What is Tantra?

Have you heard about Tantra?

 Tantra  is the name given by recent scholars to a style of meditation and ritual which arose in India no later than the 5th century AD.  Defined as a technique-rich style of spiritual practice, Tantra has no single coherent doctrine; instead, it developed a variety of teachings in connection with the religions adopting the Tantric method. These practices are oriented to the married householder rather than the monastic or solitary renunciant, exhibiting a world-embracing (as opposed to a world-denying) character. Tantra, particularly its nondualforms, rejected the values of Patañjalian yoga; instead, it offered a vision of reality as self-expression of a single, free and blissful divine consciousness under Śiva. Tantra is different from other traditions because it takes the whole person, and his/her worldly desires into account. Other spiritual traditions ordinarily teach that desire for material pleasures and spiritual aspirations are mutually exclusive, setting the stage for an endless internal struggle. Although most people are drawn into spiritual beliefs and practices, they have a natural urge to fulfill their desires. With no way to reconcile these two impulses, they fall prey to guilt and self-condemnation or become hypocritical. Tantra offers an alternative path. What is Tantra Yoga in practice?

• The usage of your mental power for reaching success in sexual Tantra
• How to access and use the subconscious mind on your tantric evolution
• How to build and keep polarity in a successful tantric relationship
• Learning to open up and overcome shyness and inner blockages

• Art of samyama – technique of identification and its use in sexual Tantra
• NLP methods as tools in Tantra
• Tantric visualization and the use of holographic images in Tantra
• Tantric symbol and guided meditations for creating beneficial resonances
• Special Senses Game – an incredible sensual experience for deepening your tantric awareness
• Introduction to tantric massage – the use of energy for creating full body tantric experiences

The Misuse of Tantrik Powers Unfortunately, a large number of tantrik enthusiasts, in both the West and the East, mistakenly identify tantra as the yoga of sex, black magic, witchcraft, seduction, and an amalgam of techniques for influencing the minds of others. "This is due, at least in part, to the fact that tantra is both a spiritual path and a science," says Rajmani Tigunait in his book Tantra Unveiled. "As a spiritual path, it emphasizes on the purification of mind and heart, cultivating a spiritually illuminating philosophy of life. As a science, it experiments with techniques whose efficacy depends on the precise application of "mantra" and "yantra", ritual use of specific materials, and the performance of tantrik mudras and accompanying mental exercises," writes Tigunait. In the layman's language, such practices can be thought of as tantrik formulas. They will yield a result if properly applied, regardless of the character, spiritual understanding or intention of the practitioner. When this scientific aspect of tantra falls into the hands of charlatans, it is inevitably misused giving tantra a bad name. Fortunately, however, there are still tantrik masters, authentic scriptures to undercut such false and distorted notions and make it possible for us to gain a better understanding of this sublime path.

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Valentine's Day Spa Special

For Valentine's day we have a special treat for you at Kocoon

Relax with a warm rose candle massage. The massage candle melts into a  warm sumptuous massage oil. This warm oil of natural butters can then be drizzled over the skin for a wonderful massage treatment to melt away tension and delicately nourish skin. The scent of the rose will embark you on a romantic journey in Paris…

Let yourself be charmed by this 90 min massage alone or in duo. Enjoy a complimentary cupcake by The Lollipop Bakery at the end of the massage!

670 rmb | 90 min.
1140rmb for 2, side by side | 90 min.

At Kocoon spa Taiyue Suites. Offer limited in time from February 1st - 28th, cannot be combined
with promotions and discounts. Available in Gift Certificates.

 

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Click on the flyer to see the details of this inspiring, rejuvenating journey!  

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Valentine's Day Suggestions by Kocoon spa

Which event? Which restaurants? What to do on Valentine's day in Beijing?

The most romantic day of the year is finally here again – February 14, Valentine's Day, the one day of the year in which love seems to be everywhere.

We have made a selection of places where you can celebrate this special day!

