From Madness to Mindfulness
Reinventing Sex for Women
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- $17.99
Publisher Description
“I learned about the mechanics of female sexual pleasure in my sex ed class.”
“I am able to have a difficult conversation with my partner about our relationship.”
“I can boldly and openly carry a tampon to the restroom in public.”
"I am able to pursue my pleasure and my partner's pleasure during sex."
“I am totally comfortable being naked in front of a new partner.”
If you disagreed with any of these statements (or all of them), you’re not alone. You are one of many, many women who are feeling the effects of “sexual madness.” According to Jennifer Gunsaullus, PhD, sociologist and sex coach, it’s time for women to break free from the societal baggage they carry in relation to sexual education, expectations, and fulfillment.
From Madness to Mindfulness sets out to help women empower themselves to transition out of a state of sexual madness, and into a state of sexual mindfulness—a state in which women can give themselves permission to feel more worthy of love and great sex (and then have it!). Dr. Jenn will guide you through the process of assessing levels of “mis-education” in regard to relationships, communication, sex, passion, desire, and body image, and integrating mindfulness practices to overcome your own personal “madness.” Replete with personal anecdotes and a wide array of client stories, along with guided questions, action items, and tips to create a personal Reinventing Sex plan, Dr. Jenn will help you to become a thriving sexual being… on your own terms.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this helpful guide, sociologist and sex coach Gunsaullus (The Sexual Creativity Game for Couples) introduces readers to mindfulness practices meant to improve women's sexual confidence and reduce feelings of bodily shame. She explains and synthesizes current research regarding personal confidence and shame, which reveals that shame inhibits one's vulnerability out of a fear of being unloved: "Having the courage, compassion, and connection to practice vulnerability is the only way to build worthiness." Gunsaullus clarifies that the "madness" from the book's title does not refer to women's emotions, but instead reflects the confounding and contradicting social expectations women face, including expectations that base women's worth on their physical beauty while shaming women who flaunt their body, or the expectation that women should be pleasing to men yet fiercely guard their sexuality. In response, Gunsaullus proposes mindfulness practices meditation, breathing exercises, mindful eating, and daily gratitude rituals meant to mentally attune women to their thought patterns, emotions, and bodily sensations. She also unpacks complex and destructive aspects of modern society such as heteronormativity, rape culture, and patriarchy. In a final section, she addresses feeling more comfortable and secure in romantic relationships with helpful communication strategies for partners. Gunsaullus's mindfulness practices and analysis will appeal to any woman interested in practical approaches for maintaining emotional and sexual health, as well as to readers confronting and dealing with shame.
