During most of the previous festivals in the past it has been a tradition to start each day with a welcoming by Kai and an opening Ritual by Daan. This time we will have a big global welcoming moment for the whole 5-day festival.

Can I land in my body in a grounded way in the presence of another person? Can I open to the We space? (the space, the information that exists between us) Can I welcome the idea and expression of difference into this We space? This workshop is an exploration into what comes when we welcome difference to a shared space. What new information, understanding, perspective is available when I can be with myself, the We space and the difference with the same openness, curiosity, compassion and connectedness? What does the idea or information around difference have to teach me?

An exploration in self love: breathe through your heart connecting with the truth that they are both unique. In the first part we'll practice together a soothing and opening meridian acupressure sequence followed by a heart meditation. For the second part we'll give ourselves permission to receive touch and deep breath over the heart line harnessing the loving energy into a guided solo tantra sequence and movement in freedom.

Meditation is fundamentally about redirecting our attention from the state of doing to the state of being. Restoration, relaxation and rejuvenation from within. We will engage and unwind our bodies through conscious and qualitative movement, and gain access to a new experience of our selves and our sense of aliveness. Moving mindfully into stillness enhances the quality of our life experience. In this 75 minute workshop we will explore gentle movement exercises that are intended to sooth and tone our nervous-system and then we’ll enter a period of silent sitting.

“We’ve only just begun,” sang Karen Carpenter 50 years ago – a hopeful message. Navigating the vast landscapes of media today, how does one actually start to tell a story, their story? What makes a beginning of a tale stand out? And how to queer it all from the very start? In this 90 minute workshop, we’ll explore different techniques and tools and learn how to create a juicy START to every story.

For months, spaces we have occupied have been limited to our bodies in environments we have constructed and call “home.” For many queer people, the nature and contents of those spaces reflect of our histories and understandings of our relationship to worlds outside as well as conscious manifestations of our longings. This workshop will examine how our homes embed evidence, artifacts and heirlooms that express of our needs, defenses, aspirations and love of our selves.

This workshop will explore the topic of sensitivity as a superpower. As something that can strengthen us in our Queerness and empathy for life and nourishes our ability to love. How can I feel my body as a self-owned and self-evident queer shelter using vulnerability as a resource?
What sensitive qualities can my Queerness unfold? We´ll combine elements of bodywork, mindfulness, dance...to explore our uniqueness, articulate and celebrate our desires and needs as sensitive human beings.

What does it mean to be a hero—to live heroically—in these times? People we today call LGBTQ have a long tradition of fulfilling spiritual roles such as teachers, healers, and consciousness scouts. How are you expressing these roles in your life? Ready to step things up a bit? We are living in arguably the most critical juncture in the evolution of humanity. The clarion call has gone out: All hands on deck!

Within a jointly created space, take as much privacy as you need to meet an imaginary partner. This could be a real life lover, an ally from the spiritual realm or something much more amorphous like Universal Love, Strength or Eros. You could also choose to work with something from the shadow realm to take inside and process. Within your boundaries explore being penetrated and yielding control. Toys and fingers are also welcome.

Conversation about the importance of working towards being your true self with all your intersections.

A fun dance class focusing on lubricating those joints to get ourselves limber, open and activated! Ask yourself: What are physical elements you notice when having enjoyable, deeper and expansive connections? …think of joints in your body, a good time spent with a friend, great sex, a soulful walk, a creative endeavor...
No dance experience is necessary, beyond maybe having enjoyed dancing by yourself naked or in your undies : )

An invitation to an intimate empowering journey in which we enhance our inner dialogue to be soft, loving, and intuitive. We will experiment with both communal and individual inquiries on the quest to find our unique ways to connect, express, feel, and acknowledge. We will explore Self-Intimacy in a non-verbal context, learn how to listen to our body-knowledge, discover our authentic individual Sign Language, and dance to connect and unlock emotional baggage.

Many people give up their plush animals well before they go into puberty. However, there are also quite a few who never give them up, and courageously carry them into adulthood. This workshop is a unique opportunity to “out” yourself as a plush animal lover, or otherwise open yourself to an experience that is warm, funny and intimate. Choose your favorite one, or bring along all of them!

In this workshop we give our body a self treatment with elements of Dynamic Bodywork, Meridian Streaming Techniques and Thai Yoga Massage.
We will travel with touch through our bodies using our palms, fingers, arms, our legs and feet with different dynamics and qualities. Here sensuality is invited and clothing is optional . This means you are welcome to take off parts of your clothes or leave your clothes on, just as it feels good for you. To be comfortable we will use a chair (best without backrest) and a mat on the floor.