      The Sureno - The Opposite House: 

• 5-course set menu paired with a bottle of moët & chandon imperial rosé champagne, 1,588 for two
• 5-course set menu, food only, rmb 798 for two

Menu:

Foie gras terrine on brioche crostini (green apples, cheese crumbles & balsamico)

∞∞∞

House-marinated norwegian salmon celery sprouts, beetroots & greek yoghurt

∞∞∞

Mushroom soup crème fraîche & crostone di pane

∞∞∞

Grilled sea bass green peas & extra virgin olive oil or slow-cooked wagyu beef short ribs or grilled boston lobster béarnaise sauce.

∞∞∞

chocolate & berries romance 

Parnas - Nali Patio: 

St Valentines - 2 Floors, 2 Atmospheres
Parnas extends an invitation to "all those lovely couples and those lonely hearts" to partake in this festive set meal. Champagne strawberry cocktail for RMB 88.

Restaurant: RMB/988 couple; bistro: RMB 588/couple.

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Là Bas-Bar - Gulou 

On February 14 valentine's day in La - bas, hand made truffles from a French chef are waiting for you. There is love feelings of flamenco melodies also waiting for you. He or she is waiting for you-
Live performance by Tursun. Feb 14 21:30 p.m. - 0:00 a.m.

 

 

 

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The Concept of Eros

The Origins of the word "love"

The Abduction of Psyche - Emile Signol

Eros (/ˈɪrɒs/ or /ˈɛrɒs/; Ancient Greek: ἔρως érōs "love, mostly of the sexual passion") is one of the four words in Ancient Greek which can be rendered into English as “love”. The other three are storge, philia and agape. Eros refers to “intimate love” or romantic love; storge to familial love; philia to friendship as a kind of love; and agape refers to “selfless love”, or “charity” as it is translated in the Christian scriptures (from the Latin caritas, dearness). The term erotic is derived from eros. Eros has also been used in philosophy and psychology in a much wider sense, almost as an equivalent to "life energy".

The classical Greek tradition

In the classical world, erotic love was generally referred to as a kind of madness or theia mania ("madness from the gods"). This love passion was described through an elaborate metaphoric and mythological schema involving "love's arrows" or "love darts", the source of which was often the personified figure of Eros (or his Latin counterpart, Cupid), or another deity (such as Rumor). At times the source of the arrows was said to be the image of the beautiful love object itself. If these arrows were to arrive at the lover's eyes, they would then travel to and 'pierce' or 'wound' his or her heart and overwhelm him/her with desire and longing (love sickness). The image of the "arrow's wound" was sometimes used to create oxymorons and rhetorical antithesis concerning its pleasure and pain. "Love at first sight" was explained as a sudden and immediate beguiling of the lover through the action of these processes, but this was not the only mode of entering into passionate love in classical texts. At times the passion could occur after the initial meeting, as, for example, in Phaedra's letter to Hippolytus in Ovid's Heroides: "That time I went to Eleusis... it was then most of all (though you had pleased me before) that piercing love lodged in my deepest bones." At times, the passion could even precede the first glimpse, as in Paris' letter to Helen of Troy in the same work, where Paris says that his love for Helen came upon him before he had set eyes on her: "...you were my heart's desire before you were known to me. I beheld your features with my soul ere I saw them with my eyes;

"Love at first sight" was explained as a sudden and immediate beguiling of the lover through the action of these processes, but this was not the only mode of entering into passionate love in classical texts. At times the passion could occur after the initial meeting, as, for example, in Phaedra's letter to Hippolytus in Ovid's Heroides: "That time I went to Eleusis... it was then most of all (though you had pleased me before) that piercing love lodged in my deepest bones." At times, the passion could even precede the first glimpse, as in Paris' letter to Helen of Troy in the same work, where Paris says that his love for Helen came upon him before he had set eyes on her: "...you were my heart's desire before you were known to me. I beheld your features with my soul ere I saw them with my eyes; rumour, that told me of you, was the first to deal my wound."

