Mark Oostermeijer &
Anna Prat i Bascompte
MARK & ANNA (he/him & she/her). Our relationship of 39 years is characterized by many transformations and growth. As parents of three girls, busy with work and family, we didn't always find the time to nurture our relationship. Our first Tantra training, 13 years ago at Centrum voor Tantra in Amsterdam offered us another way to relate together. We provide workshops and coaching on tantra, relationships and sexuality for couples and singles. Since a couple of years we follow the teachings and are part of the kula of Christopher Wallis Hareesh in his platform Tantra Illuminated. Our biggest tantra offering is the organisation of the Tantric Joy Festival Amterdam, this year the 6th edition. We also co-host workshop weekends with other teachers.
MARK - (he/him) I am born and living in Amsterdam and started working as an entrepreneur at a very young age. When the children came, I changed to work for Social Health Care. Twelve years ago I missed living from the heart more and more and, as a hobby, I did a Yoga Vinyasa Krama Teacher training at Svaha Yoga in Amsterdam. Yoga turned out to be my passion. Life with Anna and our girls was busy and not always in tune with my desires and needs. From yoga I rolled into various Vipassana meditations and my calling for a more conscious live was awakened. As Anna is the love of my live I wished to undergo a transformational journey for us as a couple. We found this growth in tantra. I offer private coaching session to men to be brave and make choices to live their wished live.
ANNA -(she/her) Already during my study Psychology I realized that psychologists have too little knowledge and attention for the relation with our body. This gap brought me to engage more education in haptonomy, Transactional Analysis, EMDR, Psychodrama and Voice Dialogue and dearmouring. I am a certified Mindfulness trainer and giving couples coaching with EFT (Emotional Focused Therapy). I am convinced that our love relations are our best chance to heal old pain. It brings me so much joy to contribute to this higher purpose with tantra and couples coaching.
1. OPENING, AGREEMENTS & CONSENT - We wish the festival to be a space where you can be yourself and you feel part of the hole experience. In the Opening Ceremony we will have the first contact with the other participants in way that fits what you need at that moment. During the ceremony we will also have some practices needed to be aware of how different we all are in boundaries and communication about them. It is the base we want to set together for the rest of the festival en therefore it is mandatory for all participants.
2. KALI CEREMONY -
3, 5 & 6 - DAY OPENINGS -Every morning we want to begin together and set an intention for the rest of the day. We will also have some practices connected to the theme of the day.
4. PLAYFUL TEMPLE NIGHT - Together with Lisa, Binta & Aly, Mark & Anna will hold space for the first Temple Night suitable for beginners and more experienced participants. We will guide you in a space were you can express yourself, try something new, or just look others and dance. You don’t have to do anything but just being there if you wish. You can wear clothes you feel happy, joyful, sexy or just nice (jeans and jogging trousers are not really suitable for temple nights). Keywords: sensuality, guided temple spaces, wishing wheel, designated area’s for nudity.
7. CACAO SOLSTICE CEREMONY - Supporting intentions and directing the energy to integration.
8. CLOSING INTEGRATION CEREMONY - Last hour to share your growth, your joy, how to integrate the festival and how to hold space for the transformation, to say goodbye and hold space for all your emotions.