Pleasure is the second session in the Better Sex Workshop Series- informal, inclusive & non-judgemental sex ed workshops for adults involving facilitated group discussions, activities & games designed to challenge ideas, prompt curiosity, inspire reflection & generate discussion about sex & relationships.
WORKSHOP 2: PLEASURE
If you're part of the lucky minority who've had any access to formal sex ed, chances are you were taught about about condoms & STIs and precious little else.
Bizarrely, absent from so many resources & conversations about sex is an exploration of why many of us have sex in the first place- for pleasure. Typically, it's assumed that sexual pleasure is an experience that has a shared quality for us all and doesn't warrant the kind of investigation we might see applied to other key sexual themes like consent, arousal or desirability.
This workshop is an inclusive and sex-positive investigation into what sexual pleasure actually consists of, what obstructs our unfettered access to its different forms and an exploration of ways to experience as much pleasure as possible.
**An entirely optional section of the workshop will involve attendees exploring practising boundary-keeping through non-sexual and guided touch of another person's hands**
This workshop is for you if:
- you want some reliable tools at your disposal to have better sex with yourself and others
- you ever find yourself bored, dissatisfied, underwhelmed, disappointed, numb or frustrated during sex
-you want to understand the different types of pleasure, and have strategies to authentically experience them all
-you ever perform sexual enjoyment for your partner- if you ever fake pleasure or orgasms or excitement because you don't want to hurt their feelings / bruise their ego / get into a whole tense convo about sex again
- you or your any sexual partners have ever said ‘my pleasure is your pleasure’
-you have ever thought orgasms are always pleasurable or pleasure is always orgasmic
-all the above seems like over-complicating something that's actually quite a simple, primal, biological drive
For most people, it can feel intimidating/exposing to attend something like this- that’s normal! Kudos for even considering leaving your comfort zone! Feel free to reach out in advance with any questions/concerns
We will-
- engage in discussions, activities and personal reflection
- myth-bust common misconceptions about sexual norms, anatomy, arousal, desire and pleasure
- cultivate an atmosphere that is open-minded, kind and respectful to a variety of perspectives, sexual proclivities and ideas
- have a chill zone available throughout the workshop where anyone is welcome to retreat to if they feel uncomfortable/ overwhelmed / triggered
- have a No Questions Asked policy for anyone who leaves the workshop at any point
We won’t-
- do any sexual activity of any kind (!)
- be asked or expected to share any personal information about our own sexual experiences / desires
- assume any knowledge prior to the workshop
- expect anyone to be familiar with any specific terminology
I look forward to welcoming you into this inclusive, sex-positive and non-judgemental workshop to reflect upon, discuss and challenge the sexual norms of our society. All identities welcome to this fun, interactive and trauma- informed space, facilitated by an experienced sex and relationships educator.
What does pleasure feel like? What makes it difficult to ask for what we want? What do we do instead of just asking for what we want? What strategies can we use to overcome performance anxiety, self-consciousness and shame? In what ways can we go off-script, and maximise the pleasure we experience when having sex?
Wanting some more info?
Check out testimonies from previous participants, FAQs or get in touch here with any questions/ concerns :)
Why?
Most of us were never provided any formal sex or relationships education. Instead we’ve done our best to learn about what sex & intimacy involve from the informal sex ed available; the internet, TV, films, porn, family, friends, partners, books, religious institutions, personal experience…
Few of us have graduated from this form of sex ed sexually & emotionally satisfied. Collectively, we far too often experience sex that’s formulaic, dissatisfying, dutiful, shame-ridden & performative within relationships that too frequently feel mis-attuned. Most of us are left hurt & frustrated, without much idea how to cultivate the intimate lives we want.
I've spent the last 12 years learning about sex & relationships. I developed these workshops as a way to share the most transformative bits of this learning to support others to navigate the complicated landscape of their sex lives and intimate relationships with greater self-awareness, insight, perspective and some solid strategies to maximise pleasure, intimacy and authenticity.
A note on Ticket types
Tickets are priced on a sliding scale, from £0-£45 (full price) with an additional option to subsidise low/no cost access by buying a ‘pay it forward’ ticket.
The full price ticket is significantly cheaper than similar training available, reflective of my own subsidy (offered from my position as someone who’s benefited from unearned resources & cultural capital myself) as well as my commitment to making these workshops accessible to everyone.
Please choose the ticket type that most accurately reflects your position & experience (you may not identify with every point- that’s OK!- go for whichever feels the most relatable).
I’m committed to ensuring the learning, healing, insight & great vibes these workshops generate remains accessible & inclusive, regardless of financial position. Therefore I try not to limit the number of low/no cost places.
This system is only sustainable insofar as everyone truly does opt for the ticket type that genuinely reflects their financial position. I trust you to choose honestly & am grateful for your support in making this accessibility workable.