staff offer men-only retreats. One is Cosmo Means through Himeros Project, and the other is Court Vox, which targets the queer community through BodyVox.
Back to the Body 8-day retreats start at $10,500.
Costa Mujeres, Mexico and Alicante, Spain
According to the philosophy of SHA Wellness, a medical wellness clinic based on Spain's Mediterranean coast and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, as people live longer, so do their sex lives. Both locations recently opened sexual health units, offering guests additional options to an ongoing suite of wellness programs focused on areas such as longevity, burnout, menopause and fitness. are.
Those interested in improving their sexual well-being can try physical therapy sessions that help treat erectile dysfunction in men and strengthen pelvic floor muscles in women. Each wellness program offers a combination of Western medicine (doctors specializing in fields such as urology, gynecology, psychology, and endocrinology) and ancient healing practices such as yoga and meditation. “We address all aspects of sexual health, including function, desire and self-esteem,” says psychologist Cynthia Molina, head of sexual health at SHA Wellness in Spain.
A four-night retreat that includes a sexual well-being pack starts at €5,900 (approximately $6,065) at SHA Spain and $7,000 at SHA Mexico.
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