Personal Story: Overcoming my Fear of Bugs

This article is written by Yuko Takara who attended my 1st Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway workshop (Edited by C.F.) Yuko has a beautiful soul and it is with great love that she wants to share her voice with the world.

I have been having difficulty dealing with insects since I was young. It isn’t just a fear, it’s more like a full-blown phobia.

Some boys in my elementary school would chase me with bugs in their hands just to make fun of my reaction, but for me, it was the most horrifying memory in my entire childhood. My mother is the same way. She still cannot handle any insects and freaks out every time she encounters them. Growing up with her might be the biggest cause of my reaction to bugs, but I am still not sure what the real reason is.

A few weeks ago, I decided to attend Dr. Martha Lee’s workshop to diminish my phobia and my day-to-day problems with bugs being around me.

I was simply tired of my daily housework being sabotaged by summer insect invasions. If I wasn’t afraid of them so much, I could open the windows whenever I want and my efficiency and my quality of life would be highly improved. My husband would also be more relaxed and happier because he wouldn’t have to deal with every tiny fly and ant I discovered.

But, in the bottom of my heart, I knew I wanted to attend this workshop not only for my bug phobia, but also for other kinds of “fear” I had been running away from. Fear of death, loss, failure and being hurt...these had always been hiding in the shadows of my mind and to end being chased by those various fears in my life, I needed to jump into it just like the title of the workshop: “Feel the fear and do it anyway”.

After the workshop, I started to practice the methods I had learnt to fight my bug phobia.

At first, because of the strength of my phobia, it seemed to be almost impossible to wipe all the doubts and negative thoughts that I could never overcome my fear out of my mind. But then, this had been totally cleared a few after I continued my practice from the workshop.

Here’s what I have been practicing to get rid of my bug phobia:

1. The enemy is not them, it’s the illusions I have about them.

For me, this was the most important step.

Let’s calm down and stop fighting with bugs for a minute. What am I fighting with? They are not monsters, only small creatures. I need to be calm and analyse the situation—whether I really need to take action (if they’re poisoning or harmful)—or not. If not, what’s the point of fighting them?

They are simply living their lives to struggle to survive on this planet...

2. Affirmations. “I am powerful!” “I can handle it!” and…“I’m the monster!”

Once I calm down and analyse the situation I am facing, I tell myself that “I am so much bigger, heavier, and scarier than they are!” “To them, I’m like a monster!” I don’t know if these are truly affirmation lines....but it helps me to feel strong and brave enough to handle any kind of situation.

3. Let’s name a bug and talk to one of them.

After I feel so big and brave, I will name them and call them by their names.

I don’t mean to name them individually, but generally. I usually call them “Little buggy”, “Buggy-chan” (‘little miss’ in Japanese) and imagine that I am communicating with them, such as “Oh, you must be lost...poor buggy-chan...here, go outside”

By doing this, I can establish some feelings of compassion towards them and it will help to ease the fear or hatred against them.

4. Meditation

I meditate every day. It has become part of my life now. A few months ago, a beautifully-coloured bug appeared during my meditation and suddenly stung me. I was surprised but at least it wasn’t painful.

Recently, I tried to engage with this particular bug in my meditation and tell ‘her’ (I named her ‘Queen of the Bugs’) that I only wanted to stay in my living space peacefully. At this time, my whole apartment building had a termite problem, and there were thousands of them flying around outside of the building. Since my unit is on a lower level, our balcony was totally occupied by them. But, after our ‘peace talk’ in my meditation, they mysteriously disappeared. There were no termite prevention measures taken on my balcony or outside of my unit, and I don’t know how to explain it, but it seemed to work for me.

Now, I am not afraid of bugs and I don’t notice their presence so often.

I can open my windows without being anxious about bugs coming in. I don’t fight with them because they’re not invaders. They are conscious entities.

The biggest thing I learnt from the workshop and my own experience is that fear can be completely controlled.

It is not easy to face the fear and deal with it, but being constantly surrounded by the shadow of fear would be even more frightening and painful. Now I know that I will never let the fear control my life and I will always have the power to handle it by myself.

- Yuko Takara

Sign up for the workshop Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, and start leading the best time of your life here!

Sex News in Asia – 7/25/11

This article first appeared on the Good Vibrations Magazine.



Singapore

• A 3-member team from Sayoni, a queer women's group in Singapore, is in New York to present a report to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) for the first time.


• What does it mean for the Singapore government to tell the UN that the "principle of equality of all persons before the law is enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, regardless of gender, sexual orientation and gender identity" when the specific terms are not found in the Singapore constitution?


• Obedient Wives Club not taking off in Singapore


• We’re not selling fashion models: Raymund Ooi


• ‘Employment Act still excludes too many women’

Malaysia

• A 26-year-old transgender, who took her case to court after the National Registration Department refused to update her name and gender on her identity card despite having undergone a complete sex reassignment surgery, has lost her case. Same story in Yahoo.


• Cash for newborns in Penang

The Philippines

• Ladlad, a LGBT political party, has called the regulation which bans gay and lesbian prison wardens from frisking and conducting strip searches on jail visitors of the same sex “a clear case of discrimination”.

India

• Indian women alter SlutWalk to better match country’s conservatism


• A spate of exceptionally brutal rapes in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh has shocked India. Many of the victims were young girls.


