Partners

Partner, Spouse, Lover, Life Partner, Friend with Benefits… There are so many different ways to name erotic relationships we have with people. No matter what configuration that relationship looks like, there are certain basic skills that can help individuals build more intimacy and capacity for experiencing pleasure in relationship.

We have decided to use the term “partner” to mean any kind of erotic connection or relationship you experience with another person for this section. It can be valuable to look at the words you describe relationships in. How do you define the works you use to describe your relationships?

This section offers techniques for staying connected to yourself while enhancing connection with a partner.

Exploring Touch Together

Gerri and James met in 2007 while working together at a wellness center in Pleasant Hill, CA. Since then they have developed a relationship that continues to deepen in love and intimacy. They also share a passion for serving the community, offering health and wellness events at their studio, OMBody Yoga, in Oakland, CA. They were excited to work with Dr. Betty Martin in learning a new way of exploring touch in their relationship.

Wheel of Desire Exercise Part 1 In this video Dr. Betty Martin guides Gerri and James through a new way of experiencing touch. Watch as they discover a new meaning to “giving” and “receiving” touch. Follow along by yourself or with a partner and try out these exercise along with Betty, Gerri, and James! (640×480 11:25)

Wheel of Desire Exercise Part 2 In this video you can follow along as Gerri and James explore communication around touch. Notice the differences in how they experience touch based on the intention of touching for your own pleasure compared with touching as a gift to your partner. Play along with the video and then try out different kinds of touch with your partner. Dare to ask for exactly how you want to be touched. What do you notice? Share these observations with your partner. (640×480 3:43)