EVENTS

Listen Up!
Listening Skills for D/s Dynamics
Presented by Andrea Zanin

Listening Skills for D/s Dynamics
Have you ever wished you could see straight into your submissive’s soul, and know what makes them tick? Have you ever desired to know exactly how best to please your dominant? Strong communication is the key to harmony in any relationship. That’s no less true for those of us who are drawn to the complexities and delights of power-based relationships, whether ongoing or occasional. And yet, despite the intensity and focus they can involve, sometimes our D/s or M/s dynamics can themselves add a layer of difficulty to the already challenging dance of human interaction.

In this workshop, we’ll set some foundations by going over ten basic principles for healthy D/s and M/s relationships. (These principles are tuned to the particularities of 24/7, but their essence is broadly applicable to all sorts of power-based arrangements.) From there, we’ll discuss the unique challenges of communication within these relationships, and come up with ways in which the relationship structures can also be used to support strong communication.

You will also learn about a classic listening process (active listening) and how to adapt it to the realities of D/s. From there we’ll dive into practice in small groups. This dynamic workshop is highly participatory, extremely practical, and surprisingly challenging! You’re guaranteed to come out with fresh insights and new skills to help deepen the intimacy and strengthen the bonds of your D/s - whether you’re currently in such a relationship or brushing up for a future one. (Existing D/s pairs or groups are warmly welcomed, but there is no need to attend with a partner.)

Andrea Zanin
Andrea Zanin, a.k.a. Sex Geek, wears her glasses when she fucks. For over a decade, she has been teaching about queer sexuality, polyamory and BDSM/leather for universities, colleges, sex shops, community groups and conferences in Canada, the States and internationally, and she takes an anti-oppression approach to all her work. Andrea co-organizes the annual Canadian leatherdyke weekend An Unholy Harvest, runs a pervy book club called The Leather Bindings Society and judges the occasional leather contest (including Great Lakes Leather Alliance Bootblacking Contest 2008, International Ms. Leather 2009 and Mr. Leather Toronto 2010). Andrea is pursuing a PhD in women’s studies at York University with a focus on Canadian leatherdyke history. She writes about alternative sexuality for numerous newspapers and magazines, blogs at http://sexgeek.wordpress.com, and pens erotic fiction when she can spare the brain juice (recently appearing in Tristan Taormino’s "Take Me There: Trans and Genderqueer Erotica"). She lives in Toronto and enjoys doing yoga, cultivating M/s relationships with exceptionally high-quality individuals, eating fine dark chocolate and wearing really nice shoes. Find her on Twitter at @sexgeekAZ or send her an e-mail at veryqueer3@yahoo.ca.

As with all of our workshops these will be placing an emphasis on safety and class participation under supervision. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about these kinky FUNdamentals in a friendly & social environment.

2:00pm to 6:00pm (doors open at 1:30pm)
Sunday, 15th January 2010
at
Goodhandy’s
120 Church Street (2nd floor)
SW corner of Church & Richmond Streets
Toronto, ON

Admission $10.00 at the door
Restricted to those 19 years of age and older