“There is more to sex than most men have been led to believe.” That’s the opinion of Collin Brown, director of the Body Electric School in Oakland, California.

Brown believes that men need more information about their erotic bodies and how to use them in ways that are safe and satisfying. The workshop, he says, “teaches men how to wake themselves up erotically and in the process to access emotions, heal old wounds and experience new levels of erotic ecstasy.” This is accomplished through various touch exercises and breathing techniques, which leads to a full-body massage. “By breathing and spreading energy with touch,” he says, “you can learn how to generate greater erotic charge in your body.”

One of the more interesting and perhaps challenging aspects of the workshop is the fact that most of it is done without clothing. “We carry a lot of body shame,” Brown says, and fears about being naked in front of other men are commonplace. “Most men who come to our workshops have fears about what they’re getting into, which is perfectly natural. Fears can be helpful indicators to help us pay attention, but if they stop us from exploring, they promote boredom and limit our growth. Ultimately, our bodies are our greatest teachers.” An important component of the workshop, he says, is creating a safe, supportive environment so men can experiment with erotic sensations in their bodies.

Creating increased amounts of erotic energy can lead to many new sensations and experiences. One of the workshop’s focal points is teaching men how to enhance their erotic sensations by not ejaculating. “We teach men techniques for letting erotic energy spread beyond the genitals to full-body orgasm. This allows them to extend peak levels of pleasure for much longer periods.”

Men sometimes find that the connection of breathing, touch and increased energy can open them to insights, emotional and spiritual about themselves and their lives. “Our wok borrows from ancient traditions, like Tantra, that honour sexuality as a means to greater spiritual awareness,” Brown says. “If we accept that everything about our bodies is sacred, then a desire for pleasure can become a holy expression rather than something to feel ashamed of. Many men are surprised to find that their bodies are in fact doorways into their souls.”

He also says this increased energy work can be particularly useful for men living with HIV. “Receiving loving touch in a safe and supportive environment has helped men feel better about themselves, and shown how they can generate energy from within for emotional, spiritual and physical healing.”

Graduates of the workshop are said to experience more ecstasy in their lives and to be much more present about who they are in the world. More confident and conscious of their erotic selves, they can approach their relationships less from a place of need and with a greater capacity to give and receive.