Sexual Wellness: What is it and why is it important to our well-being?

What is sexual wellness?

If you’re not entirely sure, you’re probably not alone. It’s a concept that has yet to nestle into our mainstream consciousness and collective understanding – especially more so here n Asia.

It’s precisely this reason that drove TEDx speaker Erin Chen to launch SPARK Fest, Asia’s 1^st sexual wellness festival. Co-founded with fellow founder Sinnead Lee, its entire premise is simple: to shine a light on what sexual wellness means, and how individuals can embrace it in a way that boosts their overall health and happiness.

The festival, held this weekend at co-working space The Hive, intends to spark healthy new conversations about sex, intimacy and love through a curated series of inspirational and informative talks, edutainment, art, and even a sex-tech panel.

So, What Exactly is Sexual Wellness?

“First, I want to emphasise that sex isn’t just intercourse or masturbation,” Erin shares. “It’s related to our overall wellness, the quality of our relationships, how we feel in our skin, how connected we are with our sexuality – it is related to our emotional, physical and relational well-being.”

Over the course of her work in private practice as a sex & relationship counsellor, it became apparent to her that there was a genuine need for people to have better access to understanding and exploring sexual wellness – something her co-founder Sinnead Ali also attests to.

While there are similar events around (e.g. expos or conferences that approach sexuality from a product or medical perspective), she believed there was a gap in the market for a space that makes sexuality what it is: “fun and normal!”.

Which is true. SPARK Fest will be the first multidisciplinary platform that brings together a holistic range of professionals, media personalities, and change-makers in sexual wellness.

The programme lineup is fascinating: it’s teeming with talks that discuss everything from demystifying the female orgasm (“Breaking Down The Mystery of Female Orgasms”), discussing the evolution of the modern man (“A Look at The Evolution of the Modern Man”), weighing out cheating and monogamy in relationships, and so much more.

“Paying attention to our sexual wellness doesn’t mean you have to talk about sex… or that you must have sex. It is that people understand what sexual wellness is and (its) relationship to your overall happiness and health.”

And no, making sexual wellness a priority is not the same as being promiscuous, nor sexually active. To both Erin and Sinnead, the festival is “not about telling people how sex should be or not be.” Nor does it mean you absolutely have to talk about sex or must have sex, Erin stresses.

Instead, it’s about creating a space for them to “get accurate, diverse perspectives so that they can choose what will empower their own sexual wellness journeys.” Everyone’s understanding of their own sexuality is unique. “Not everyone feels sexual – some people are asexual. And so it’s not so much that it is important for people to have sex, it is that people understand what sexual wellness is… and (its relation) to their overall happiness.

“The challenge has been to educate and create awareness on how it can be different from the way we are used to seeing sex portrayed in the media or porn.”

She acknowledges that viewing sexual wellness as part of overall wellness is a very new concept – much like how mindfulness was once upon a time a foreign idea to most. Because it’s so intrinsic to us as humans, it is important to be able to develop and engage in healthy conversations about it.

Needless to say, there are many myths, misconceptions, and unnecessary shame associated with sex, fed by portrayals through media platforms like movies, adult films, pornography, and more. This has in part contributed to inaccurate, or unhealthy, understanding of sex and our own sexuality.

This unhealthy and unwarranted negative associations of sex are harmful to relationships, overall well-being, and general quality of life, according to Erin. “The challenge has been to educate and create awareness on how it can be different from the way we are used to seeing sex portrayed in the media or porn.”

Ultimately, their vision has more to do with the long-term, bigger picture: for their children, and for future generations. “We are doing this for our future children. For them to grow up in a world where sex is not shrouded with shame and embarrassment, and where they feel free to make informed choices that give them fulfilling sexual experiences and relationships – however that looks like.”

SPARK Fest Asia, sponsored by STRIP – Ministry of Waxing, will be happening between May 18 to May 20 at The Hive, Lavender. For more information on their schedule, visit their official website.

Check out #BreakTheWall, their 5-part video series on Facebook here.

Sarah Khan

Photo: Getty Images (Header) & SPARK Fest Asia

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