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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 2001)
4 CULTURE ............ ¥ ............. ri to other men, and they see value in exploring erotic education. “American culture as a whole is touch- starved. Men aren’t given permission to touch other men, and they want it,” Waddell observes. “I find that the more awake my body is, the more open it is to receiving touch and to receiving pleasure from touch. If my body is asleep and somebody is touching me, I’m really not getting a lot of pleasure out of it. So it’s about getting the body awake and the mind awake. It just really expands the ability to get pleasure from touch.” T he next “Celebrating the Body Erotic” session in Portland will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 3 and 4- Leading the workshop will be M atthew Simmons, a teacher, per former and massage therapist with a private practice in San Francisco. He has a background in dance, movement and music and experience as a midwife to the dying. Workshop tuition is $325, and limited financial assistance is available. Because of the healing nature of the Eastern approaches to erotic energy, men living with HIV or in recov ery from substance, mood or behavior addic tions are especially welcome. T he Body Electric School will return to Portland in May. O ther sessions, such as those for women and couples, are held across the country, including many in Seattle. JH wice a year in a studio near downtown Portland, men shed their clothes and their inhibitions in order to learn erotic ways to connect with other men. But what might sound hedonistic is instead an intimate, hands- by T imothy K rause on workshop designed to engender kinship and brotherhood. way to take us from where we are “Celebrating the Body Erotic” is two-day to someplace different. And that exploration of the senses conducted by the someplace different is usually pret Body Electric School of Oakland, Calif. As ty undefined, because it will be many as 24 men are expected to attend the upcoming session, which presenters say will unique for each individual person.” teach them how to connect with deeper cen T he interpretation of erotic ters of pleasure in their bodies. massage depends on the individ Northeast Portland resident A1 Waddell has ual, too. A n important distinc tion is that ejaculation is not the attended the workshop several times and serves goal. Instead, techniques are as local coordinator. For him, the experience taught to help men redirect orgas has been profound, even spiritual. mic energy throughout the body “1 found new ways to connect with men,” rather than focus on the genitals. he says, “new ways to connect with myself “Celebrating the Body Erotic" through learning about conscious breath, methods provide men with an through learning about touch, through explor opportunity to experience this ing different ways of being with other men powerful aspect of their body in a beyond what 1 identified as gay sex.” way they never have before, Although much of the workshop is con according to Waddell. But th at’s ducted in the huff, a significant part of the first as much explanation as he is will day involves simply getting participants com ing to offer in concrete terms. fortable and relaxed. W hen it does come time Sessions follow a fairly set rou to disrobe, it’s done with honor and ritual. tine, but the particular dynamics Through various activities— some in large of each group are unique, groups, some with just a partner— participants depending on its participants. have the opportunity to practice two main Waddell says no one stock expe Gay men at this workshop share a desire for deeper connections techniques: conscious breathing and erotic rience can be described because massage. Conscious breathing, or rebirthing, is “Celebrating the Body Erotic” workshops in each attendee comes looking for something differ about finding a rhythm of breath that is not Portland for more than 10 years, and along ent, from different points in their lives. Which how one normally breathes. the way the student roster has included men means the guys who show up are just as varied as The intent is to create a new awareness of of all ages, body types and characteristics. But the experiences they might encounter. ones body, Waddell suggests. “It opens us up and they all share a desire for a deeper connection T he Body Electric School has presented allows us to feel more life in our body. It’s a path- Erotic education T Men get a charge out of Body Electric workshop T o register for CELEBRATING THE BODY EROTIC contact A l Waddell at 503-288-6624. Class descriptions, schedules and other information can be found at wwiu.bodyelectric.org or by calling 510-653-1594. TIMOTHY KRAUSE is a writer and editor in Portland. f o u r t h cinfam ous ^ o iï o w e e n Saturday, Oct. 27th Sfn • Cocktails • Food • Dancing • Co Co Dancers 11 pm - $ 15 cover r R E S T A U R A N T BAR 2000 NE 40th (2 blcks. N o rth o f Sandy) 503-460-2682 Private parties 4 catering available Wednesday. October 3lst M -C itg Costume Contest e n try fee — W in n er Takes All it Doesn’T g e t any schrigr THan this F uture 1015 S\A/ Washington 5 0 3 -2 4 1 -0 8 7 5 www.TheFuturelnc.com *3 2nd & 3 rd Place Winners Also C ash Pot 10pm Contest Judging Thursday. November Ut Glitz, Glamour & insanity 17 ♦ T U i l i n m Damile 1) Showplace • 208 NW ìrd Ave • Portland OH « n n with this ^ ad m• ((esmatwns M S ) » • fat m m
