Jon StojanSex, the most primal human desire, has been stigmatized when practiced in recreational settings. For women especially, the exploration of pleasure has long been taboo. Practicing alternative practices to heighten connection and sexual liberation is seen as shameful by many regions. However, indigenous cultures have leveraged sexual desire and arousal for centuries in structured practices to unlock greater enlightenment. Orgasmic Meditation (OM) is at the forefront of an alternative therapeutic movement centered on human pleasure. This esoteric practice has evolved into a scientifically investigated and established meditative practice with proven benefits that are gaining traction with varying demographics.
In partnership with OneTaste, the creator of modern Orgasmic Meditation practices, The Institute of OM Foundation and the Eros Ecosystem, are reclaiming sexuality. These companies and nonprofits have pioneered over seven studies examining the cognitive and physiological benefits of OM. Eros Ecosystem, one of the first online learning platforms for erotic philosophy and meditative practices, is working to democratize this healing practice.
Orgasmic Meditation is a structured attention training practice not a sexual activity. Unlike sex, which temporarily represses executive functioning and is an unstructured practice, Orgasmic Meditation can be used to treat mental health ailments. By isolating biological sexual impulses through a predictable framework – a container – participants can use OM to achieve a long-lasting state of ‘oneness’. While similar to many mindfulness practices, OM utilizes physical stimulation of a woman’s pleasure organ to achieve a heightened state of consciousness.
Orgasmic Meditation centers on a woman’s pleasure to counteract society’s overemphasis on male gratification. A stroker, a fully-clothed person, will spend 15 minutes stimulating the female strokee, who is undressed from the waist down. The process is entirely meditative, lacking the romance that sexual encounters offer. Both participants experience a complementary experience focused on relaxation and achieving a ‘flow state’.
Nicole Daedone, founder of OneTaste recognized Orgasmic Meditation as an accessible and underutilized meditative protocol in need of greater scientific investigation. As a woman who’s dedicated the last 30 years towards creating this practice and other non-profit programmes towards human flourishing and meditation, she made it her mission to provide safe and consensual spaces that harnesses sexual energy to drive self-improvement.
Nicole Daedone
In the years since OneTaste popularized OM, leading neuroscientists have discovered scientifically supported benefits. The Institute of OM conducted its first study in 2016 with the help of UCLA clinical psychologist and researcher Dr. Nicole Prause and her colleagues. Findings from this study showed that the partnered stimulation of OM directly translates to increased happiness, closeness to self and others, as well as a greater resiliency supported by an increased capacity for positive emotions.
Further research suggested OM’s ability to support the rehabilitation of child sexual abuse victims and those with PTSD from said events. Trauma victims experienced higher sexual arousal than their counterparts, suggesting that damage from sexual abuse, that was once considered irreparable, can in fact be mitigated through this alternative healing modality.
The Institute of OM has ongoing research led by Dr. Andrew Newberg, Director of Research at Marcus Institute of Integrative Health and physician at Jefferson University Hospital. His work will be instrumental in validating OM’s power to improve sensory processing and emotional regulation. In Dr. Newberg’s recently released book Sex, God, and the Brain, he delves into the intriguing connection between religion and sexual expression, while embedding insights from his OM research into the text.
Consciousness-enhancing practices like biohacking and yoga have become increasingly popular globally. As more people seek integrative wellness solutions, OM will transition from a stigmatized practice to a scientifically validated therapeutic experience that rivals inaccessible, chemically-intensive treatments. Hopefully, this will cause society to recognize the benefits of accepting well-intentioned practices involving sexual energies.