Self-Pleasure Club was born from a place of love and the yearning for women to take up more space in the conversation around pleasure. As a queer woman I felt the vacuum when it came to inclusive, accessible spaces to explore female pleasure openly and without judgement. I was inspired by the punk feminist movement of the 90’s where women shook up male dominated industries and would gather in basements to create zines. I wanted to create a community space focused on pleasure education where me and my friends could do the same.
Our first event was hosted in September 2022 at The Baths in Hackney. Fifteen participants tentatively and excitedly gathered around in a circle whilst A4 printed workbooks were handed out with the title ‘All same but different’ radical self acceptance exercises inspired by Emily Nagoskis ‘Come As You Are’ Workbook. By the end of the session we were collectively shaking the building with chants of ‘Vagina!’ ‘Vulva!’ ‘Labia!’ and ‘Clitoris!’ like new age football hooligans… hilarious and beautifully archaic.
Read the full Self-Pleasure Club-Sensuali interview.
Our Workshops
Since then, Self-Pleasure Club has been through many iterations but with the same clear mission to empower women, intersex, non-binary, trans and gender non-conforming humans to explore their pleasure in a healthy, embodied and creative way, free from stigma or shame. We have hosted over 25 workshops and one-off events at different venues across London with themes ranging from Solo Tantra to Kink to Embodied Consent. Quite honestly whatever inspires me is usually on the agenda and we’ve recently started to collaborate with some very cool guests and facilitators.
The format of a workshop can vary depending on the topic but we always start by laying down the agreements of the space, this is usually followed by a discussion component, a reflection component and a solo or coupled somatic practice component. In an article written about us in The Wick newspaper, journalist Lucy Porter coined the phrase ‘part Patchouli part Punk’ which I think is such a perfect way to describe our workshops.
Some sessions we’ll have an altar in the middle strewn with flowers, candles and printed quotes, others sessions we’ll be exploring sensual touch using whips. There really is nothing binary about the space or the content which is I think what makes it so special, that participants have the choice to explore whatever resonates with safety, humour and a sense of community.
What are the benefits of exploring with Self-Pleasure Club?
1) Get to know your body and boundaries.
Our sessions have a somatic focus which means they encourage participants to get internally curious. We do this through self touch, partner work, movement, bodywork and meditation. Connecting with your body is key to unpicking layers of social conditioning and listening to truly what is a yes, no and anything in between.
2) Reclaim autonomy in your pleasure journey.
Your experience of pleasure is deeply unique and personal. We encourage participants to move beyond the limited concept that only romantic partners can provide us with intimacy and satisfaction. Get curious about your wants, needs & desires in a safe environment that supports feedback to use solo or with friends & partners.
3) Meet like-minded humans.
Our vibrant, diverse & queer friendly community offers a chance to meet curious people and offers a sense of accountability, connectedness, validation and support on your pleasure journey; ‘I feel very safe in the community that has been built and genuinely look forward to not only the content of the sessions but seeing the other people who attend too’.
4) Self-pleasure is self love.
Not the quick fix woo-woo kinda self love but the kind of love that comes from cultivating a deep sense of relationship and reverence for this wonderful skin suit we live in. The benefits of self-pleasure are far reaching and can impact both our physical health and emotional health. There is evidence to support pleasure lowering cortisol levels, boosting our immune system as well as creating an elevated sense of sexual confidence and awareness to name a few!
Discover more about monthly workshops and events on the Self-Pleasure Club Instagram.
Discover more sex & pleasure coaches on Sensuali.
Emily
Emily is an embodiment coach and writer. She came to Self-Pleasure Club first as an attendee and has been part of the team ever since. Self-Pleasure Club are a creative grassroots collective on a mission to empower people to boldly explore their pleasure. They run monthly themed workshops and events to facilitate the exploration of pleasure in a creative, holistic, and embodied way.
