By Laura Snyder

There's sex, and then there's lovemaking. The difference usually lies somewhere in cosmic connection two lovers can form when they meld not only their bodies, but their spirits. Want to tap into your spirituality and bring your lovemaking to a higher level? Try getting tantric.

Tantra literally means "union", and its practitioners believe it creates a deeper connection between partners as they focus their attention to each other's "chakras", or energy centers. Sound a little out-there? Make it manageable with this guide to tantric foreplay and you'll be heating up those chakras before you can say "om".

Just Breathe

In tantric teaching, they call it connective breathing. Sound like a lot of hot air? Try sitting together naked, facing each other in each other's arms, touching everywhere possible, and breathe in and out together. Pay attention to your heartbeats and inhale and exhale in unison.

Check Each Other Out

Remembering that the eyes are the window to the soul, peer into each other's peepers. Really let yourself get lost in it. By giving your partner such intense scrutiny, you'll feel like you're getting to know each other on a whole new level. Don't be surprised if it feels a little intense or makes you feel vulnerable at first. Soul-shaking sex is a little intense and vulnerable.

Make it Slow Going

While a quickie can be fun, slowing down the action - with all that delicious anticipation - can send you into an entirely new orgasmic orbit. You don't have to learn any new moves for this trick, just do what you'd normally do at less than half the speed. You'll not only stimulate your most sensitive spots (the tip of the penis and first third of the vagina have the most nerve endings), but the thrill of anticipation will force you to really focus on every feeling. There's no sexier way to explore the mind-body connection.