• India advances injectable vasectomy for men


• Kashimir: Obstacles continue for women reporting rape


• Research has cast fresh light on the massive and increasingly alarming phenomenon of sex selection in India


• A New Pilot For Woman-Centred Midwifery in India

China

• As China's gay population is hardest hit by HIV/AIDS, senior Chinese health officials, representatives from civil societies and other delegates met to discuss a new five-year strategy to scale-up HIV prevention programmes and treatment, and promote community-based organisation participation.

Taiwan

• '500,000 abortions performed in Taiwan last year'

Japan

• You have to go a long way to see animations in which a girl takes the lead – to Japan, in fact.

Pakistan

• Killing of infants on the rise in Pakistan

View last’s week Sex News in Asia here.

Disclaimer: Some of these media reports may portray sex and sexuality in a negative light. I am merely re-reporting them and may not always agree with the reports or opinions expressed.

Dr. Martha Lee is Founder and Clinical Sexologist of Eros Coaching. She is a certified sexologist with a Doctorate in Human Sexuality. She provides sexuality and intimacy coaching for individuals and couples, conducts sexual education workshops and speaks at public events. For more, visit www.eroscoaching.com or email drmarthalee@eroscoaching.com.

Homemade Implants

Frances Dilorinzo discovered a way to test drive new breasts.

Day Trip: Condom Factory Tour + Sex Lesson + Shopping!

The condom is one of the oldest forms of contraception that found its place in history. The earliest known condoms were used by the Egyptians in the 13th century B.C. They made their condoms out of oiled animal bladders and intestines.

Condoms come in different shapes, types, sizes and flavours. Would you like to have the rare opportunity to tour a condom factory, just across the Causeway? How about learning some new sex tricks and tips from me? What if transport, food and souvenirs were included?



Date: Sat 24 Sept 2011

Time: 7a.m. - 6p.m.

Fee: S$80 per person (includes halal meals)

Venue: Meeting point - United Square (Novena MRT)

Need: 1) Be 21 years and above; 2) Your passport with minimum six month's validity; 3) Cash for shopping; 4) A sunny disposition!

I expect seats to be snapped up as there are only 30 seats! Your seat will only be confirmed after you make full payment.

Schedule
7:00 AM Pick-up from United Square, S'pore
8:30 AM Arrival at Condom Factory (Medical-Latex)
8:45 AM Welcome and registration at canteen
9:00 AM Introduction and agenda + light snacks
9:30 AM Presentation from MLD
10:15 AM Plant Tour
(1) Warehouse (Group 1 - Red)
(2) Dipping (Group 2 - Green)
12:00 PM Lunch (Vegetarian / non-vegetarian / special need - please advise)
1:00 PM Training session by Eros Coaching
3:00 PM Transfer to Holiday Plaza / City Square - shopping
6:00 PM Transfer to United Square, S'pore

To register, simply email us your 1) full name (as per passport); 2) passport number; 3) expiry date; 4) occupation (for security reasons), and I will send you payment instructions.

This may be your once-in-a-lifetime chance to actually visit a condom factory, and be able to talk about it!

Learn lots, Be smart!

Green Pink Caviar

The trailer for Marilyn Minter's video Green Pink Caviar.
http://www.greenpinkcaviar.com/



Hmm.... what we can do with our lips. Beautiful video.

Green Porno

Actor/director Isabella Rossellini talks about her short films GREEN PORNO premiering at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.


Making of Green Porno

Isabella Rossellini's eight-part short film series about the sex life of insects and various creatures "Green Porno," will premiere on sundancechannel.com and on HELIO's mobile service on May 5, 2008. The series will be available on Sundance Channel VOD in June, 2008 and will air on Sundance Channel in July, 2008. A selection of Rossellini's "Green Porno" shorts premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and the 2008 Berlin international Film Festival. The series will be available beginning May 5th, 2008 at sundancechannel.com/greenporno; for more information on HELIO go to helio.com.

Meant to be shown individually or as a series, the "Green Porno" films are a comical, but insightful study of the curious ways certain creatures "make love." The inventive costumes and colorful sets contribute to the playfulness of the films. Their graphic look was specifically conceived for smaller screens such as cellular phones, computers, and various mobile devices.

Media: The Full Body Workout

This article first appeared on Ezyhealth Singapore July 2011. Click on image to view.

Experiment with Rice

Another example of the power of our words, thoughts and intentions.

Video description:

This experiment developed by Masaru Emoto tests the power of our thoughts, words, and intentions on water through the rice. Positively enforced rice rots slower than negatively enforced rice. My experiment ran from May 13 to June 4th of 2008.

Scratch & Dent Dreams--Slam Poetry

A poem performed at the 2005 National Poetry Slam Individual Semifinals by Eric Darby. For more info, check out: http://www.ericdarby.net

Moon Inside You

Trailer for the brilliant Moon Inside You film, directed by Diana Fabianova.



The Moon Inside You - www.mooninsideyou.com - directed by Diana Fabianova. Zagreb, Croatia | Oct 21st 2010 at 8th International Zagreb Film Festival

 

Sex News in Asia - 7/18/11

This article first appeared on the Good Vibrations Magazine.



Singapore

• Singaporeans Want More Sex: Survey


• What Singaporeans want in the bedroom


• Report on S'pore human trafficking speaks for itself, says US official


• S'pore reaffirms commitment to fight human trafficking


• Singaporean lesbian, bisexual and transgender women’s concerns debut at UN CEDAW review


• No hair = no confidence for Singapore men


• Older fathers-to-be increase S’pore women’s risk of miscarriage


• Forum letter: Stay-at-home mum's hopes dashed


• Foreign wives face dilemma in S'pore

Malaysia

• Kerala’s herbal pill to sex-up Malaysian market


• Tables turned on Casanova with sex addiction


• M'sian priest rejects 82-year-old woman's love offer


• HIV transmission: from drugs to sex


• The harder, the better


• VenusBuzz’s Rina Christina reveals more absorbing details on pillow talk in Malaysia and the Asia Pacific in her article “Ideal Sex In Malaysia”.