_Justice is What Love Looks Like in Public_
These words of Cornell West will provide us a stepping off point to engage in conversation (and inquiry) regarding the connection between our personal spiritual/erotic, healing and transformational work and the mandate that we play a role in the transformation of our world. We will use meditation, poetry and conversation to explore how hot activism can be.

We all need support and guidance in creating a new habit. For it to be effective, a home yoga meditation practice doesn't need to be an hour long. As one master put it, it's better to do a short practice with some consistency, than to do a long practice inconsistently. Experience two 20-minute practices - a daytime practice to motivate, and an evening practice for better sleep. Experience your home practice as something you want to do, a refuge, a haven of healing & strength.

Did you want to experience the depth of going inward? We are so accustomed to reach outwardly and for something to fulfill us from the outside, how about indulging in a practice where we can witness the magic of how breath and awareness of our hearts, bellies and our root can deliver us to bliss? In this solo clothing optional practice you will need a place to lay down and camera pointed towards you.

The seeds of storytelling - where do our ideas come from? Why do some work so well and others fall flat? Reflect on your life's journey to date, can you tease out some pivotal moments, some memories that are clear and come to you again and again, something filled with joy, some sad thoughts, some time in your life you were successful and some time you failed?

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Pornography has played a special role in gay men’s sex lives. It has taught us what desire between two men looks like. It’s also shaped and often distorted our ideas about what sex is and what normal bodies look like. Don Shewey will present some key ideas from his book The Paradox of Porn and facilitate a group exploration of what’s valuable and what’s problematic about this alluring form of entertainment.

This Stretch Festival offers you the opportunity to experience intense days in times that already are extraordinary. Here you can find a space just for yourself to talk about what moves you, in a community consisting of fellow Stretchers. The Heart Circle was created by Native Americans and adapted by the US Radical Faeries. It is a place where we can sit together in trust, to speak from the heart and listen with our hearts, honoring different life experiences and lifestyles without judging and discussing.

In most of our sexual activities, we increase excitement in a short time from zero to 100%. With this partner exercise using genital touch we examine what happens if we stay consciously in the range between 20 and 80% over a longer period of time. What happens in our body? Are there any wishes coming up? How can I influence my arousal by breathing?

Surrender to the magic of the flowing ropes. In this introductory workshop we will playfully explore the soft side of ropes. For beginners and those who do not like knots, it will be a no strings attached experience. Bondage afficinados are invited to practice mindfulness and use their skills for connection instead of restriction. The ropes will be tools to facilitate relaxation and sensuality in a structured, save and consensual partner exercise.

This workshop seeks to explore some of our own layers of intimacy. What are the layers we take off in order to connect erotically, emotionally, physically and even spiritually with our intimate partners? What are the layers we put on in order to do so? We will identify our comfort zones and see how we might stretch from them in order to grow and deepen our experiences also identifying our boundaries beyond which we may panic. We will explore how we say yes and how we say no. The workshop seeks to explore how we may shine our essence more authentically in order to connect more holistically with our lovers.

The art of anal relaxation and the possibility of anal pleasure are not widely taught, encouraged or celebrated - even in this day and age. In this workshop we will share experiences, struggles and insights about the art of releasing and enjoying your anus - and have space to try some of them out in the privacy of your own home. All questions, insecurities, struggles and expertise welcome.

Authentic Relating is an interpersonal meditation. It is the practice of acting and speaking from a place of heartfelt vulnerability and deep presence, allowing us to be in alignment with our deepest feelings and weave a more rich and truthful human experience. You are invited to play three Authentic Relating games in a safe, non-judgemental space.

Let's explore, in this workshop, the fascinating topic of Psychedelics - their benefits, magic, potential, vulnerabilities, and challenges. We'll discuss what contemporary rituals/ceremonies are, the importance of preparation, setting, integration, and the future of psychedelic therapies.
We will do this through some fun, playful, experiential exercises, and interacting connecting our body-mind-spirits with each other.

In an orgasmic state it is easy to feel and enjoy life. Being who you are without separation. The foundation of how we communicate with life develops unconsciously during our early years. In this workshop I will guide you to reconnect with your essential style of ecstasy - your unique way to experience and express life in each moment. We will use trance, self touch, breath, movement, sound and sharing in the intimacy of small groups.

