Fifteen years ago, in search of reconnection and to fuel our flames in the bedroom, my husband and I abandoned our three children for a “Better Communication, Better Sex” couples weekend at the Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa in Tucson . Ariz. There were separate workshops for women and men, a detailed review of anatomy, exercises to encourage affection and expression, and nightly “homework,” with accessories provided (think a feather and some massage oil). End result: The fire is still burning.
It turns out we were at the forefront of a recent sexual wellness trend, where relationship experts, body therapists, and medical spas are offering programs focused on intimacy and desire, as well as treatments to improve sexual wellness. Research shows the need is real – even in long-term relationships, people know only 60 percent of their partner’s sexual preferences and only 25 percent of their dislikes.
A number of retreats emerge and the experience can vary, focusing on experiential exercise, group discussion or physical work — or a combination of all three. But all aim for participants to find comfort in their bodies. they enhance intimacy and communication around safety, desires and boundaries. to heal past wounds. and build confidence to cultivate deeper sexual relationships.
“Retreats take on a whole new meaning because you take people out of their domestic family and into nature, which awakens the senses,” said Esther Perel, psychotherapist and author of Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence. “People bring the same problems to therapy that they bring to a retreat, but they experience it completely differently. They come to a therapist’s office to talk about their problems. they go to a retreat to improve something or experience something new.”
Here are five all-inclusive destinations and retreats that offer sexual wellness programs and treatments. Most of these workshops are open to LGBTQ individuals, couples, and participants, but some are gender specific. It is best to confirm before booking.
Nosara, Costa Rica
From February 15 to 22, Ms. Perel — along with a team of Afro Flow yoga therapists and teachers (which combines yoga with African-inspired dance moves) — will lead guests through “Erotic Intelligence: Cultivating Desire and Aliveness in Your Relationships’, an immersive sexual wellness experience at the Blue Spirit Retreat, overlooking the Pacific Ocean on the Peninsula Nicoya in Costa Rica. Through workshops, group discussions and exercises and on the yoga mat, up to 140 participants will discover how to connect, listen and understand their romantic selves.
Exploring intimacy and desire (why does great sex fade for couples in love?), the need for safety, deep listening and courageous conversations, along with infidelity, are starting points for this workshop, which delves into the meaning of romance intelligence — a cornerstone of sexual well-being, according to Ms. Perel’s philosophy.
“Everyone knows you can have sex and not feel anything,” Ms Perel said. “It’s not about doing it.”
The seven-night retreat starts at $2,880.
On a rugged coastline, the Esalen Institute is known for its natural hot springs and holistic learning center. Three- to five-day programs cover sexual wellness topics such as personal empowerment, partner massage, love communication, and intimate therapy.
In The Rewilding of Eros: Un-Domesticating the Erotic Body and Reclaiming Erotic Sovereignty, (May 30 to June 1), sexuality educator and coach Victor Warring uses exercises such as movement, consensual touch and group interaction to explore and develop understanding what it means to release the love body.
In a different workshop, “Authentic Consent: An Intimate Weekend of Play, Exploration and Clarity in Connection” (July 11 to 13), sexologist and intimacy coach Amina Peterson provides guests with a safe space to explore intimacy, pleasure and connection, covering communication strategies; physical or body-centred tools such as breathing and muscle relaxation. and practices for embodied consent or listening to body signals to determine whether consent has been given.
Standard shared rooms start at $930.
A yoga and wellness center in the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts, Kripalu offers a series of expert-led, weekend-long retreats. Offerings include “Yoga of Intimacy: The Spiritual Path of Intimate Relationship,” from August 1 to 3, which has the option of a private intensive after the group retreat, and “Getting the Love You Want: A Couples Retreat,” from August 1 up to 3, focuses on Imago relationship therapy, which uses workshops and practice sessions to encourage effective communication, promote emotional healing and recreate passion.
“Sexual fulfillment is a big issue for many, and we create a safe environment to talk openly and be brave about what you want,” said Linda Bloom, social worker and relationship counselor, who leads Love, Sex and Intimacy ” retreat, from October 24 to 26, with her husband, Charlie Bloom, who has the same credentials. The retreat offers experiential exercises to explore intimacy and sensual pleasure. “We define sexual happiness in a very broad way—it can be much more if you harness the power of intention to connect in a sensual way to bring joy to each other.”
Retreat prices vary by program and start at $299. Accommodations start at $149 per night and include three meals a day.
Joshua Tree, California.
Founded and directed by Pamela Madsen, a physical wellness educator, Back to the Body offers monthly women-centered guided tours based on sexological bodywork, which includes breathing, mind-body exercises, body exploration, erotic touch techniques, and therapy for reducing tension and restoring alignment. in the pelvic area. In the high desert, the retreat can accommodate up to 12 women and includes a private chef, pool, hot tub and access to hiking trails.
“Women come for restoration – to understand who they are as loving creatures,” Ms Madsen said. “Through voice, dance, breath, touch and movement, they embody themselves in every way, becoming more dominant as they learn to trust their bodies.”
Several participants said they experienced significant improvements in their sexual self-image, body image, and sexual assertiveness from the retreats. “I’ve come to know my romantic existence and appreciate my body as a gift to me and my partner,” said Juliana Cheng, a 46-year-old from Torrance, Calif., and Debra Foster, 62, from Milliken, Colo. , explained that the retreats helped her build a strong body image, and the combination of individual, group and physical sessions ranged from “relaxing, erotic and spiritual experiences”.
The eight-day immersion offers hands-on expert-led bodywork sessions, exercises to overcome body shame and explore desire, one-on-one coaching sessions and group discussions on topics such as power dynamics and boundaries, naming your desire and obstacles to pleasure.
For those looking for similar male-focused retreats, two Back to the Body staff members offer men-only retreats: Cosmo Meens, through the Himeros Project, and Court Vox, aimed at the queer community, through BodyVox.
Body’s eight-day retreats start at $10,500.
Costa Mujeres, Mexico, and Alicante, Spain
As we live longer, our sex lives also get longer, according to the philosophy of SHA Wellness, a health clinic with locations on the Mediterranean coast of Spain and the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. Both locations recently opened sexual health units, offering visitors an additional option to their existing array of ongoing wellness programs, which focus on areas such as longevity, burnout, menopause and fitness.
Those interested in boosting their sexual well-being can try erectile dysfunction treatments for men and physical therapy sessions to help strengthen pelvic floor muscles for women. Each wellness program provides a blend of Western medicine—doctors specializing in areas such as urology, gynecology, psychology and endocrinology—and ancient healing practices such as yoga and meditation. “We address all aspects of sexual wellness, including function, desire and self-esteem,” said Cinthya Molina, a psychologist who directs the sexual health unit at SHA Wellness in Spain.
The 4 nights that include the sexual wellness package start at 5,900 euros, or about $6,065, at SHA Spain and $7,000 at SHA Mexico.
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