Hug the Monkey

The Tantra of Oxytocin

Or maybe I should call this, "The Oxytocin of Tantra." At any rate, a new podcast on Sex: Tantra and Kama Sutra discusses oxytocin's role in sex -- especially sex practiced as a way to increase connection and enlightenment.

In the podcast, Francesca Gentille interviews Suzie Heumann (photo at left), author of "The Everything Great Sex Book" and "The Everything Kama Sutra Book." I haven't listened yet, but I plan to next time I have to drive somewhere. (Personal Life Media is full of interesting programs like this.)

Thanks to Jennifer Lawless of Tantra, Gateway to Ecstasy, for pointing it out.

Baby Love Training

This is one of the more unusual programs I've ever seen.  Aschool in Seattle is teaching kids empathy by bringing up baby into the classroom.  it's an anti-bullying program. The theory is even being around the baby, whether or not it's your own or you even know, it stimulates the release of oxytocin.  And oxytocin increases empathy, as many studies have now shown. So, if kids have more empathy, they'll be less likely to bully, the theory goes.

So, the idea is, these kids are exposed regularly to baby they release oxytocin feel kinder to each other and over time, this becomes a natural and automatic state of being.

Follow the links in this blog post to find out more about the program.

Maybe I'm a little over sensitive to the germ issue right now, thanks to everybody I know having been sick this winter, but I'm a little surprised they can find someone willing to bring a baby into their classroom.