Many people think that moments of fun, joy, and pleasure are indulgent, but they’re actually crucial to your longevity, balance, compassion for others, and ability to stay sane in this wacky world. Moments of pleasure begin in our body and fuel the sweetness that leads to longer lasting states of joy and happiness. But if we aren’t connected to the pleasure portal in our body we seek it from things outside of us. Beyond our own juiciness, embodied pleasure practices boost our sense of belonging to others by enhancing feelings of altruism and compassion as well as sensual and erotic connections. Like anything nuanced and powerful, we need to find balance in our relationship with pleasure to be fully awake and human.

Dr. Rachel Allyn is a holistic psychologist, writer, yoga retreat leader and pleasure expert, working as a freedom fighter to help her clients subvert anything that keeps their mind, body, and spirit from shining bright. She received her PhD in clinical psychology and has worked in private practice for 15 years, focusing on adults dealing with relationships and sexual health, depression, anxiety, life transitions, and trauma. She blends the mind and the body with her method of bodyfulness and integrates Eastern practices such as buddhist psychology and yoga therapy with Western medicine including neuroscience and somatic therapy. Dr. Allyn has a new book out this July that’s now available for presale called The Pleasure is All Yours: Reclaim Your Body’s Bliss and Reignite Your Passion for Life, based on her 2019 TEDx talk called "Pleasure to the People.” Learn more at www.DrRachelAllyn.com.