About Spiritual Sexuality Workshop Facilitators
Vision
To support and promote the recognition of body image, sexual pleasure and sexual satisfaction as natural and integral parts of health and wellbeing for individuals and communities.
Facilitators
Facilitator - Andrew Barnes
Andrew Barnes is a sex therapist, counsellor and bodyworker who draws from his Masters of Health Science in Sexology from the University of Sydney. Combined with his studies in massage, bodywork, Tantra, Taoist and Quodoska to work with women's sexual and self-esteem issues.
His early life laid the foundations for his counselling practice, with Andrew being a personal survivor of childhood sexual and physical abuse. In his own admission, Andrew "went wild" through his adolescence as a result of the trauma, and was moments away from committing suicide before a sudden and profound awakening turned his life around.
These experiences led Andrew on his own personal journey of healing – through psychotherapy, counselling, shamanic practices and many alternative-healing modalities. Andrew’s search for his own truth has seen him travel the world, visiting centres of spiritual wisdom and learning including India, Nepal and Egypt. He has also done so many personal development courses it's not funny, read books like there's no tomorrow, he is a vegetarian because he loves animals as much as people, and doesn’t smoke, drink alcohol or take other drugs (unless you call ice cream a drug).
Andrew is a man with a voice that can calm the most wild of beasts. He is 5′10″, green-hazel-eyed, trailblazing, passionate, creative, smooth talking, self-educated, purpose driven, work-from-home, sexologist, reality twisting, chakra meditation practicing, bodyworker, master massage therapist and trainer, yin/yang polarized, women’s sexuality and orgasm coach, risk-taking, persistent, fearless, beauty therapist, master waxer, self-loving, humble, proactive, compassionate, doula, understanding, self trained ninja, eccentric, tattooed, hilarious, pierced, charming, women’s sexuality retreat facilitator, overly-reincarnated, chivalrous, paradigm destroying, and female-bisexuality-loving, spiritual warrior, light-worker, writer, author, speaker, entrepreneur, international teacher, student, former heavy vehicle electrician and project coordinator who loves to challenge and shock people to open their Heart’s and expand their consciousness … or run away screaming, be careful “Andrew is EVIL!”
Andrew’s obsessive pursuit of finding the ultimate truth about life, women, and sexuality began when he was still only a young child. Raised in harsh conditions which forced him to feel and to question, his mission in life became to uncover the mysteries of sexuality, spiritually and reality, and to end all suffering.
Andrew is a self proclaimed spiritual sexuality guru and legend in his own mind; in his quest for truth and for spiritual growth he has explored many avenues of life including…being shot at and stabbed, jumped out of planes and off bridges, climbed Himalayan mountains, backed packed through India & Nepal, chanted in yoga ashrams in the middle of the desert, has a Masters in Sexology, has 5 Diplomas in bodywork and massage, has touched clouds, stood in front of a group of 40 people naked and talked lovingly about his body, travelled much of the world, has danced naked in the rain, received colon hydrotherapy, rode a donkey to the Valley of the Kings, studied Tantra, years of volunteer work in detox units and men’s maximum security jails, debated with Guru’s, has faced every one of his fears, cried for two years, sat naked in the bush meditating for 3 days, abstained from sex for two years, risked it all for love, risked it all for spiritual growth, risked it all to find his bliss.
His totem animal is the snake, he is a Scorpio and a Dog, and some say a Pig when he eats…He is a truth sayer, a bullshit detector, a lover not a fighter, yet he would fight to the death for those that he loves and for what he believes in.
Andrew is the founder of the Academy of Therapeutic Arts in Brisbane – a government registered massage training school. He is also a birth supporter or Doula, has worked as a hug therapist and has coordinated volunteer support groups and programs in women’s rehabilitation centres, substance abuse detox units, men’s maximum security jails and at the Royal Children’s Hospital Brisbane.
Andrew is in high demand as an international expert and speaker on massage therapy (Ka Huna, Lomi Lomi, Balinese, Pregnancy massage), sexuality, bodywork and healing. His travels see him teaching post graduate courses to therapists, as well as corporate training and consulting with International companies like Dermalogica and health spas around the world.
With his years of training and experience, Andrew works with women with histories of abuse, sexual issues, body image issues and shame, supporting them to let go of their baggage, stand in their power in the present moment and to live their truth.
In recent years, Andrew created and runs Awakening Within retreats that combine spiritual sexuality and tantric philosophies and practices including body de-armoring, these are run over two 5 day live-in retreats. Each retreat is a journey of deep healing, acceptance and opening to one's true feminine potential.
Andrew is also the author of the (soon to be released) book, “Heart of the Flower: the book of Yonis”. Each women writes candidly with wit, wisdom, passion, even despair about her relationship with her vulva.
Andrew is also a Cuddle Party facilitator and run courses in the foundations of facilitation, for people wanting to learn how to run Cuddle Party’s...
When you meet Andrew you may feel uncertain and unsure, slightly fearful and at the same time at ease and calm.
Be pre-warned, Andrew's life theme is transformation, if you come into his sphere you will be shaken and stirred…
Facilitator - Shiromani
Shiromani has a thriving practice in Melbourne; offering spiritual sexuality education, counselling and bodywork - inspired by Tantric, Taoist & Shamanic sexual wisdom teachings.
She is qualified and experienced with Women's Ceremonies, Tantra, Female Taoist Arts, Spiritual Midwifery (Doula), Sexology, Massage Therapy, Erotic Dance, Yoga and Meditation.
Facilitator - Yvonne Lumsden
Yvonne is a qualified nurse specialising in psychiatric nursing. For the past 15 years, she has worked in drug and alcohol counselling. As a health care professional, Yvonne has always been interested in complementary medicine, and has diplomas in massage and aromatherapy, two healing practices she uses extensively in her work. She is a Reiki Master and has been integrating Reiki into her personal and spiritual journey since 1994. Yvonne has also done volunteer Reiki healing for animals with the R.S.P.C.A.
Yvonne has completed a Intuitive Facilitator training course with the Academy of Therapeutic Arts and runs courses teaching Reiki.
As well as working part-time in drug and alcohol counselling, Yvonne has her own business, One Love, which incorporates all of her skills and talents, including her passion for photography, specialising in canvases and cards of flowers from around the world.
Yvonne emigrated from Scotland to Australia in 2004 with her partner and since arriving here she has been exploring Tantra and other forms of spiritual sexual healing, which she feels have complemented the other aspects of her personal growth.
She believes that, through applying a truly holistic approach to our health and wellbeing, we can all heal ourselves physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
Course Supporter
Paige is a supporter for the Awakening Within course, she actively participates in the course as well as providing support for Andrew, Shiromani and Yvonne. Paige has recently embarked on her own self discovery journey and has found the Awakening Within experience to be an integral and continual part of her growth. She hopes that through supporting and participating on Awakening Within she will see other women develop and grow on their own journeys'.