What are the stories we’ve learnt about our genitals? What are the words, the names, the memories the anecdotes and the emotions attached to them? And what are the stories our genitals would tell us, if we only took the time to listen? This is a place to share and witness these stories, acknowledge them, let them go, if we don’t need them anymore, and possibly create new ones that serve us better. (Implies nudity).

Under the banner of LGBT Gender this workshop will explore themes of self, struggle, strength, expression and community. Embedded within a angle of Trans Awareness, including a discussion around Trans/Non Binary Inclusion in LGBT spaces. Breaking into smaller groups we will be pondering the questions posed and building understanding through sharing of our experiences.

In this workshop, we will start from the body, working from sensation into movement, before bringing attention to the spacetime we are moving through, and our relation to other bodies. We will use Desire as a tool to enter an enhanced state of awareness and use that state to manifest intentions. We will not be referring much to specific magical traditions or lineages, and instead focus on sensing, and lived, embodied experience of energetic work.

BodyFlow is a full body massage created by Andy Saich, normally given and received unclothed and including genital touch. However it is not an erotic massage as such. The emphasis is on acceptance, nurturing, appreciation and holding rather than on erotic arousal. This taster session will include an overview of the massage and its particular way of holding space and maintaining boundaries, after which we will learn and practice some of the floor based positions.

Are you white and don't know how to be involved with Black Lives Matter? Are you afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing? Does it make you want to turn away? Me, too! But I can't do that anymore. As white people, we are not sure what to do or how to join the Black Lives Matter movement. We can start by learning to be accountable for our racism and work to deprogram ourselves.

This workshop uses movement to explore the boundaries between play, assertion and aggression. We will take the wisdom and insight that PlayFight/QueerFight offers, and use it to encounter ourselves at a deeper level. We will experiment with our own experiences of joy, rage, anticipation, threat, confrontation, curiosity, and find new embodied responses to them. Previous experience of PlayFight/QueerFight isn’t necessary, and everyone is welcome to explore, and move, within their own limits.

In this workshop you will be guided into a fine awareness of your body and embark on a poetic trip of sensual movement and self eroticism. It is about self discovery and loving (there will be no facilitated masturbation), each participant will focus on themselves until a final closing sharing round. We will pay attention to many body parts and include the whole body. Clothing and camera are optional.

Starting with a classic bob style wig, we will learn step by step how to give it an entertaining and glamorous style. For this creation, you will use the classical method of hair curling styling set. With a quite easy technique and a few pieces of equipment, we will turn a boring wig into a fantastic and chic coiffure.

In the workshop we will collectively dance and do a work out program together. I will teach different dances from the concept album connected to the performance “The Fishingdance & other cosmic confessions”. I wish to share the joy and fun of my tripple Q method (qute queer n qonfused) and share stories and experiences through silly dances. This will bridge the silly and trivial to the epic in an attempt of self healing and care.

In this choreographed ritual we can move between different roles, experiment and try ourselves out. Celebrate with others your body, your genitals, your lust and your arousal. Slip into the role of an exhibitionist or voyeur or watch the goings-on as a witness from the outside. Clothing, nudity and masturbation are welcome.

In my earlier Stretch work exploring cross-generational conversations, isolation and social fragmentation were major LGBT challenges. Today, we need to be each other’s neighbours even more, consciously listening, building community, sharing perspectives, weaving a stronger social fabric, each of us recognising our unique value to each other, while gently nurturing ourselves each day. Am I living as fully and richly as I can at this moment? Am I open to sharing? Being curious? Let’s talk!

Queer Sound Healing is an immersive sound journey into the deep nature of being; an embodied soulful healing ritual, celebrating queerdom & survival. It offers a ceremonial space for LGBTQI people to acknowledge the deep truths about who they are & presents the potential to awaken to the higher Self. A multi-sensory transcendental sonic meditation designed to uplift the Soul & improve mental health. It includes ritual, body work, narrative therapy, sound, song, vibroacoustic therapy.

Developed from a co-counselling basis, Crossing the Bridge is a structure created by Hedy Schleifer to enable one partner to deeply listen as the other partner shares information, feelings and experience from their interior world. A chance to practice the discipline of bracketing your own world, crossing the bridge to your partner’s world, and deeply taking them in. Literally, into-me-see.