• Relief teacher wins discrimination case


• Granny gets the men thanks to cloth charm


• Young in Malaysia, Indonesia oppose polygamy: Poll


• KFC Malaysia staff in scandalous videos

China

• A kiss of life for sex toys


• China province seeks to ease 'one-child' policy


• Soft porn actress Leni Lan Yan admits that she preferred the role of her screen rival, the Japanese AV actress, Saori Hara, in "Sex And Zen: Extreme Ecstasy" because it was "more hardcore and pleasurable."


• Man beats up wife in public for ‘not listening’


• Mongolia mining success brings booming sex trade


• Room to Live and Love in China's Cities


• Qi Wei dropped after refusing sex


• Hong Kong probes 'racy' policewomen photos

Taiwan

• Taiwan's "World's Sexiest"

Nepal

• UN Women report praises Nepal


• Sex Workers Demand a Place in the Constitution

India

• High drama as monkeys wed in India


• Study: Indian Women Are the Most Stressed on Earth


• Sex Selection on the Rise Despite Stricter Law


• Samsung organises Women's Intl Film Fest in Chennai

View last’s week Sex News in Asia here.

Disclaimer: Some of these media reports may portray sex and sexuality in a negative light. I am merely re-reporting them and may not always agree with the reports or opinions expressed.

Dr. Martha Lee is Founder and Clinical Sexologist of Eros Coaching. She is a certified sexologist with a Doctorate in Human Sexuality. She provides sexuality and intimacy coaching for individuals and couples, conducts sexual education workshops and speaks at public events. For more, visit www.eroscoaching.com or email drmarthalee@eroscoaching.com.

For Women: Oil for Your Lamp

For Women: Oil for Your Lamp

Sexual Education

Sexual Education
by Youth Tv Magazine

Avtorji / Autors:
Catarina, Emeline, Špela, Uroš, Raquel

That's Vaginal: Cat On A Mission

Video description: You humans are strange creatures. You take a word for something of incredible power and wonder, and you make it taboo. Why? Because it makes you giggle? I say it's time for America to say it loud and proud: VA-GI-NA!

Visit http://thatsvaginal.com and tell me what you think is vaginal.

In Cheek: Sexual Consent

Nice answer to modern "sexual consent" ideas?

Sex Ed in Mandarin

知情识性讲座系列一: 认识性功能障碍(2 小时)

在华人社会中，性健康的问题长期因为文化及其他因素被医学界及社会各界人士所忽略。

性 生活的健康是健康生活中重要的一部份。性生活的问题与心理健康，生活质量等等有绝对的相关性。性生活的功能失调如阳萎、早泄、性交痛楚、阴道分泌润滑不 足，或对性生活失去兴趣、产生焦虑等，与心理和生理健康有很大的关连。不健康的生活习惯极可能导致性生活的失调。而性失调亦会影响心理，形成恶性循环。

性功能障碍不但令人困扰，亦会影响与伴侣的关系。此讲座希望能提升大众对性功能障碍的认识，进而懂得寻求协助，改善生活品质，促进两性和谐关系。

讲座内容:

1. 常见的男女性功能障碍
2. 性功能障碍的成因和症状
3. 常见的治疗方法
4. 如何预防性功能障碍

Sexual Health Seminar I: Introduction of Sexual Dysfunctions (Two Hours)

Among Chinese people, the issue of sexual health has long been neglected by the medical community and society at large due to cultural and other societal factors.

A healthy sex life is an important part of our general health. Sexual problems are relevant to psychological and physical health, including problems caused by a lack of sexual knowledge. Sexual dysfunctions such as impotence, premature ejaculation, sexual pain, insufficient vaginal lubrication, the loss of sexual desire, and performance anxiety are all closely related with overall psychological and physical health. Unhealthy lifestyle (such as poor diet habit, lack of physical activities, heavy alcohol intake, use of recreational drugs) may lead to sexual dysfunctions, and the latter will have an impact on psychological health.

Talking about sexual dysfunction can be embarrassing, which can affect the relationship with your partner. The aim of this seminar is to raise public awareness of sexual dysfunctions, so that people are aware of their condition, to learn to seek help if it is needed, and to improve both their lifestyle and intimate relationship with their partner. 

Seminar Content

• Common male and female sexual dysfunctions
• Causes and symptoms of sexual dysfunctions
• Common methods of treatment
• Prevention of sexual dysfunctions

知情识性讲座系列二: 创造美满性爱关系(2 小时)

性爱生活是伴侣关系重要一环，美满的性生活是每对伴侣所向往的​​。在电影、电视剧中所见所闻，我们总以为人人在享受良好的性生活。但事实上，真正能够享受彼此满意的性爱生活的伴侣不多。那么是什么原因造成伴侣的性生活不协调呢？为什么伴侣在现实的性生活里得不到这种喜乐呢？    身处于性资讯广泛的社会里，人们总以为自己已经充份了解这个课题。但媒体给我们的资讯可能误导了我们对性的观感，阻碍了我们与伴侣拥有良好的性生活。事实上，美好的性关系并非自然而来的，它乃是由伴侣双方一同努力经营出来的。    此讲座将分享创造美满性关系的四个重要元素:

1.    Concept观念

2.    Caring关怀

3.    Communication沟通

4.    Creativity创意

Sexual Health Seminar II: Creating a Satisfying Sexual Relationship (Two Hours)

Sex life is an essential element of a couple's relationship. All couples want to have a fulfilling sexual life. In most media (eg TV drama, movies, commercials) , the sexual relationship is always perceived as enjoyable and pleasant. Therefore, we may believe that everyone is having a satisfying sexually relationship. In fact, most couples have some challenges in their sexual relationship. Why it is so difficult to have a compatible and pleasurable sexual relationship?

