The Role of Sexological Bodyworkers
Self-care is one of the healthiest trends among women today. Care for your body. Care for your mind. Care for your spirit. Yet, too many of us today are not leveraging sex as the strong potential healing force that it is.
Too many of us don’t get enough sex or mentally absent ourselves during the act, seeing sex as a duty or a quick few minutes that we give over to the man in our lives. When we do this, though, we miss out on the therapeutic power of sex. That’s right: sex is not just about feeling good, but about healing and strengthening ourselves in every way.
Experts Agree: Good Sex is Medically Healthy
Sexual health expert Yvonne K., Fulbright, Ph.D., notes that sex boosts the immune system, while physician and Amai Wellness CEO Joseph J. Pinzone confirms that sex lowers blood pressure. And let’s not forget the cherry on the top of the sexual cake: orgasm.
“Orgasms are medicine,” says Doula and reproductive health expert Natasha Weiss. “They have the ability to create mind-bending, earth-shattering, esoteric experiences. Unfortunately, many women are missing out on the healing capacity of sex (with yourself or someone else), because they check out of their bodies during the act.”
Weiss is backed up by a 2000 study by Carol Rinkleib Ellison and by sexologist Beverly Whipple, both of whom detail the stress reduction effects of orgasms on women. “Orgasm relieves tension as oxytocin stimulates feelings of warmth and relaxation,” Ellison wrote.
The Next Frontier: Unlocking the Energy of the Vagina
So we know that sex and orgasms are vital to a physically and mentally healthy life. But beyond that, the vagina itself is a focal point of our existence. Unlocking its physical and mystical aspects can make a real difference in our lives.
Already, solo trends such as yoni eggs and vaginal steaming have caught on, with celebrities such as Chrissy Teigen and Gwyneth Paltrow engaging in it (talk with your gynecologist before you take up either of these, though).
The Role of Sexological Bodyworkers in Vaginal Self-Care
Experts, specifically sexological bodyworkers, can help even more in unlocking the power of the vagina. Now, the introduction of a “stranger” to a highly intimate part of the body in a highly intimate act might seem startling or even off-putting to some.
Weiss points out, though, that the vagina is as much a part of the body as the shoulders, the back, the feet, or the hands—parts of the body we already readily submit to massages, heat treatments, or even bikini waxes, at the hands of strangers who are massage therapists, manicurists, or other beauty and wellness therapists.
So why not work with a sexological bodyworker?
Who are sexological bodyworkers?
Not to be confused with a sex worker or simple masseuse, a sexological bodyworker deploys a range of techniques to develop a somatic experience around the genitals. Skilled members of the Association of Certified Sexological Bodyworkers (ACSB) may start out slowly, touching only over clothes initially. More advanced sessions may include sensual massage, breathwork, breaking down scar tissue, and masturbation coaching.
The ACSB adds that sensate focus, erotic trance, communication, and other elements can also be included. Sexological bodyworker and author of Living an Orgasmic Life Xanet Pailet informs us that bodyworkers are trained in human anatomy, physiology, the nervous system, and touch.
Moreover, she says these bodyworkers are skilled at “identifying erotic energy – how you help people feel it and understand things like arousal patterns and how to connect people with their bodies, help them get back into them and feel the sensation.”
Sexological Bodywork: Beyond the Physical
Weiss says that the entire bodywork experience is not just physical, but can include elements of Tantric philosophy as the bodyworker strives to release the full healing and mystical energy properties of our most sacred body areas.
She goes on to say, “The tissue in our vaginas is similar to that of the inside of our mouths. It is soft, sensitive, and malleable. Just as with the rest of our bodies, this tissue is incredibly intelligent. It holds stories, memories, and emotions.”
Who needs sexological bodywork?
Weiss feels that this kind of treatment can help any woman, but is especially beneficial to those in prenatal or postnatal stages. Prenatally, clients have an opportunity to become more familiar with their birth canal, while postnatal clients can help heal pelvic floor injuries or tissue tearing.
It can also resolve painful conditions like vaginismus or other issues that prevent women from enjoying sex or experiencing orgasms.
Ready to Try?
It’s surprisingly easy to try this treatment out since the first sessions always focus on making a patient feel relaxed and comfortable. Pailet points out that sexological bodywork is not sex. She says, “People appreciate that there’s no performance pressure. You don’t have to touch back.”
For those that are especially shy or simply want more convenience, online lessons are available, including online masturbation coaching. For women ready to take self-care to the next level, this may be just the thing.