Crochet and jockstrap are two words that, apparently, have nothing in common. Well, that is not true! Join this workshop and begin your journey to crochet your very own jockstrap and hopefully your very own private collection! (But why private though?!) We'll go through the basic steps of crochet and you'll receive a pattern to continue your project at home at your own rhythm.

When you forget all your dualistic ideas, everything becomes your teacher, and everything can be the object of worship.” Shunryu Suzuki Playfight is an encounter between dominance and dance and a field of creativity that undermines habits of competition. A playground that frees us from attitudes of othering. From here we can start a creative process using verbal instructions as inspiration. By getting into contact with another man´s power we get into contact with our own unique expression of strength. Bring pen and paper. Open Cam obligatory.

What do we mean when we talk about sexual or erotic energy? What is the difference between this and other types of energy? Where does it reside and how can we work with it? After creating a joint working space and a brief spoken introduction this will be a practical session where we will each explore these questions using our own bodies as our laboratories and sharing our results to inspire further discoveries.

Something that I am missing even more than darkrooms and play parties is the opportunity to meet each other in sex-positive spaces and share information about sex and kink. I'd like to invite you to dress up in your favorite fetish gear and spend an hour with like minded individuals to talk about kink and maybe even flirt a bit! This space will be moderated in English. Open to all.

Keats said
“touch has a memory”,
and
Touch is something I notice is not available to a lot of us right now..
And maybe poetry can ‘act ‘
As way in to this
Present moment
that touch sometimes can do..
We will explore together
how poetry can
Open our field of
awareness.

‘My lips got lost on the way to the kiss - that's how drunk I was.’
Rumi

Class intention focuses on bringing meditative exercises/techniques, improvised movement and self care techniques into a singular practice that is well rounded and grounded. Class begins with pranayama exercises followed by guided energy work techniques into self massage. We will then lead into a round of sun salutations that will lead into guided movement exercises including sensory depravation meditation, and interpretive improvised meditative movement. Class concludes with savasana and a positive affirmation exercise.

This lecture-discussion will suggest new perspectives around the function of faith, spirituality, and religion, and their redefinition by our community. As well as highlight the critical role our community has in the salvation of humankind during this transformative era, welcoming the Age of Aquarius. Some of the topics we’ll discuss: The ancient role of Transgender people in the religious institution (and their future role); The Future is Female; Unconditional Love & the Third Temple vision.

Let's engage in a thought experiment about the origins of dance as a reaction to music. I will show you how I let the music decide when and how I move. The workshop will progress through movements from different styles to create a combination, before we finish off the class with a cooldown to recenter ourselves.

In this playful and experiential workshop we will discuss gender performance and drag. We will share our experiences performing our own gender and with performing gender(s) outside of our own. Participants are encouraged to bring a few pieces of drag to play with as we explore how drag can help us embrace performing gender in new and experimental ways.

Queers are among the few minority groups who don’t learn about our culture and history from our parents. In this workshop I will screen excerpts from a series I produced, CONVERSATIONS WITH GAY ELDERS, in which I worked with young gay filmmakers in to tell the stories of older gay men. We will explore cross-generational connections as a means of empowering younger and future generations. All ages encouraged to attend!

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We will introduce ourselves with name, pronoun and a one word check in so you can briefly connect. You are welcome to sit on a cushion on the floor, a chair, or lie down. First we will go into a guided meditation for 20 minutes, then somatic exercises for 10 minutes and end with a silent sitting 20 minutes feeling into the new sensations. After this Coral will lead a loving kindness meditation. For the discussion section we will be answering a question around body experience and we will go into break out rooms to discuss for 10 minutes. Then we will close the meditation journey together with some deep breaths.

We will introduce ourselves with name, pronoun and a one word check in so you can briefly connect. You are welcome to sit on a cushion on the floor, a chair, or lie down. First we will go into a guided meditation for 20 minutes, then somatic exercises for 10 minutes and end with a silent sitting 20 minutes feeling into the new sensations. After this Coral will lead a loving kindness meditation. For the discussion section we will be answering a question around body experience and we will go into break out rooms to discuss for 10 minutes. Then we will close the meditation journey together with some deep breaths.

In a moment of global pandemic and protests against racism, has manhood lost its meaning? How might intersectionality, a concept formed by black feminists, help us forge new connections between different communities of men? In this guided conversation, participants will think about the intersections that exist between and among masculine-identified people, and consider how our evolving ideas of race, sexuality, eros, and community can create a more liberated and politically liberating view of masculinity.

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