Welcome more pleasure into our lives
Welcoming more pleasure into our lives might seem simple on the surface, but for many, it can be a transformative journey. In today’s world, we often find ourselves prioritizing productivity, responsibility, or routine, sometimes at the cost of our own joy and fulfillment. Integrating pleasure into our daily life isn’t about escaping responsibilities—it’s about enhancing our experience of life and embracing a more balanced, vibrant existence.
In a holistic sense, pleasure isn’t only about sensual enjoyment or physical delight; it’s about cultivating joy, connection, and self-compassion in every area of life. Here are a few ways to invite more pleasure, from small shifts in mindset to deeper, transformative practices.
1. Reframe Pleasure as Essential, Not Indulgent
One of the biggest myths about pleasure is that it’s a luxury, something that’s only enjoyed in rare moments or "once everything else is done." In reality, our capacity to experience pleasure and joy is as crucial as our need for productivity or success. Pleasure rejuvenates us, fuels our creativity, and boosts our resilience. Studies show that moments of joy and relaxation can improve our health, decrease stress, and enhance cognitive function.
Reframing pleasure as an essential part of life rather than an indulgence opens up the door to experiencing it more freely. Think of pleasure as self-care—a way of nourishing yourself that also enhances your capacity to be present for others and to meet life’s demands with renewed energy.
2. Cultivate Sensory Awareness
One of the simplest ways to bring more pleasure into daily life is to heighten your sensory awareness. Engaging fully with our senses allows us to be more present and receptive to the pleasurable aspects of life.
To cultivate this awareness, start by paying closer attention to what you see, smell, taste, touch, and hear throughout your day. Notice the taste of your morning coffee, the sensation of water on your skin in the shower, or the sound of music as you work. This mindfulness practice brings pleasure to even the most mundane tasks, transforming them into moments of delight.
Try incorporating sensory pleasure into your daily rituals, such as using scented candles, savoring meals without distraction, or spending time outdoors to feel the wind and sun on your skin. When you’re fully engaged with your senses, you create the space for pleasure to flow more naturally into your life.
3. Practice Self-Compassion
Allowing more pleasure into our lives requires a compassionate approach to ourselves. It’s not uncommon to feel guilt or even shame around prioritizing pleasure, especially when so much of modern culture is achievement-focused. Self-compassion is a pathway to dissolve these feelings, allowing us to give ourselves permission to enjoy life.
Self-compassion means treating yourself with kindness, especially when things are challenging. When we extend self-compassion, we remind ourselves that we deserve joy and relaxation just as much as anyone else. To cultivate self-compassion, practice noticing critical thoughts and replacing them with kind and understanding affirmations. Allow yourself time for rest, and encourage yourself to engage in activities that bring you joy without feeling the need to justify them.
4. Embrace Movement That Feels Good
Movement isn’t just about fitness goals; it’s also about experiencing the joy of inhabiting your body. Movement practices like dance, yoga, or even walking in nature connect us to our bodies and can be profoundly pleasurable experiences when done mindfully. These forms of movement invite us to savor the sensations in our muscles, our breath, and our heartbeat.
Tantric practices often incorporate mindful movement, inviting individuals to connect to their bodies with curiosity and compassion. Instead of pushing your body to meet a goal, try exploring movement that feels good, whether that’s a gentle stretch, a brisk walk, or simply letting yourself dance freely to music. Movement done with awareness cultivates pleasure and a sense of connection to the self.
5. Explore Breathwork for Inner Peace and Joy
Breathwork is a powerful practice for enhancing our experience of pleasure by calming the mind and bringing awareness to the body. By taking deeper, slower breaths, we signal to our body that it’s safe to relax and open up to the moment. This shift can make us more receptive to pleasurable sensations and reduce stress, which often blocks our ability to enjoy life.
To begin, try a simple breathwork exercise: take a few deep breaths in and out, focusing on the sensation of the breath filling your lungs and then slowly releasing. Visualize the breath as a source of calming energy that spreads through your body, releasing tension and opening you up to feelings of peace and ease.
Incorporating a few minutes of breathwork daily can create a powerful shift in how we feel, bringing a sense of calm and clarity that supports a more pleasurable experience of life.
6. Rediscover Play and Creativity
Remembering how to play can bring immense pleasure into our lives. As adults, we sometimes lose touch with the playful, creative side of ourselves. Engaging in activities just for the fun of it—like painting, cooking, playing an instrument, or trying something new—can bring joy back into our lives and ignite a spark of childlike wonder.
Creativity isn’t about being an expert at something; it’s about enjoying the process without judgment. When we allow ourselves to play, we create moments of joy and laughter, helping us reconnect with our innate capacity for pleasure.
7. Embrace Rest and Stillness
In our fast-paced lives, we often feel pressured to keep moving, to keep achieving. Embracing rest and stillness can feel revolutionary. Taking time for quiet, restful moments allows us to slow down and appreciate life without distraction. It’s during these moments of stillness that we often experience the beauty of life in its simplest form, whether it’s watching a sunset or savoring a moment of silence.
Rest is a fundamental component of a life filled with pleasure. It allows us to recharge, reflect, and feel present in our bodies and minds. Scheduling time for rest, whether through meditation, napping, or quiet time, gives us the foundation to experience more pleasure in everything we do.
8. Mindful Connection and Receiving
Another powerful source of pleasure is connection—whether it’s with ourselves, our loved ones, or the world around us. Tantra, in particular, teaches us that presence is the gateway to deep connection and joy. When we connect mindfully with others, we’re able to experience greater joy and intimacy.
Learning to receive, whether it’s a compliment, a kind gesture, or a moment of beauty, is essential for welcoming more pleasure. Practice simply saying "thank you" when someone expresses kindness or appreciation, and take a moment to savor the gift. In doing so, you open yourself to the abundance of joy that surrounds you.
Ready to Invite More Pleasure into Your Life?
Allowing more pleasure into life is a journey, one that requires us to slow down, tune into our bodies, and give ourselves permission to feel joy. Through mindfulness, breathwork, movement, and self-compassion, we can cultivate a sense of inner joy that resonates in all aspects of our lives.
If you’re ready to explore deeper practices for cultivating pleasure, I invite you to book a session or workshop that can help guide you on this path. Whether through a personalized Tantra session, a mindful movement practice, or simply a discussion on ways to embrace more joy in your life, there are many ways to experience this journey. Reach out to schedule, and let’s open the door to a more pleasurable, connected way of living.
Megan is a teacher, speaker, tantrika, and creatrix who has dedicated her life to working with people combining their spirituality and sexuality in ways that enhance your relationships, business, sexual, emotional and physical health. Megan first found Tantra as a teenager, devouring books and giving words to what she was experiencing but did not understand.
Megan’s genius is in making the esoteric clear and transferable to your everyday life.
Tantra is sanskrit for “weave”. Megan will use and show you how to incorporate and “weave” meditation, massage, breathwork, sexuality, movement and energy practices, with the Western somatic/healing framework in ways that are practical and understandable for every area of your life.
Areas of impact are sexuality, relationships, business, creative, financial, physical, emotional health and spirituality.
She currently sees clients in person in Athens, Greece, during the winter and Northern Europe in the summer. She is available for multiday retreats and VIP packages as well as FMTY (fly me to you)
Email megan@mountain-tantra.com for more information, a free consultation call and availability.