Talk Pleasure with Sasha Sigel

Talk Pleasure to Me

An Honest Intimacy Conversation with Sasha Sigel, Pelvic Floor Yoga Teacher

Talk Pleasure to Me is our series where we talk to experts on sex, relationships, and caring for your body (& mind) so you can get inspired on your pleasure journey and learn from the best.

Sasha Sigel works at the intersection of healing arts and social justice. Sasha understands that while much of what we see in wellness and yoga spaces is about perfecting ourselves and our bodies, there’s another path of being that embodies expansion and liberation – while also gaining a deeper sense of compassion and presence with yourself. Sasha is trained in trauma informed yoga, pelvic floor yoga, abortion and pregnancy loss support, and queer and trans reproductive support. As a practitioner based out of Brooklyn NY, Sasha has been featured in Bushwick Daily and BKLYNER. One of Sasha’s favorite parts of her work is being part of a queer yoga collective called Be Queer Now that offers virtual and in-person community.

What was your inspiration for following this career path?

I moved to New York to become an actor. What I was drawn to, however, was the healing arts. As my experience with queerness, endometriosis, and pelvic pain evolved, I realized that connecting with others experiencing similar challenges and finding ways to care for ourselves filled my cup.

What issues and topics are you most passionate about when it comes to women’s health and sexual wellbeing?

Reducing pelvic pain and increasing creativity are so important to our health and sexuality! Often we get “stuck” and feel like there aren’t options for our health and sexual experiences to improve. I love helping people figure out ways to feel good in their body and expand their ideas of what health and sex can look for them. Health and sexuality are so linked— when we talk about one, we naturally talk about the other!

What are some themes that you see with your patients/ clients that you wish would be talked about more openly?

So many people experience urinary incontinence (leaking), and so many people have been made to feel embarrassed about it. Both the fear and the experience of incontinence can drastically affect our daily lives and sexual experiences. I want people to know that incontinence can get better. Yoga is an effective way to start— we can reeducate our pelvic floor muscles and build new relationships between our brain and bladder.

What are common misconceptions about the female body or sexuality or that you regularly see in your practice that you want to debunk?

That penetration MUST be part of sex. Huge eye roll this 🙄.  Especially if penetration is painful, we want to expand the ways we find pleasure and intimacy with ourselves and partner(s). If penetration is a goal of yours, you can slowly work with your muscles and nervous system to move towards that, while still enjoying all kinds of other pleasure. (Think toys, tongues, fingers, erotica, etc.)

What’s a holistic tip for improving your sexual wellbeing?

When you’re having conversations with your partner(s) about sex, start those conversations OUTSIDE of the bedroom. Things can feel more escalated just before or after sex, so find a time to talk when you and your partner(s) are in a more neutral setting. Share what you’re curious about exploring, what doesn’t work so well for you, and some tried and true methods of pleasure. 

Do you have any favorite products you regularly recommend to your clients that might help them with specific concerns?

For my fellow folks with tight pelvic floor muscles, I highly recommend Foria’s Relief Melts with CBD! I use them when I’m having pelvic or hip pain, or before any penetration. They’re gentle and integrate so well with other practices to release tight pelvic muscles, like breathing techniques and internal trigger point massage. 

I also love pairing the Relief Melts and Intimacy Sex Oil with CBD. Taking the time to prepare my body for intimacy with my partner gets me in a good headspace, and the combination of Melts and Sex Oil creates more ease and less pain with sex.

What strategies do you use to effectively communicate with clients about sensitive topics related to sexual health?

Building a relationship based on mutual trust and respect takes time. These conversations don’t need to happen within the first 10 minutes of meeting one another. I start by working with a client’s nervous system through regulation techniques and breath before jumping into sensitive topics.

How do you approach cultural diversity and inclusivity in your practice?

I am committed to learning and teaching through an anti-racist and decolonized lens, and to honoring the lineages of these South Asian practices. I also know I might not be the best fit for all clients, and am happy to refer out to trans teachers, practitioners of color, or specialists. 

What is the most underrated body part?

The pelvis! The bony structure of our pelvis is so strong, and the muscles making up our pelvic floor are so smart.

More from Sasha

Want to know something Sasha recommends you can do TONIGHT to improve your intimacy life? Download the Foria App to read the extended version of this interview to read Sasha’s tip!

To learn more about pelvic floor yoga and Sasha, please follow her on Instagram or visit her website.

Wanna be interviewed for this series?

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