European literature The classical conception of love's arrows was developed further by the troubadour poets of Provence during the medieval period, and became part of the European courtly love tradition. The role of a woman's eyes in eliciting erotic desire was particularly emphasized by the Provençal poets, as N.E. Griffin points out: According to this description, love originates upon the eyes of the lady when encountered by those of her future lover. The love thus generated is conveyed on bright beams of light from her eyes to his, through which it passes to take up its abode in his heart. In some medieval texts, the gaze of a beautiful woman is compared to the sight of a basilisk - a legendary reptile said to have the power to cause death with a single glance. These images continued to be circulated and elaborated upon in the literature and iconography of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Boccaccio for example, in his Il Filostrato, mixes the tradition of Cupid's arrow with the Provençal emphasis on the eyes as the birthplace of love: "Nor did he (Troilus) who was so wise shortly before... perceive that Love with his darts dwelt within the rays of those lovely eyes... nor notice the arrow that sped to his heart."

 In philosophy and psychology

The ancient philosopher Plato developed an idealistic concept of eros which would prove to be very influential in modern times. In general, Plato did not consider physical attraction to be a necessary part of eros. "Platonic love" in this original sense can be attained by the intellectual purification of eros from carnal into ideal form. This process is examined in Plato's dialogue the Symposium. Plato argues there that eros is initially felt for a person, but with contemplation it can become an appreciation for the beauty within that person, or even an appreciation for beauty itself in an ideal sense. As Plato expresses it, eros can help the soul to "remember" beauty in its pure form. It follows from this, for Plato, that eros can contribute to an understanding of truth. In Freudian psychology, Eros is strictly the sexual component of our life, not to be confused with libido which Freud referred to as our life force, the will to live. It is the desire to create life and favors productivity and construction. In early psychoanalytic writings, instincts from the Eros were opposed by forces from the ego. But in later psychoanalytic theory, Eros is opposed by the destructive death instinct of Thanatos (death instinct or death drive). In Carl Jung's analytical psychology, the counterpart to Eros is Logos, a Greek term for the principle of rationality. Jung considers Logos to be a masculine principle, while Eros is a feminine principle. According to Jung: Woman’s psychology is founded on the principle of Eros, the great binder and loosener, whereas from ancient times the ruling principle ascribed to man is Logos. The concept of Eros could be expressed in modern terms as psychic relatedness, and that of Logos as objective interest.

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What is Tantra?

Have you heard about Tantra?

Tantra  is the name given by recent scholars to a style of meditation and ritual which arose in India no later than the 5th century AD. 

Defined as a technique-rich style of spiritual practice, Tantra has no single coherent doctrine; instead, it developed a variety of teachings in connection with the religions adopting the Tantric method. These practices are oriented to the married householder rather than the monastic or solitary renunciant, exhibiting a world-embracing (as opposed to a world-denying) character. Tantra, particularly its nondualforms, rejected the values of Patañjalian yoga; instead, it offered a vision of reality as self-expression of a single, free and blissful divine consciousness under Śiva.

Tantra is different from other traditions because it takes the whole person, and his/her worldly desires into account. Other spiritual traditions ordinarily teach that desire for material pleasures and spiritual aspirations are mutually exclusive, setting the stage for an endless internal struggle. Although most people are drawn into spiritual beliefs and practices, they have a natural urge to fulfill their desires. With no way to reconcile these two impulses, they fall prey to guilt and self-condemnation or become hypocritical. Tantra offers an alternative path.

What is Tantra Yoga in practice?

• The usage of your mental power for reaching success in sexual Tantra
• How to access and use the subconscious mind on your tantric evolution
• How to build and keep polarity in a successful tantric relationship
• Learning to open up and overcome shyness and inner blockages

• Art of samyama – technique of identification and its use in sexual Tantra
• NLP methods as tools in Tantra
• Tantric visualization and the use of holographic images in Tantra
• Tantric symbol and guided meditations for creating beneficial resonances
• Special Senses Game – an incredible sensual experience for deepening your tantric awareness
• Introduction to tantric massage – the use of energy for creating full body tantric experiences

The Misuse of Tantrik Powers

Unfortunately, a large number of tantrik enthusiasts, in both the West and the East, mistakenly identify tantra as the yoga of sex, black magic, witchcraft, seduction, and an amalgam of techniques for influencing the minds of others.