Nowadays, there is enormous amount of information about sex. We always believe that we know enough on this topic. However, this kind of information in the mass media may actually mislead and prevent us from having a fabulous sexual relationship. A fulfilling sexual life does not come naturally, it is a joint effort from both partners. This seminar includes four important elements of establishing an enjoyable sexual relationship.

1.    Concept

2.    Caring

3.    Communication

4.    Creativity

知情识性讲座系列三: 更年期与性健康(2 小时)

更年期与性健康

更年期是每个妇女必经的阶段，但一般人对更年期的认识都不多，如更年期是什么时候开始、什么时候结束、过程是怎样的，对身体、生殖器官及夫妻生活有什么影响? 如对更年期有较多的认识，我们便能更好准备去迎接它的来临，以及更轻松地面对它。

讲座内容:

1.更年期代表什么 2.更年期的四个阶段 3.更年期前后常见的症状 4.更年期的性生活 5.如何面对更年期的来临 6.男性更年期?

Sexual Health Seminar III: Menopause and Sexual Health (Two Hours)

Menopause is an inevitable stage in a woman's life, but most people do not know much about it. For example, when does it begin and end? What is the process? What are its influences on the body, sexual organs, and sexual life? Through knowing more about menopause, we can be well-prepared for it, and approach it more easily when it comes.

Seminar Content

• What does menopause mean
• Four stages of menopause
• Common symptoms of pre- and post-menopause
• Sexual life during menopause
• How to be prepared when it comes
• Male menopause?

亲密关系成长工作坊 (4小时)

坠入爱河并不困难，困难在维持相爱的关系。怎能才可以避免重蹈覆辄，建立一段长久甜蜜的恋爱关系?    这工作坊将以情侣关系与亲密关系为主题，探索情侣间之爱情价值观与期望，引导双方了解彼此目前的亲密关系。並探讨亲密关系的经营、亲密关系中的沟通互动及冲突管理，进而探讨亲密关系的维持与活化。    唯有了解彼此亲密的关系，学习在关系中如何互相支持， 才能避免和解决冲突，有效地建立相惜相爱、互相信任之亲密关系。    课程形式: 讲授、分析测验、讨论及角色扮演练习

Workshop: Keeping a Romantic Relationship Workshop (Four Hours)

Falling in love is easy, while maintaining love is difficult. How can we avoid repeating the same mistakes and establish a lasting romantic relationship?

The emphasis of this workshop is on the romantic couple/intimate relationship, which is to explore the love values and expectations between lovers, and help them understand more about their current relationships. Maintenance of romantic relationship, communicative interaction and conflict management will be covered in the workshop, together with a discussion of how to keep 'chemistry' in the relationships.

Once we have understood romantic relationships and learned how to support each other, we can manage conflicts and establish long-term mutual-trusting relationships effectively.

Teaching methods: seminar, psychological test, discussion and role-play exercises

Profile of Trainer

Vanessa Chow 周潔心 holds a number of academic and professional qualifications, including Master Health Science (Sexual Health Major), Graduate Certificate in Behaviour Management, Bachelor of Education, Accredited Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) Practitioner and a Professional Mediation Convenor.

Vanessa is an experienced counselor and facilitator for sexual health & relationships. She specialized in couple and intimate relationships, parent-child relationships, sexual education for autistic teenagers and sexual health workshops. Vanessa is a magazine columnist, provides talks for the School of Continuing Education Tsinghua University, and participates in various voluntary services of different communities and voluntary bodies.

For her full profile, please click here.

DETAILS Dates:

• Sat 3 Sept for first three talks above
• Sun 4 Sept for Menopause and Sexual Health + Keeping a Romantic Relationship Workshop (4-hour workshop)

Time: Sat 3 Sept (Please arrive 10minutes early for registration)

Seminar 1 Introduction of Sexual Dysfunctions : 10 - 12p.m. In Mandarin. Seminar 2 Creating a Satisfying Sexual Relationship: 2 - 4p.m. In Mandarin. Seminar 3 Menopause and Sexual Health: 4:30 - 6:30p.m. In Mandarin. Sat 4 Sept (Please arrive 10minutes early for registration)

Seminar 3: Menopause and Sexual Health: 10a.m. - 12p.m. In English. Workshop Keeping a Romantic Relationship Workshop: 1:30p.m. to 5:30.m. In Mandarin. Fee:

• Sat 3 Sept, $25 per person per talk; $20 if signing up for two or more talks or with a friend
• Sun 4 Sept, S$200 per person for the four-hour workshop; $350 if two persons

Venue:

• Sat 3 Sept, Toa Payoh HDB Hub
• Sun 4 Sept, 199B Thomson Road, Goldhill Centre, Singapore 307636 (Not my office!) For map and directions, click here. 

Register by emailing info@eroscoaching.com with your name and mobile.

Payment to be made before the workshop. You may

• send cheque to "Eros Coaching" 5 Purvis Street #02-05 Singapore 188584 upon our email confirmation
• do a bank transfer to our POSB account
• do an electronic transfer via PayPal (add S$5).

