Welcome to episode 357 of Sexology Podcast! Today I am delighted to be speaking with Darshana Avila. In this episode, we discuss the importance of touch in human connection and intimacy, why we need healthy and attuned touch in relationships and the importance of relaxed arousal for a satisfying sexual experience.    Darshana Avila believes that the foundation of her work in Sex and Intimacy is based on mutual trust. She practices transparency about her identities, recognizing that this disclosure empowers potential clients to make informed decisions about their comfort level and compatibility with her values. Darshana offers a wealth of articles and training resources aimed at dismantling oppression on her Resources page.     Darshana Avila is a cisgender woman of Eastern European Jewish heritage with white skin, able-bodied, and straight-passing. She identifies as bisexual and queer and uses she/her or they/them pronouns. Her life journey has spanned various chapters, including living in liberal pockets of the United States, South America, and Southeast Asia.     She holds a college education and typically enjoys relatively easy access to spaces, resources, and opportunities, despite some of her identities also facing marginalization and persecution. Presently, she resides on land belonging to the Ohlone people, acknowledges this, and pays Shuumi land tax accordingly. Additionally, Darshana allocates a portion of her income to support various socially just and antiracist organizations.       In this episode, you will hear:    The importance of touch in human connection and intimacy Introducing gentle verbal redirection for better touch Normalize asking for consent and use words to ensure safety Expand vocabulary for talking about what feels good The need for healthy and attuned touch in relationships Feedback in heterosexual relationships can be challenging due to social conditioning Consider factors like pressure, speed, and direction for sensation The importance of relaxed arousal for a satisfying sexual experience Explore sex toys as tools for increased pleasure   Cozy Earth  This week’s episode was sponsored by Cozy Earth. Use the code SEXOLOGY to get 35% off all products: https://cozyearth.com/discount/SEXOLOGY     Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/sexologypodcast     Podcast Produced by Pete Bailey - http://petebailey.net/audio Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy