Mark A. Michaels (born August 2, 1959) and Patricia Johnson (born May 21, 1964) are authors and lecturers on sexuality and relationships. Their approach is informed by their combined 30 years of Tantric study, practice and teaching.

Early life

Mark A. Michaels was born and raised in New York City. He attended the

Ethical Culture Fieldston School Ethical Culture Fieldston School (ECFS), also referred to as Fieldston, is a private independent school in New York City. The school is a member of the Ivy Preparatory School League. The school serves approximately 1,700 students with 480 facult ...

and graduated with honors and distinction from the

University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...

in 1980. He earned a JD from

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then-Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. In 1832, the ...

(1985). Patricia Johnson was born in

Kincheloe, Michigan Kincheloe is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Chippewa County on the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan, named after the former Kincheloe Air Force Base, that was in turn named after noted pilot Iven Kinc ...

. She graduated from Concordia High School (Missouri). Johnson attended the

University of Missouri The University of Missouri (Mizzou, MU, or Missouri) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus Universit ...

, where she earned a

Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Music (BM or BMus) is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of a program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree, and the majority of work consists of prescr ...

with a concentration in

Opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...

Performance. She was a member of the

Houston Grand Opera Houston Grand Opera (HGO) is an American opera company located in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1955 by German-born impresario Walter Herbert and three local Houstonians,Giesberg, Robert I., Carl Cunningham, and Alan Rich. ''Houston Grand Opera at ...

Studio from 1991 until 1992.

Mark A. Michaels

Legal and theatrical career 1985–2000

After completing his law degree, Michaels worked as a literary manager/playwright translator. His translation/adaptation of Goldoni's '' The Mistress of the Inn'' was produced by the

Roundabout Theatre Company The Roundabout Theatre Company is a leading non-profit theatre company based in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, affiliated with the League of Resident Theatres. History The company was founded in 1965 by Gene Feist, Michael Fried and Elizabet ...

in 1988. From 1990 until 2000, Michaels served as staff attorney for the American Indian Law Alliance and deputy director to the Native American Council of New York City. His law review article "Indigenous Ethics and Alien Laws: Native Traditions and the United States Legal System" has been widely cited. During this period Michaels also earned master's degrees in American Studies from NYU (1994) and

Yale Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wor ...

(1996).

Patricia Johnson

Professional operatic career 1993–2010

Johnson was a professional operatic

soprano A soprano () is a type of classical female singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hz to "high A" (A5) = 880&n ...

and performed in some of the world's premiere venues including Houston Grand Opera, Teatro Municipal Santiago de Chile, and

Prague State Opera The State Opera (Czech: Státní opera) is an opera house in Prague, Czech Republic. It is part of the National Theatre of the Czech Republic, founded by Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic in 1992. The theatre itself originally opened in ...

. During her seasons with the New York City Opera she was hailed as "... America's newest emerging talent..." In addition to

Gilda ''Gilda'' is a 1946 American film noir directed by Charles Vidor and starring Rita Hayworth in her signature role and Glenn Ford. The film is known for cinematographer Rudolph Maté's lush photography, costume designer Jean Louis's wardrobe fo ...

and Violetta, her repertoire at that house included Micaëla in ''

Carmen ''Carmen'' () is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the Carmen (novella), novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first perfo ...

'', Nanetta in ''

Falstaff Sir John Falstaff is a fictional character who appears in three plays by William Shakespeare and is eulogised in a fourth. His significance as a fully developed character is primarily formed in the plays '' Henry IV, Part 1'' and '' Part 2'', w ...

'', Antonia in '' Les contes d'Hoffmann'', the Countess Almaviva in '' Le nozze di Figaro'' and Valencienne in ''

The Merry Widow ''The Merry Widow'' (german: Die lustige Witwe, links=no ) is an operetta by the Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár. The librettists, Viktor Léon and Leo Stein, based the story – concerning a rich widow, and her countrymen's attempt t ...

'', a '' Live from Lincoln Center'' telecast. With the

Opera Orchestra of New York The Opera Orchestra of New York (also known as OONY) specializes in the performance of opera in concert form. It is particularly known for its work in presenting rarely performed repertory. Among the numerous American premieres it has presented are ...

, she covered the leading roles in Rossini's ''

Armida Armida is the fictional character of a Saracen sorceress, created by the Italian late Renaissance poet Torquato Tasso. Description In Tasso's epic ''Jerusalem Delivered'' ( it, Gerusalemme liberata, link=no), Rinaldo is a fierce and determ ...

'' and Donizetti's ''

Linda di Chamounix ''Linda di Chamounix'' is an operatic ''melodramma semiserio'' in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti. The Italian libretto was written by Gaetano Rossi. It premiered in Vienna, at the Kärntnertortheater, on 19 May 1842. Performance history ''Li ...

'', as well as Bellini's '' La sonnambula'', '' I puritani'' and ''

I Capuleti e i Montecchi ''I Capuleti e i Montecchi'' (''The Capulets and the Montagues'') is an Italian opera (''Tragedia lirica'') in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini. The libretto by Felice Romani was a reworking of the story of ''Romeo and Juliet'' for an opera by Nicol ...

''. Other roles included Lucia di Lammermoor at Opera Cleveland and all four heroines in ''Les Contes of d'Hoffmann'' with El Paso Opera and '' Lakmé'' with the

Union Avenue Opera Union Avenue Opera (previously Union Avenue Opera Theatre) is an opera company based in St. Louis, Missouri. The company was founded in 1994 by Scott Schoonover, the music director of Union Avenue Christian Church, which serves as the company's v ...

in St. Louis.