Profile of Vanessa Chow

Vanessa Chow周潔心


Vanessa Chow believes that everyone deserves to have fulfilling relationships with oneself, with family members, and with his/her partner; and that includes having an enjoyable sex life. She has a great passion for teaching and talking about relationships and sex. She is committed to enabling clients to become fully in touch with their sexuality and to relate themselves to their partner sexually. She provides workshops and counselling to individuals, couples and parents who would like to improve the quality of their relationships – the parent-child relationship, couple relationship, and sexual relationship.

After over sixteen years of working in the business environment in Canada, Australia and Hong Kong, Vanessa felt an urge to expand her abilities and to support others to find happiness in their relationships. She received training on behaviour management and on the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P), and started working with young children and parents in both Australia and Hong Kong. During this period, she developed an interest in sexuality and sexual health education. Vanessa has a Master of Health Science (Sexual Health) from University of Sydney. She is also a member of the World Association of Chinese Sexologists and the Australian Association of Sex Educators, Researchers and Therapists.

Through her years of working in a range of professional fields and living in various parts of the world, Vanessa has acquired a great deal of life experience and extensive knowledge. She has the ability to communicate and build a rapport with individuals from various backgrounds. She works with individuals and couples who are experiencing challenges in their relationship, and couples who want to improve the quality of their sex life. She develops and facilitates talks and workshops on a range of topics, including communication skills, conflict resolution techniques, intimacy, sexuality, sexual functioning, and sex toys. In addition, Vanessa has a strong interest in sexual education for Autistic teenagers. She is also involved in educating parents on parenting skills and child sexual education through various organisations, including The School of Continuing Education – Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), the Methodist Centre Continuing Education Service, and the Caritas Parents Resource Centre.

Vanessa provides a compassionate, sensitive, confidential and professional service for her clients. She studies and practices meditation and yoga, and brings these philosophies and practices into her work methodology. She utilises her vast knowledge and has an holistic approach that encourages the harmonious balance between mind, body and emotions.

Qualifications and Professional Associations:

• Master of Health Science - Sexual Health (University of Sydney – Australia)


• Master of Business Administration (Griffith University – Australia)


• Graduate Certificate in Behaviour Management (Griffith University – Australia)


• Bachelor of Education – Early Childhood (Queensland University of Technology – Australia)


• Bachelor of Commerce (McMaster University – Canada)


• Certificate of Professional Mediation Convenor (Queensland Government – Australia)


• Certificate of Insight into ASD Education & School Issues (Queensland University of Technology – Australia)


• Accredited Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) Practitioner


• Member of Australian Association of Sex Educators, Researchers and Therapists (ASSERT)


• Member of World Association of Chinese Sexologists (WACS)

Vanessa holds a number of academic and professional qualifications, including a Masters in Health Science (Sexual Health Major), a Graduate Certificate in Behaviour Management, a Bachelors of Education, a Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) Practitioner accreditation, and is an official Professional Mediation Convenor.

Vanessa is an experienced counselor and facilitator for sexual health & relationships. She specialized in couple and intimate relationships, parent-child relationships, sexual education for autistic teenagers and sexual health workshops. Vanessa is a magazine columnist, provides talks for the School of Continuing Education Tsinghua University, and participates in various voluntary services of different communities and voluntary bodies. (duplication?)

Vanessa Chow周潔心

拥有多项学历及专业资格，包括医疗科学硕士、主修情性健康；工商管理硕士；行为管理研深造证书；教育学士；3P 亲子正策课程认可导师及专业调解员等。曾任幼儿教师，性治疗师；现为伴侣关系及性健康指导及导师，自闭症青少年性教育导师，亲子关系导师，香港循道卫理延伸教育服务培训导师及明爱家长资源中心客席导师。周小姐为杂志撰写专栏，参与不同的社区及志愿团体的义务工作，并为北京清华大学继续教育学院及多个非牟利团体提供讲座。

她的专长题目为伴侣及亲密关系，包括两性亲密技巧，性生活协调，男女性功能障碍，伴侣关系协调，及自我情性形象指导等。周小姐对儿童行为、亲子关系尤为关注，提供3P 亲子正向教育课程，及家长辅导等服务。

学历背景及专业资格
1. 医疗科学(情性健康)硕士
2. 工商管理硕士
3. 行为管理深造证书
4. 教育(幼儿教育)学士
5. 商学学士
6. 专业调解员证书
7. 探讨自闭症学童教育证书
8. 3P 正面亲子课程认可导师
9. 澳洲性教育、研究及治疗专业协会(AASERT) 会员
10. 世界华人性学家协会会员

“每个人都可以拥有幸福美满的家庭关系”。怀着这样的信念，周小姐一直致力于推广亲子关系、伴侣关系和亲密关系，尤其对性关系颇有研究。

经过在加拿大、澳洲和香港超过16年的商务工作经验，周小姐感受到人生的真正​​幸福是从家人及伴侣这些亲密关系中获得，她希望借着有效的交流、沟通、指导去支持其他人去创造幸福美满的家庭关系。通过行为管理和3P 亲子正向教育的培训，一方面她开始为澳洲和香港的青少年及家长服务，另一方面她开始潜心研究两性关系和情性健康。现已拥有悉尼大学医疗科学(情性健康)硕士学位，同时亦身为世界华人性学家协会和澳洲性教育、研究及治疗专业协会(AASERT) 的会员。

