FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Tantra?

Tantra is a spiritual path that involves very specific practices that use breath, sounds, movements and symbols to quiet the mind and activate sexual energy, directing it throughout the body to achieve states of consciousness and bliss. Tantric traditions come from ancient practices developed in India and China.

How does TantraNova differ from traditional Tantra?
We draw on the ancient Eastern practice of Tantra as well as on modern disciplines from the West such as Human Development, Philosophy of Language and Creative Self-Discovery. We are blending the "old and the new" and thus the term Nova in our name.

What is the difference between Tantra and Western approaches to love and sexuality?
Western lovemaking is geared towards goal and performance orientation -- unlike Tantra where the energetic connection and deepening of intimacy are emphasized. This allows for new levels of experience within the individual and for deeper union between the couple.

How did you come to Tantra and then founding the TantraNova Institute?
Freddy Zental was raised in a tantric household and his parents created a sexually free and dignified environment that allowed him to have an open and naturally healthy relationship to his sexuality. He continued studying and practicing Tantra throughout his adulthood and co-led tantric seminars at the Institute for Creative Living in Los Angeles.

Elsbeth was born in Germany and brought up with a sense of freedom around the body until she entered puberty. Then she frequently experienced that split between pleasure and sacredness - or the dichotomy between sexuality and spirituality that exists in most cultures. She was introduced to the Tao of Sex in her early 30's and was fascinated by the possibility of sustaining and integrating sexual energy that allowed for deeper connection with herself and her lovers at that time.

In the summer of 2001, we (Freddy Zental and Elsbeth) joined as beloveds, life companions and business partners. Shortly thereafter we founded the TantraNova Institute out of a commitment to creating a transformational, tantric community that contributes to the wholeness and harmony of all people, expanding peace in the world. We are dedicated to the generation of sexual-spiritual harmony that brings unification in being with oneself and others.

What do you mean by integrating sexuality with spirituality, for instance, and the term "sacred sexuality?"
In the Western world we look at our bodies, relationships, sex and life in a way that is often compartmentalized. For example, we think of sexuality being separate from spirituality - as manifested in our bodies and our practices. In TantraNova a new possibility is offered that teaches you how to integrate your sexual with your spiritual energies. This allows for a divine experience with yourself and ultimately with a partner. Rediscovering your innate energies that are sexual-spiritual in nature, you then will be able to express yourself more fully - free from constraints and habitual patterns, e.g., shame, guilt, fear, suppression, etc. This will allow you to open yourself to your full potential of pleasure and creativity. Sacred sexuality: We bring consciousness to our sexuality - by that we are respecting and honoring our body and spirit while honoring our partner.

Is Tantra only for heterosexual couples?
Tantra is a practice that is applicable to everyone given that we are all created from sexual energy and that encompasses our physical being as well as our consciousness. Sexual energy is universal and therefore the tantric practice can be included and expressed through different sexual orientations.

What if a couple has been together for a long time and the spice has gone out of their relationship? Can TantraNova help there?
Through regular connecting practices, intimacy and passion can be rekindled. The key lies in the regular practice - as we delineated in the "TantraNova 10 Practices." They are available upon sign-up to the TantraNova eNews (see homepage).

How can women benefit from the TantraNova approach?
Women can benefit in profound ways by going to deeper levels in the exploration of the Divine Feminine that provides healing for the woman. Some aspects of our Being can be accessed linguistically while others only energetically/physically because of the nature of pre-linguistic experience. Our spiritual Being is sourced by our sexual energy that is primordial and life giving. However, in our culture sexual energy is often misunderstood, misused or suppressed. The sense of wholeness and sacred union within oneself and with another occurs when sexual and spiritual energies are integrated and flowing in a harmonious dance. Our work assists women in the integration of their sexual-spiritual Being as well as their feminine with their masculine nature. This allows for healing of old wounds or residual memories that constrict her feminine energy from flowing freely. This in turn creates aliveness and vitality in her body, relationship and life.

You often speak about creativity in the context of Tantra. What do you mean by this?
As we know from the ancient Tantrics our creative energy emanates from our sexual center or the second chakra. Once we free that center energy is set free for creation - be it in a biological sense of creating new life or in a figurative sense of creating our life in terms of relationships, career, family, home, art, music, etc.

What if my partner doesn't want to do this, but I do?
(Does it still work when only one person knows the practice?)
The tantric practice starts with the work on yourself given that you are dealing with your own energies. Through practice with yourself you then can bring your newly developed capacities and love skills to your relationship.

How long does it take to become a proficient practitioner?
Cultivating the tantric practice in our own life is a lifelong endeavor. With regular practice a level of proficiency can be reached after one year. For becoming a professional practitioner a minimum of two years of serious studies and practicum is required under the guidance of master teachers.