Tantric training and marriage

Michaels began to explore American Tantra in 1997, studying with a variety of teachers. He completed his first teacher training in 1998. In January 1999, Johnson attended a lecture that Michaels gave at Sexy Spirits in New York City. Michaels and Johnson got together to practice sexual Tantra in February 1999. Their partnership, born of a shared passion for exploring Tantra, soon blossomed into a romance, and they have been together ever since. Also in 1999, both Michaels and Johnson grew interested in exploring a more traditional approach to Tantra and began studying with Dr. Jonn Mumford (Swami Anandakapila Saraswati). Their relationship with Dr. Mumford, a pioneering figure in teaching traditional Tantra to Westerners, deepened over time and Mumford named them his lineage holders for the Americas and Europe and initiated them as Swami Umeshanand Saraswati and Devi Veenanand. Mumford's lineage comes from two renowned Indian gurus, Yogamaharishi Swami Gitananda and

Satyananda Saraswati Satyananda Saraswati (25 December 1923 – 5 December 2009), was a Sanyasi, yoga teacher and guru in both his native India and the West. He was a student of Sivananda Saraswati, the founder of the Divine Life Society, and founded the Bihar Sch ...

. In addition to their training with Dr. Mumford, Michaels and Johnson have studied with Dr. Rudolph Balentine and Bhagavan Das, who officiated at their wedding in 2000. Mumford, Michaels, and Johnson renounced their Saraswati initiations in 2014 in response to evidence presented to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Australia). https://www.facebook.com/mark.a.michaels/posts/10152981824079610?pnref=story

Career

Tantra teachers, sexuality educators, and authors

From 2000 to 2006, Michaels and Johnson travelled extensively in the US, Europe and Australia. During this time, they developed an online course called "The Fundamentals of Tantric Sexuality". They also began sponsoring Dr. Mumford's distance learning programs. In 2006, they completed their first book, '' The Essence of Tantric Sexuality''. In 2008, they published ''Tantra for Erotic Empowerment: The Key to Enriching Your Sexual Life'' (Llewellyn), a workbook based on their online course, with a foreword written by Tristan Taormino. Also in 2008, they wrote and appeared in two instructional DVDs for the Alexander Institute: ''Tantric Sexual Massage for Lovers'' and ''Advanced Tantric Sex Secrets''; and made a guest appearance in Tristan Taormino's ''Chemistry 4'', teaching an impromptu Tantra class to the cast. 2011 saw the release of ''Ananda Nidra'' ( Projekt Records), a meditation CD set featuring musical accompaniment by Steve Roach and Black Tape for a Blue Girl. The final book in their trilogy of Tantra-related titles, ''Great Sex Made Simple: Tantric Tips to Deepen Intimacy and Heighten Pleasure'' (Llewellyn), appeared in 2013. Their fourth book, ''Partners in Passion: A Guide to Great Sex, Emotional Intimacy, and Long-Term Love'', was released by

Cleis Press Cleis Press is an American independent publisher of books in the areas of sexuality, erotica, feminism, gay and lesbian studies, gender studies, fiction, and human rights. The press was founded in 1980 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It later moved to S ...

in 2014. Michaels and Johnson also wrote the foreword to Kristina Wright, ed. ''Bedded Bliss: A Couple's Guide to Lust Ever After'' (Cleis Press, 2013) and have been featured and referenced in Tristan Taormino's ''Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships'', and ''The Complete Idiot's Guide to Tantric Sex'', ''The Complete Idiot's Guide to Enhancing Sexual Desire'', and ''Crazy Little Thing''. They maintain an active teaching and lecturing schedule, and have been quoted as experts in numerous publications in the United States and abroad. In 2007, Michaels and Johnson co-founded The Pleasure Salon with New York City sex blogger Selina Fire. Pleasure Salon is a monthly social gathering created to foster an environment in which a broad spectrum of people can cross-pollinate, build networks, and create sex-positive community.

Awards

*''Great Sex Made Simple: Tantric Tips to Deepen Intimacy and Heighten Pleasure'' (2012) *''Independent Publishing'' (IPPY) Awards Gold Medalist in Sexuality/Relationships *International Book Awards Winner in Self Help: Relationships *''ForeWord Reviews'' Book of the Year Awards Silver Medalist in Self-Help *Living Now Awards Silver Medalist in Femininity/Sexuality *''ForeWord Reviews'' Book of the Year Awards Finalist in Family and Relationships *Eric Hoffer Awards Honorable Mention in Health. *''Ananda Nidra: Blissful Sleep'' (2011) *Second Runner Up 2012 Coalition of Visionary Resources Award *''Tantra for Erotic Empowerment: The Key to Enriching Your Sexual Life'' (2008) *''USA Book News'' Best Book Awards Winner in Health: Sexuality *Indie Excellence Awards Finalist *''Foreword Reviews'' Book of the Year Awards Finalist *''Tantric Sexual Massage for Lovers'' (2008) *Cinekink selection *''The Essence of Tantric Sexuality'' (2006) *''USA Book News'' Best Book Award Winner in Health: Sexuality

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mark A. Michaels and Patricia Johnson American relationships and sexuality writers Tantra University of Michigan alumni