"This is due, at least in part, to the fact that tantra is both a spiritual path and a science," says Rajmani Tigunait in his book Tantra Unveiled. "As a spiritual path, it emphasizes on the purification of mind and heart, cultivating a spiritually illuminating philosophy of life. As a science, it experiments with techniques whose efficacy depends on the precise application of "mantra" and "yantra", ritual use of specific materials, and the performance of tantrik mudras and accompanying mental exercises," writes Tigunait.

In the layman's language, such practices can be thought of as tantrik formulas. They will yield a result if properly applied, regardless of the character, spiritual understanding or intention of the practitioner. When this scientific aspect of tantra falls into the hands of charlatans, it is inevitably misused giving tantra a bad name. Fortunately, however, there are still tantrik masters, authentic scriptures to undercut such false and distorted notions and make it possible for us to gain a better understanding of this sublime path.

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The Balinese Massage

New treatment at Kocoon spa: Kocoon's Balinese Massage

Balinese massage is an approach to massage developed in the Indonesian province of Bali, with influence from the traditional medicine systems of India, China, and Southeast Asia.

Balinese massage techniques include acupressure, skin rolling and flicking, firm and gentle stroking, percussion, and application of essential oils.

Balinese massage is a good treatment to choose if you want to experience a variety of massage techniques, need some help to relax, or if you're feeling a bit low. A relaxation massage with attitude, this treatment will help you feel calm, but it will boost your circulation and target knotted tissue to address physical issues as well.

Balinese Massage Origins

The Balinese Massage, as one of Balinese healing treatments inspired  by classical Hindu medical science based on Ayurvedic texts. Over a thousand years ago, merchant ships regularly traveled through the Spice Islands – modern day Indonesia. Hindus from India brought healing massage techniques and oil massage as well as herbal treatments. Buddhists from China brought acupressure techniques. Western writings and modern documentation on Balinese traditional  medicine was pioneered by a Dutch medic, Doctor Wolfgang Weck, back in 1930, with his prominent book entitled “Heikunde und Volkstum auf Bali”. Anthropologist Dr R Goris wrote The Balinese Medical Literature. These notable figures investigated the detail and complications of Balinese traditional medicine, especially on theories, diagnosis, medicinal ingredients, and methods of concoction.

Today, Balinese massage consists of several massage therapy techniques that the people of Bali have adopted from different cultures. Bali massage was originally the more painful healing massage technique. As tourism grew, foreigners began to request more relaxing massages.

What is Balinese massage good for?

Balinese massage techniques work to soothe damaged tissue, and relieve strained muscles and joint pain. The boost to your circulation will help reduce stress and rebalance your body, and the aromatic oils can also boost your mood. As this massage targets deeper layers of muscle, and boosts circulation, Balinese massage is useful for sports injuries.

As with all spa treatments, you should tell your therapist if you have any medical conditions or are taking medication.

What to expect from a Balinese massage

Balinese massage is usually performed on a massage couch, but can also be performed on a floor mattress. Aromatherapy forms an important part of a Balinese massage. The use of scented massage oil can be very therapeutic, with the aroma of the essential oils soothing your mind. The massage oil also helps massage strokes become fluid and free of friction, which makes for a more comfortable treatment.

Expect the therapist to use quite deep pressure during the massage, in order to work on deep, knotted tissue and muscle damage. Your therapist will also use long, gentle strokes and kneading to relieve tension and improve circulation in the muscles closer to the surface of the skin. Sessions usually last about an hour.

You will feel all kinds of wonderful after a Balinese massage: relaxed, refreshed, re-energized. You will probably smell fantastic after all those essential oils, too. If you have the chance to lie down afterwards, take it. Soak in the wonderful feelings of relaxation and realignment for as long as you can.

