Introduction
Hello and welcome to episode one of our podcast.
In this episode, Ingo and I explore a fundamental question: why is the body central to spiritual practice?
We talk about Ingo’s early experiences in tantra, how tantra differs from other spiritual paths, and why direct experience — rather than belief — sits at the heart of what we teach.
We also share a little about why we created this podcast, and introduce the Tantra Love Festival in Glastonbury.
Enjoy listening.
Full Transcript
Hello and welcome to the Tantra for Gay Men podcast, hosted by Jason and Ingo Tantra. Here we explore spirituality and personal growth through tantra, the body, energy and sex.
Hello my darling.
Hello sweetheart.
Here we are for episode one, sitting in beautiful Copenhagen, overlooking the sea — a place where we come to recharge, reflect, and create what we want to bring into the world.
This podcast really came from a simple question: how can people experience more of what we teach, beyond just attending retreats?
Because when people come to work with us, they often have profound, life-changing experiences. But how do we share the depth behind that work more widely?
For me, life in 2024 can feel complex and overwhelming. People are searching for connection, intimacy, meaning — and tantra offers a pathway into those experiences, but also helps people understand what gets in the way.
One important thing to say: tantra is not something you understand through words alone. It’s something you experience.
This podcast can only point towards that — it can hint, provoke, and touch something in you. But the real work is always in practice.
Which brings us to today’s question:
Why is the body central to spiritual practice?
In tantra, everything happens through the body.
And to explain that, Ingo shares a personal story.
In his early life, he was deeply intellectual — successful academically, but largely disconnected from his body and his deeper experience.
Then he encountered tantra.
Initially, the motivation wasn’t spiritual — it was curiosity, connection, even sexual exploration. But something unexpected happened.
After several days of intensive practice, he woke in the night in a completely altered state — a profound experience of connection, unity, and energy that went far beyond anything he had known.
It felt like merging with something much bigger — a deep, embodied experience of what could only be described as awakening.
And crucially, this wasn’t theoretical.
It wasn’t belief.
It was a direct, physical, lived experience — triggered through the body.
This is the key point:
In tantra, spiritual realisation happens through the body.
Not as an idea. Not as a concept. But as something you feel, deeply and unmistakably.
For me, when I reflect on this, I see that any spiritual practice needs to be grounded in the body to be truly lived.
We can think about spirituality, talk about it, believe in it — but unless it is felt in the body, it remains abstract.
And this is where tantra differs from many paths.
Rather than moving away from the body, it moves directly into it.
Through sensation. Through breath. Through energy. Through direct experience.
Another important distinction we make is between belief and realisation.
You can believe something spiritually — but realisation is when you experience it so directly that there is no doubt.
And that kind of realisation changes how you live.
At the same time, the spiritual path is not only about bliss.
Yes, tantra can open extraordinary states of pleasure, connection, and ecstasy.
But it also invites you to meet everything else — the difficult parts, the shadows, the patterns that limit you.
For us, the path is about both.
Opening into what is possible, while also meeting what gets in the way.
And all of this happens through the body.
That is why the body is central.
Because it is the gateway to experience — to awareness, to transformation, and ultimately to realisation.
Tantra Love Festival
We also want to share something very close to our hearts — the Tantra Love Festival.
Held in Glastonbury over the August bank holiday weekend, this five-day gathering brings together around 130 men from all over the world.
It’s a space for connection, exploration, and deep community.
With over 40 workshops — from gentle, non-sexual connection to more advanced tantric practices — it’s designed for both complete beginners and experienced practitioners.
What makes it special is the atmosphere: within a very short time, people feel safe, open, and deeply connected.
Many describe it as finding a sense of belonging, friendship, and even transformation.
If you’re curious, you can find more information on our website.
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