By now, you might have heard of Orgasmic Meditation. But in case you haven't, well... it's exactly what it sounds like. Women are paying $95 a month (after a $100 sign-up fee) for unlimited OM sessions of meditation achieved through clitoral stimulation. Now, some might ask, 'What's the difference between OM and masturbation?' and others may call it a legal 'happy ending.” I recently had the chance to sit with Emily Schiffer, an OM enthusiast, and got the scoop on this new lunchtime trend.
What is OM?
“Orgasmic Meditation (OM) is a 15-minute consciousness practice where a person strokes the upper left-hand quadrant of a woman's clitoris with no goal except to feel. We talk about orgasm as any sensation or feeling that occurs. So, it is not just that explosive 10-20 second climax. There are gradients of sensation that can often be quite subtle,” said Emily Schiffer, a Mills College graduate who's currently enrolled in the One Taste coaching program.
READ: Why Reaching An Orgasm Is Difficult For Women
One Taste
One Taste is arguably the most popular OM clinic in the US. Started in San Francisco, they have branched out to many major cities including Las Vegas and New York. Their clientele report having an increase in energy and intimacy within sexual and platonic relationships after practicing OM. More importantly, they testify to having a deeper connection with and understanding of themselves. Some even say OM has helped them to overcome shame and an anorgasmic diagnosis.
Nicole Daedone, CEO of One Taste, told the Chopra Well, "Orgasm is vital for every woman and man on the planet. It roots our fundamental need for visceral, human-to-human connection. Orgasm, as experienced through OM, is a renewable, sustainable, regenerative resource creating a more complex, attentive and connected world." Daedone compares orgasm to vitamin C, a vital nutrient that we aren't getting enough of.Would you like to OM?
OM can be achieved without a partner, or “stroker.” However, the more common practice involves a certified OM coach and a strokee, the woman receiving the stroking. An OM session is initiated by simply asking “Would you like to OM?” If you are practicing with your partner at home, asking to OM prepares your partner to shift there focus from what would normally become a sexual experience (where the focus is solely on achieving a climax) to focusing on achieving... nothing.
“OM is goal-less. Being goal-less takes the pressure off. There's simply no way to do it wrong. There's nowhere to get to and there's nothing to achieve for either the woman or her stroker. The only thing that's required is they notice what they're feeling. Ultimately, OM is a practice. So you don't need to be turned on or in the mood to do it,” said Daedone in an instructional video.
The Nest
OM is performed in a “nest,” or yoga mat (or blanket) surrounded by pillows for the strokee and stroker's comfort. The strokee undresses from the waist down and lies on the mat with her legs in a butterfly position. The stroker positions themselves on her right side, with their left leg over her waist and their right leg under her knees.
READ: 5 Surprising Facts About The Female Orgasm
“The stroker positions himself, puts on gloves, some lube, and sets the timer for 15 minutes. The stroker then applies firm grounding pressure to the strokee's thighs and gives the “noticing” step, a neutral and non-judgmental observation about the strokee's genitals. He then does a lube stroke and strokes the upper left-hand quadrant of her clitoris,” said Schiffer.
Although OM is slightly sexual because it is performed on the clitoris, the goal is to allow yourself to feel, without expectation or judgment. With OM, both partners learn to embrace the female body and the sensations that may occur during stimulation. It also encourages open and honest communication, as the stroker and strokee must be honest with themselves and their partner about the experience. This includes the stroker looking at her vulva and describing exactly what they see prior to “OMing” and sharing a “frame,” or a feeling they experienced, afterward.
READ: The Multi-Orgasmic Women: 5 Tips To Help You Be Her
“Orgasm, as experienced in OM, is a full ignition of the body and a saturated feeling throughout. There are many peaks and valleys in this type of orgasm. You may experience climax. But, you may not. It's about the full ride of the experience,” said Daedone.
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