As we enter 2025, let’s create a new way to experience pleasure that prioritises more mindfulness and slowness over rushed, goal-oriented experiences that leave us feeling empty and unfulfilled. While this might sound like another thing to add to your to-do list, there are a few simple steps to get you started that you can start today. The best thing about slow pleasure is that regardless of whether you are exploring solo play or partnered sex, you can begin to explore these daily, weekly or monthly practices.
Slow pleasure will not only transform the way you experience desire and touch, but it will open the door to new sensations and experiences that often go ignored, from more awareness around what parts of your body actually feel good to getting out of your head during sex.
The Shift Towards Slow Pleasure
It seems that now more than ever, we are inundated with dating apps, endless scrolling and people going viral for shagging competitions. It’s no wonder we have all lost touch with what we want or genuinely desire when it comes to intimacy and sex when our phones are filled with endless possibilities and clickbait content around sex.
It may be time we put the phones away and focus on what we want. That’s why I love slow pleasure; it’s about savouring the moment, building anticipation, and fully immersing yourself in the sensations of touch, breath, and connection. I don’t know about you, but that sounds way more authentic and enriching.
The Benefits of Slowing Down
Slowing down in pleasure and sex isn’t just about being softer and slower with yourself —it’s also about reducing performance anxiety, deepening self-awareness, and avoiding doing stuff that doesn’t bring us any joy in our bodies. When we take our time, we allow our nervous system to relax, making pleasure more expansive, fulfilling and tailored to our true desires.
How to Incorporate Slow Pleasure into Your Life
- Sensory Exploration – Engage all five senses. Light candles, play soft music, savour the feeling of touch, and allow yourself to relax into your body. Sometimes, movement can help with this. Pop on a song that makes you feel sexy and move to the music in a way that feels natural, not what looks sexy.
- Edging Techniques – Prolong pleasure by teasing yourself or a partner. Delaying climax or rushing to the finish line will help to heighten sensations in your body.
- Breathwork & Awareness – Deep, intentional breathing can support feeling more pleasure in your body and help you stay connected to your body. This is especially helpful if you are someone who feels they are always in their head and seeking advice from someone who knows breathwork techniques is recommended to get you started on this journey.
- Extended Foreplay – View intimacy as a journey rather than a destination. Try switching things up by exploring prolonged kissing, hugging or holding, sensual massage or even body mapping to discover new erogenous zones.
- The Art of Tantric Practices – Inspired by ancient wisdom, tantra encourages slowness, breathwork, and a deep, energetic connection with oneself or a partner. We have plenty of professionals here on Sensuali who can help you explore Tantric practices.
The Future of Pleasure in 2025
Remember, you don’t have to align with the pressures of social media, dating apps or even influencers who look like they have sex and pleasure all figured out. The key to slow pleasure and a fulfilling sex life is learning and leaning into what YOU need and want.
When we explore slowness, we open ourselves up to a richer, more connected, and fulfilling experience of intimacy. So, this year, why not take a breath, slow down, and explore the beauty of lingering touch, deeper connection, and heightened pleasure?
Explore Coaches on Sensuali
April Maria
April Maria is a qualified sex educator, sex and relationships coach and training psychosexual and relationships therapist. For the last four years, April has been working in the field of sex education, sex tech and pleasure, endometriosis awareness and helping others when it comes to sexual wellness, intimacy, dating and relationships.