多年以来，不同专业领域的工作经验和世界各地的生活阅历使她涉猎广泛，也对生活产生了深刻的体悟及充满同理心。她能和不同背景的人轻松地进行交流，亦真诚对待每位客户，尽己所能地帮助他们处理各种家庭关系挑战，和提升夫妻性生活质素等。周小姐亦举办各式讲座和课程，其中的主题包括沟通和协调技巧、两性和亲密关系、性功能及情趣用品等。此外，她还十分关注自闭症青少年的性教育，也通过北京清华大学继续教育学院、循道卫理延伸教育服务及明爱家长资源中心等各机构对家长进行亲子沟通和亲子性教育培训。

周小姐的宗旨是提供专业、保密、支持客户与伴侣及家人建立更优质关系的服务，亦将多年修习冥想和瑜珈所得的哲学融入辅导与教学之中。她将多方理论融会贯通并加以总结融合，提倡身、心灵和情感达到和谐与平衡的全人理念。

Vanessa will be conducting four sexual health talks, and one workshop Sat 3 and Sun 4 Sep 2011. For details, click here!

To arrange for private coaching sessions with Vanessa Chow, please email us at info@eroscoaching.com.

 

How to Insert a Tampon

Sex News in Asia - 7/11/11

Malaysia

• Chinese married couple clueless about sex


• Malaysia is human trafficking hotspot - WikiLeaks


• Woman fleeces seven 'husbands' of cash in M'sia

Thailand

• Boob jobs and butt lifts 'okay' for Miss Thailand World pageant


• Phi Ta Khon: A sexually charged festival haunted by long-nosed ghosts

China

• Gays and lesbians across China were left pleasantly stunned last evening by an unexpected report from national broadcaster CCTV which not only slammed award-winning actress Lü Liping (吕丽萍) for stoking homophobia, but also assured members of the LGBT community of their place in society.


• Chinese red-light blogger caught red-handed
  
  

  

  India Health Minister

India

• India Health Minister's homosexuality is a 'disease' comment creates uproar‎. Another report is here.


• 35% Indian women beaten up at home: UN


• Minor girl says no to middle-aged hubby, killed


• Is sex, violence and English the way forward for Bollywood?

Pakistan

• A group of religious conservatives in Pakistan has condemned a recent event hosted by the US embassy in Islamabad in support of gay rights.

Bangladesh

• Protect Women Against ‘Fatwa’ Violence

Japan

• Asian Queer Film Festival, Tokyo, Jul 8-10 and 15-17


• Divorce ceremonies pick up in Japan after disaster

Korea

• South Korean sex workers fight to protect brothels

The Philippines

• 103 suspected anti-LGBT hate crime deaths: the Philippine LGBT Hate Crime Watch

View last’s week Sex News in Asia here.

Disclaimer: Some of these media reports may portray sex and sexuality in a negative light. I am merely re-reporting them and may not always agree with the reports or opinions expressed.Disclaimer: Some of these media reports may portray sex and sexuality in a negative light. I am merely re-reporting them and may not always agree with the reports or opinions expressed.

Dr. Martha Lee is Founder and Clinical Sexologist of Eros Coaching. She is a certified sexologist with a Doctorate in Human Sexuality. She provides sexuality and intimacy coaching for individuals and couples, conducts sexual education workshops and speaks at public events. For more, visit www.eroscoaching.com or email drmarthalee@eroscoaching.com.

Experiments with Water

If you haven't heard of Dr. Emoto and his work with water. Watch these videos and understand what our thoughts can do to us.

HIDDEN MESSAGES IN WATER - Dr. Masaru Emoto Experiment With Meditation At Brahma Kumaris HQ



Another video:



Description:
Masaru Emoto was born in Yokohama, Japan in July 1943 and a graduate of the Yokohama Municipal University's department of humanities and sciences with a focus on International Relations. In 1986 he established the IHM Corporation in Tokyo. In October of 1992 he received certification from the Open International University as a Doctor of Alternative Medicine. Subsequently he was introduced to the concept of micro cluster water in the US and Magnetic Resonance Analysis technology. The quest thus began to discover the mystery of water.

He undertook extensive research of water around the planet not so much as a scientific researcher, but more from the perspective of an original thinker. At length he realized that it was in the frozen crystal form that water showed us its true nature through. He has gained worldwide acclaim through his groundbreaking research and discovery that water is deeply connected to our individual and collective consciousness.

He is the author of the best-selling books Messages from Water, The Hidden Messages in Water, and The True Power of Water. He is a long-time advocate for peace in relation to water. He is currently the head of the I.H.M.General Research Institute and President Emeritus of the International Water for Life Foundation, a Not for Profit Organization.

Mr. Emoto has been visually documenting these molecular changes in water by means of his photographic techniques. He freezes droplets of water and then examines them under a dark field microscope that has photographic capabilities.

Some examples from his works include:

Water from clear mountain springs and streams had beautifully formed crystalline structures, while the crystals of polluted or stagnant water were deformed and distorted.

Distilled water exposed to classical music took delicate, symmetrical crystalline shapes.

When the words "thank you" were taped to a bottle of distilled water, the frozen crystals had a similar shape to the crystals formed by water that had been exposed to Bach's "Goldberg Variations"- music composed out of gratitude to the man it was named for.

When water samples were bombarded with heavy metal music or labeled with negative words, or when negative thoughts and emotions were focused intentionally upon them, such as "Adolf Hitler", the water did not form crystals at all and displayed chaotic, fragmented structures.

When water was treated with aromatic floral oils, the water crystals tended to mimic the shape of the original flower.

