Hey newsletter friends!

Don't forget this Sunday May 31 I'm hosting a virtual class called Yin Yoga for Purity Culture Survivors! You can read more about it if you scroll down a bit. ⬇️

If you're in the US, how was your Memorial Day weekend? Here in Philly it was rainy, cold, and generally gross- definitely not "down the shore" weather. If you had a day off, I hope you made the most of it!

I wasn't technically off work all weekend (obviously my own choice lol). On Sunday I ran one of the Men's Support Groups. This week we talked about men and emotions, and answered questions like do you cry? and what is your relationship to anger? Last night I ran a PCD Queer Support Group, and we talked about the role that erotica/ smut/ romance novels can play in purity culture healing.

I've had some lovely reviews of my book come out recently! This one from a local Philly publication, Broad Street Review, says:

That's exactly what I was going for 🥹🥹🥹!

​Another review from therapist Tara McGrath (@theagnostictherapist) says:

If my book sounds like something you or someone you love could use, you can find it here! It's actually 20% off on the publisher's site right now! ​

Some other reading you might enjoy: My friend Eric Skwarczynski of the Preacher Boys podcast wrote an incredible piece for Playboy Magazine (yes, that one) called Religion and the Manosphere is a Match Made in Hell in which he discusses how women are treated similarly in both spheres. ​

A podcast interview I recently did with Arielle Zadok of Birds and Bees Don't Fck: Purity Culture and Fascism Are Good Friends.

​

Now for the yin class happening Sunday:

This class is accessible to all abilities. It's more like meditation, and definitely not exercise.

Here's what you can expect:

A slow, restorative practice designed with gentle healing in mind. Long, supported holds invite you to settle into your body without demand or performance. No pushing, no pressure, no “right way.”

For those of us unlearning the idea that our bodies are problems to be fixed or controlled, this is a quiet invitation to simply be in your body, perhaps for the first time in a long time. We will breathe, stretch and rest together as we resist the messages that our bodies are objects to be used or constantly producing.

Props are encouraged, modifications based on your own body’s needs are invited, and rest is a completely valid choice for the entire class. You are welcome just as you are.

Erica Smith is a sexuality educator and creator of the Purity Culture Dropout™ Program. Erica specializes in providing shame-free, affirming, queer inclusive, comprehensive, and evidence-based sex education to people who grew up in purity culture and high control religion. She is honored to partner with Shauna to bring in the somatic piece that many of her clients are missing in their healing.

Shauna Marigold is a 200-hour Yoga Alliance certified instructor with a passion for creating safe, nurturing spaces for healing and self-discovery. Shauna brings a grounded, trauma-informed presence to her teaching as well as a warm real-life humanity to everything she does, making her a natural fit for this deeply intentional somatic work. Having been raised in a high control religion herself, Shauna brings lived experience and deep personal understanding to this space. She knows firsthand the complexity of untangling faith, bodily autonomy, connection to oneself, and identity and is committed to walking alongside students in that process with compassion and care. A forever student, she believes that healing is an ongoing, ever-unfolding journey. Shauna is honored to co-lead this religious trauma-informed somatic class alongside sex educator Erica Smith, holding space for students to reconnect with their bodies, their breath, and themselves.

If you feel like you have trouble being present in your body or listening to your own inner wisdom because of purity culture messaging, this class is for you.

Thank you all for your time!

As always, hit reply to this email if there's anything you want to chat or ask questions about!

xo

E