Quick facts
- Origin: International, 1990s onward
- Lineage: Founded by Bruce Lyon, Komala Lyra, and others
- Primary teachers: ISTA-certified facilitators worldwide
- Primary techniques: Multi-day immersive workshops, Body-based practice, Shamanic crossover
Where it comes from
ISTA was founded in the 1990s as a workshop-based training organization combining Neo-Tantra, Western shamanic work, and conscious-sexuality teaching. It runs week-long immersive workshops at venues globally.
What you actually do
Multi-day in-person immersives that include partnered and group practice, breath work, body-based exercises, and ritual.
Common misconceptions
- It is a religious organization (it is workshop-based)
- All ISTA work is sexual (much is not, but workshops can include sexual content with consent protocols)
Who this is best for
- People who learn well from in-person immersive workshops
- People interested in shamanic crossover
Who this is NOT for
- People wanting only home-based practice
- People uncomfortable with group settings
How it shows up in Tantra Clinic programs
We do not teach ISTA curriculum directly; we are an online-first program. ISTA workshops are referenced as one possible deepening path.
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