Different types of Balinese massage

Bali is just one of hundreds of islands that make up Indonesia. Many of these islands have evolved their own special kind of Indonesian massage. All of the massages fuse ancient traditions and practices into treatments that will help your body to heal physically and spiritually, and leave you feeling wonderful. Here are a few examples:

• Sasak massage
• Lombok massage
• Urat massage
• Balinese Boreh ( a massage created by rice farmers to ease pain using a preparation of a paste of ground spices)
• Javanese Lulur Ritual (traditionally performed on brides in preparation to marriage).

Contraindications:

• People who suffer from cervical problems or articular problems
• If it is the first massage you receive maybe choose another type
• Not recommended for pregnant women

Time: 60 min

Price: At The Opposite House: 600rmb / At Taiyue Suites: 485rmb

 

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Review by Cityweekend magazine:

"You might not be able to book a trip to Bali this winter, but we heartily recommend the next best thing: a traditional Balinese massage at Kocoon Spa."

Spa Review: Kocoon Spa

Bali Beautiful

The version offered by Kocoon Spa features a body oil composed of an intoxicating mix of lavender, rose, mandarin orange and neroli. The 60-minute treatment (RMB600/60 minutes at Opposite House; RMB485 at Taiyue Suites) is somewhat similar to a Thai massage, but much less aggressive.

There are some gentle stretches, but nothing too challenging. Our therapist’s hands were smooth, using the fist to roll into the tissues of the muscle. You leave feeling relaxed and smelling faintly of spiced cloves, a scent that stayed with us throughout the day, making us feel a tad bit closer to the beautiful beaches of Bali. Read the review.

 

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Learn the move­ments to relax your part­ner or your friend …

Giv­ing a mas­sage to your part­ner is a great way to con­nect and express the fact that he / she is your only focus at this moment. You will not only decrease ten­sion but also cre­ate a deeper level of inti­macy between both of you. By allow­ing your part­ner to prac­tice receiv­ing, you will also cre­ate a more bal­anced sense of har­mony, of let­ting go, and let­ting be.

Join us at Kocoon Taiyue to learn sim­ple and effec­tive mas­sage tech­nics. Kocoon’s French spa trainer Mar­jorie Poitevin will be the instruc­tor for this class.

Date: March 14th & 18th | Time: 10:30am-12:30am

Last class: Wednes­day, March 25th | 18:30– 20:30

Require­ments: In order to really prac­tice the mas­sage tech­niques you need to come with a part­ner. You do not need any back­ground knowl­edge about mas­sages to attend this class.

Work­shop lim­ited to 4 people

Loca­tion: Kocoon spa, Taiyue Suites

Price: 200rmb/person

To book your spot: community[a]kocoonspalounge.com

In this class you will learn some oil mas­sage tech­niques. At the end of the class you will know:

• Which part of the body are impor­tant to massage
• Which part of the body you should avoid when doing a massage
• How to adjust the pres­sure of the massage
• Tips to really feel relaxed
• Which type of oil is the best

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What par­tic­i­pants say: 

“ My wife and myself attended the mas­sage class con­ducted by Mar­jorie on 14 Mar 2015. Within that cou­ple of hours, the trainer told and showed basic but effec­tive mas­sage tech­niques. We have learnt and prac­ticed which lead to excel­lent sleep over the week­end. Last but not least, our chil­dren enjoyed their mango juice and cook­ies. That was an awe­some expe­ri­ence of our fam­ily. Thank you very much for Kocoon Spa’ s staff hospitality.”

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About Mar­jorie Poitevin, Kocoon spa Man­ager and Trainer

After study­ing hotel trade and cater­ing she grad­u­ated in 2010 from the Inter­na­tional aes­thetic school “ Elysée Mar­beuf” in Paris. She carry on her stud­ied with a degree in spa man­age­ment in the “Ambroise Croisat” school in Paris.

After she grad­u­ated she worked for sev­eral spas in France: spa cinq mon­des, spa Sothys. In 2012, she moved to New Cale­do­nia to work as a beauty ther­a­pist for the “Ramada Plaza”, a lux­ury spa in Noumea.

In 2013, she came to China and worked for a while in a beauty clinic near Hong Kong. She is work­ing now for Kocoon spa since Sep­tem­ber 2014 as a spa man­ager and spa trainer.

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