Start very simply. Set aside about 15 minutes several times a week to practice getting in tune with your body and with your partner's body. Think of it as your private time to explore and discover. Okay, it sounds crazy -- where in the world will you find the time? But if you want to make a commitment to Sacred Sex, you'll need to make your relationship a priority. And that's a good thing!

Before you start, here are a few pointers:

Make sure you're at a basic level of fitness.

Go slowly. Rest when your body is tired. Your stamina will increase with regular practice.

Wait awhile after eating before you start the exercises.

Practice in a warm room with indirect sunlight.

Know your limits. Never force your body beyond its capacity.

Create a welcoming environment -- incense, soft music, candles, etc.

Unplug the phone. Turn down the lights. Lock the door. Slip away.

Rest a bit after you finish.Take some time to transition before heading back to your day-to-day life.

Ready to Begin?

Look into, but focus beyond, your partner's eyes. Keep your eyes wide open throughout this practice. Eyes are the windows to the soul, and the key to achieving true intimacy.

Become conscious of your breathing, and that of your partner. Try to breathe comfortably at the same pace, moving the air slowly in through your nose and out through your mouth. Keep eye contact while you breathe together.

After you've practiced for a few weeks and feel comfortable appreciating your partner in this way, try staying in the position for 15 minutes steady. Simply keep eye contact with your partner, and do nothing else. Think of yourselves as two people who have been together for so long that there's nothing left to say or do. Try not to fall asleep or daydream. Don't give in to the urge to smile, be cute or funny. If you do laugh or giggle, start over. Hold the position for 15 minutes, then relax.

Now you can get your breathing in synch. Inhale together, hold the breath, then exhale together. Repeat for five to ten minutes.

Variation: Sit cross-legged, facing each other, and look into your partner's eyes. Press your foreheads together. Synchronize your breathing.

Slowly inhale and fill your chest with air -- as much air as you can take in. Contract your genital muscle when you feel as if your lungs are full.

Now, lift your chin and bring your mouth to your partner's, piercing his or her lips with your breath. Release the air gently, yet suddenly.

Synchronize your breathing again. Now, let your partner take in the breath and release it into you.

Next, start noticing your partner's body, imagining it as part of your own. Create the vision of yourself as having one large body with a head at each end, four arms, interlocking legs in the center. Hold this position for 15 minutes.

Variation: Sit upright, facing each other, instead of lying down. Hold your hands facing up on your partner's knees. Relax your back and neck, loosen your facial muscles. You can close your eyes or keep them open and press your foreheads together.

Advanced Variation: Once you've mastered the exercises described here, you may be ready for "Riding the Wave of Bliss." You and your partner come together and lock in a mouth-to-mouth, genital-to-genital embrace. Create a continuous flow of energy following the oval shape formed by your torsos. Imagine that your physical body, personality, and gender have vanished, leaving only the flow of energy. Concentrate on the energy, enjoy the flow.