Sometimes, when we cannot see the immediate results of our affirmations and or prayers, we think we have failed. But, as we learn through Masaru Emoto's photographs, that thought of failure itself becomes represented in the physical objects that surround us. Now that we have seen this, perhaps we can begin to realize that even when immediate results are invisible to the unaided human eye, they are still there. When we love our own bodies, they respond. When we send our love to the Earth, she responds.

For our own bodies at birth are more than 60 percent water, and the percentage of water in our bodies remains high throughout life (depending upon weight and body type). The earth's surface is more than 60 percent water as well. And now we have seen before our eyes that water is far from inanimate, but is actually alive and responsive to our every thought and emotion. Perhaps, having seen this, we can begin to really understand the awesome power that we possess, through choosing our thoughts and intentions, to heal ourselves and the earth. If only we believe.

Whether you participate in global meditations, or simply do this inner work in the quiet of your own loving mind and heart -- we can heal the body of our earth and recreate a clear, pristine world to hand down to our children for seven generations.

Office Masaru Emoto:
http://www.masaru-emoto.net/english/e_ome_home.html

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masaru_Emoto

Music by: Antony Raijekov-Photo theme
Peace, love and light.

The Steam-Powered, Coal-Fired Vibrator

History of the vibrator

Art of Seduction: Not Pretty, Really

We may think we want to look better so life will be better. Really? Watch this video and think twice.

http://www.sundancechannel.com/seduction/ Being good-looking has its perks. But as this group confess, sometimes being beautiful can be a burden in fair disguise.

Sex News in Asia - 7/6/11

This post first appeared on the Good Vibrations Magazine.

Singapore

• 3D porn film "3D Sex and Zen" to screen in Singapore with no cuts


• Commentary: The latest book about infamous Singaporean ex-porn star Annabel Chong suffers and why it needs to be read in the context of other porn writings on the web.


• State Department upgrades Republic's ranking on human trafficking list but Foreign Ministry takes issue with report's 'casual approach to facts'


• Over 13,000 cosplayers, amateur comic artists and participants turned up at Cosfest - a cosplay convention in its 10th year - at Downtown East over the weekend.


• World's first AKB48 cafe in Singapore


• Soliciting suspects held


• Obedient Wives Club should be legally recognised


• The Obedient Wives Club is an opportunity to discuss how archaic gender roles impede engagement with today’s social problems.

Malaysia

• Dream wedding loan boomerangs into financial nightmare for accountant


• A Malaysian rubber tapper claimed trial at a Sessions Court here to a charge of hurting his wife by allegedly biting her private parts.


• Corporate observers have welcomed the Government's new initiative to encourage female participation at decision-making levels in Corporate Malaysia but some question whether turning it into a compulsory requirement would necessarily lead to an optimal resource allocation for the private sector.


• Malaysian brain surgeon tells Sydney court of sex and drug addiction


• Women groups rage over number of ‘heartbreaking’ massage-cum-sex centres


• Sg Petani MP in clip linked to sex video


• Another clip linked to sex video surfaces


• ‘Man in sex video most likely Anwar’


• Sex video: US experts 99.99% sure man is Anwar, says lawyer

China

• The damage personal affairs can have on foreign affairs


• Chinese teen offers virginity for white iPhone 4


• Hong Kong mulls law reforms in underage rape cases


• Arab diplomat offers S$6,200 for sex

Korea

• On Sale, Girls Look for Chinese Husbands


• Pervert arrested after stealing 641 underwear

India

• Docs turn baby girls into boys


• Hundreds of members of Chennai's LGBT community and their allies including staffers from the German and US foreign office marched in the southern Indian city on Sunday morning.

Japan

• Japan may be the third-largest economy in the world, but its percentage of female legislators ranks only 121st among 186 countries.

View last's week Sex News in Asia here.

Disclaimer: Some of these media reports may portray sex and sexuality in a negative light. I am merely re-reporting them and may not always agree with the reports or opinions expressed.

Dr. Martha Lee is Founder and Clinical Sexologist of Eros Coaching. She is a certified sexologist with a Doctorate in Human Sexuality. She provides sexuality and intimacy coaching for individuals and couples, conducts sexual education workshops and speaks at public events. For more, visit www.eroscoaching.com or email drmarthalee@eroscoaching.com.

Mark Whitwell "Power, Sex & Union"

Mark Whitwell has enjoyed a lifelong relationship with the teachings of T. Krishnamacharya through his studies with B.K.S. Iyengar, Shri K. Pattabhi Jois, Srivatsa Ramaswami, Indra Devi, and T.K.V. Desikachar. Since 1978, he has traveled throughout America, Australia, and New Zealand teaching these timeless principles and techniques with compassion and clarity.

Christy Turlington Burns calls Whitwell's teaching "yoga as it should be taught-with purity and straight from the heart." In 1996, Whitwell established The Heart of Yoga Association, a nonprofit foundation that provides yoga education around the world. He is the author of Yoga of Heart: The Healing Power of Intimate Connection and editor and contributor to T.K.V. Desikachar's book The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice.



To attend workshops on sex and union, click here.

Video: I just had sex

Fun one!

The first single of The Lonely Island's 2nd album.
Featuring Akon, Jessica Alba, Blake Lively and John McEnroe!
The Lonely Island is Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer & Jorma Taccone

These Photos Are Just Bad!

Ellen featured a batch of hilarious photos that are so bad -- and so funny! With big hair and funny faces, these memories are best forgotten.

July E-newsletter

Click here to view my July Enewsletter!

To receive ALL future issues, please subscribe here!

