Our recent article about tantric sex generated a lot of click thrus, so we thought we’d follow it up with some simple partnered practices to help you explore whether Tantra might be your thing.

Tantra is a Sanskrit word meaning “woven together” - and what better way to weave a little more depth, connection and intimacy into your relationship than with a few guided, fully clothed exercises inspired by tantric practice?

Before you begin, an important reminder to make sure you have enthusiastic consent from your partner. These exercises are all about connection, not pressure.

Eye Gazing

This is one of the simplest places to start, and can be surprisingly powerful. It’s all about presence.

Sit facing your partner and take a few slow, deep breaths. 
Soften your gaze and focus on their left eye (traditionally linked to the emotional, right side of the brain). 
Stay silent, keep breathing, and just be in the moment.

It’s normal to feel awkward at first but stick with it. As you hold eye contact, you may notice thoughts, emotions, or even a bit of nervous laughter bubbling up. Let it happen. This practice isn’t about “getting it right” - it’s about noticing what comes up.

If you’re a fan of MAFS you will know this is a task couples are given during intimacy week.

Synchronised Breathing

Once you’ve dipped your toe into eye gazing, this is the perfect next step for deepening connection.

Sit or lie down together and begin taking slow, steady breaths. 
The goal is to gently match your partner’s rhythm.
No forcing, no holding your breath, just a natural flow of inhale and exhale.

It might feel tricky at first, especially if you breathe at different speeds, but give it a minute or two. You’ll often find your bodies naturally fall into sync.

Feeling confident? Try a breath exchange where one partner inhales as the other exhales. It takes a bit of focus, but it can feel incredibly intimate.

Heart Connection

Think of this as a progression from synchronised breathing which adds a physical layer to that energetic connection.

Sit cross-legged facing each other. 
Place your right hand over your partner’s heart, and your left hand on top of theirs. 
Your partner mirrors your gesture.
Now return to that slow, shared breathing. 

With the added touch, you may find the connection feels even more grounded and intentional like you’re literally “tuning in” to each other.

Melting Hug

In a world of rushed goodbyes and half-hearted hugs, this exercise invites you to slow things right down.

Move slowly into a full-body embrace with your partner chest to chest, no gaps.  
You can maintain eye contact if it feels natural, but it’s not essential.
The key here is to soften into the hug. Breathe normally, relax your body, and focus on the sensation of being held (and holding). 

It’s simple, but surprisingly intimate when you give it your full attention.

Sensual Touch or Sensorium

Before beginning this exercise check in with your partner as it does involve touch, but it’s still grounded in connection rather than overt sexuality.

Start with sensual touch - gently exploring your partner’s arms, shoulders, neck or body while they focus on being fully present in the experience. It’s less about “doing” and more about noticing sensations, temperature, pressure.

And yes, it’s sensual, not sexual. The intention isn’t to stimulate, but to awaken awareness. (Where it leads is up to you but that’s not the goal here.)

Sensorium takes things a step further by playing with different sensations. Think contrasts - soft feathers, cool ice, melted wax (the kind designed for skin), or even a scarf used as a blindfold to heighten other senses.

It’s all about curiosity and exploration. What feels good? What surprises you?

And if your mind wandered to slightly kinkier tools you’re not alone. Let’s just say there’s plenty of room to tailor this to your personal tastes if, like me, you enjoy edgier play with a wartenberg wheel or a violet wand.

You’ll notice we haven’t given strict time limits for these exercises. Some people suggest 3–5 minutes, others 10 minutes but honestly, the best guide is how it feels. Stay with each practice as long as it feels natural, and move on when it doesn’t.

If you enjoy these, there’s a whole world of tantric practices to explore such as grounded hugs, Yab-Yum, tantric kissing, energy play, and we haven’t even touched on sex yet.

Flying solo? You can still try some of these, like eye gazing in the mirror. (It’s more powerful than you might expect.)

In our busy lives, we rarely pause, let alone truly focus on our partner. The average sexual encounter lasts around seven minutes, but imagine the depth of connection if you took time to slow down before you even make it to the bedroom.

Enjoy, lovers.

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