Sesame Street: Song: I Love My Hair

A song about loving your hair.

Open the newspapers and you will find many advertisements and messages telling you that there just might be something wrong with you. If not, find something because you can always be better. How about just loving who or what you are right now? For the record, I do love my hair. It is long, fine and stubbornly straight. That makes it easy to maintain. I don't even need a comb or hair brush. I love my hair!

Girls Watch Porn, Too

You need to know that women watch porn, too. And that, there is porn made by women for women too. You just need to look.

Testimonial - Feel the Fear… and Do It Anyway®

"Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway workshop helped me to reflect and put into context some of the unknown fears I was not previously aware of. This new awareness, together with the tools shared during the workshop makes me feel like I am ready to face current and future challenges. The group sharing and reflection was extremely helpful and Martha is truly passionate about helping people through the work she does." - H. Wang, July 2011

Sex News in Asia – 6/6/11

This article first appeared on the Good Vibrations Magazine.

Singapore

• The eminent Michael Kirby, a retired Australian High Court judge who’s openly gay, told an audience of about 200 legal professionals in Singapore that the country’s gay sex laws could have an adverse impact of the health of gay men who are at higher risk of HIV/AIDS, and it’s “important that they should have equality and dignity.”


• A judge who asked during a divorce settlement hearing if the wife involved was attractive was not being biased, the High Court has ruled.


• SAF regular jailed for filming woman in shower


• More help for divorced women


• Sex and drug parties in S’pore chalets?

Malaysia

• Obedient Wives Club to offer sex lessons on how to pleasure husbands


• Wives who “obey, serve and entertain” their husbands can help reduce social ills such as prostitution and domestic abuse, according to members of The Obedient Wives Club.


• Facebook users have started a group called “We Do Not Want Sexist Nonsense From Global Ikhwan Sdn Bhd” after reading about the Obedient Wives Club (OWC) launched by the organisation.


• When the Playboy Club Sands Macau staged a “Bunny Hunt” for its soon-to-be-opened establishment last year, 600 Bunny hopefuls from around the world turned up to be auditioned. Only 16 made the cut, one of whom was Malaysian model Felixia Yeap. And she did not even have to go through the audition; she was hand-picked by the Macau Club manager.


• Malaysian lawyers, politicians and activists lambasted the police accusing them of abusing their power in chaining up and marking the bodies of 30 foreign women detained for alleged prostitution.


• Read the 29 ideas put forth by participants at the “29 WAYS Towards an LGBTIQ-Friendly Malaysia” event.


• A pork seller had both his ears cut off because of an affair he was believed to be having with a married woman.


• A woman claimed she was forced to have sex with a taxi driver in return for free rides for her husband to a haemodialysis centre in Kuala Lumpur.


• PAS ulama to table motion on sex video at party assembly on Friday

The Philippines

• Referendum on divorce for PH?

Japan

• Japanese killer of Korean woman wins reduced sentence

India

• Queer Film Fest Breaks India’s Social Glass Ceiling


• Unwed Tribal Mothers Seek Aid


• Centre launches mother-child healthcare scheme


• The secret world of child brides

Nepal

• Women from the most disadvantaged part of Nepali society say the government raised their hopes four years ago with promises of helping them out of the sex trade. But since then, many have returned to the only livelihood they can find.


• A Nepali Woman’s Horrific Birth Ordeal

Bangladesh

• Police in southern Bangladesh say a woman cut off a man’s penis during an alleged attempt to rape her and took it to a police station as evidence.

Saudi Arabia

• Saudi woman ‘raped by chauffeur’ as campaign to let both sexes drive gathers pace

China

• American-born Taiwanese Mandopop singer, rapper and actor Wilber Pan Wei Bo (a.k.a. Will Pan) has had his name and image borrowed to promote an erectile dysfunction drug brand.


• A leader of the Tiananmen Square democracy movement is teaming up with US lawmakers in a push to end abortion of girls, warning of security risks as millions of Chinese men fail to find wives.


• Women in China have long been silenced or sidelined—if they weren’t smothered at birth. But now a booming economy has transformed their lives.


• Most cross-border human trafficking in Myanmar involves women tricked into travelling to China to get work, only to find a groom waiting for them on the other side.

South Korea

• Hundreds of prostitutes and their pimps protested on the streets of Chuncheon in South Korea yesterday, seeking a reversal on new anti-prostitution laws which they argue will damage their livelihoods.


• Celebrate gay pride in Seoul

Cambodia

• Midwives on motorbikes spread sex sense in Cambodia

Disclaimer: Some of these media reports may portray sex and sexuality in a negative light. I am merely re-reporting them and may not always agree with the reports or opinions expressed.

Dr. Martha Lee is Founder and Clinical Sexologist of Eros Coaching. She is a certified sexologist with a Doctorate in Human Sexuality. She provides sexuality and intimacy coaching for individuals and couples, conducts sexual education workshops and speaks at public events. For more, visit www.eroscoaching.com or email drmarthalee@eroscoaching.com.

Love Your Vagina Song

Video description: Whatever you call your vagina, we think it deserves some love. That's why we've written a song starring over 25 names submitted to the loveyourvagina poll, which asked women from across the world 'what they call theirs'. You gave us 14,000 different names, and there are still more coming in every day! Visit http://loveyourvagina.com to find out more, tell us what you lovingly call yours and download the song sheet music.

Media Coverage: Sex on the Go

This article first appeared on Ezyhealth Singapore June 2011. Click on image to view.

What is the Purpose of Life? Andrew Cohen

What is the Purpose of Life? Andrew Cohen