Strong, Rhythmic Abdominal contractions, beginner experience

BTDT.
Unfortunately, I’ve not progressed past that point.
I got the big contractions, but no fireworks.

I got started with Aneros around May of last year, and read through all of the source material, and maybe 200 topics on the forum, to get an idea of what to do, what the basic theory is, what to expect, what the core mindset is, etc.

That's really great that you have done much due diligence reading to get yourself informed. Thank you for making such a detailed initial post, it enables us to address your concerns with greater focus. Your description of entering/experiencing a "seed state" is appropriately apt. The physical reactions you described are quite common and typical. Your environmental conditions and physical technique all seem reasonably appropriate.

Today's experience was different from what normally happens. Today I couldn't really find what I think of as "prostate" sensations. Not the pleasurable kind at least. It felt more like a minor soreness I get from time to time, with small genital-focused feelings. So I focused on those minor pleasures, and just let them be what they would be. I think I may have drifted off a bit into various mental excursions, in a drowsy way, but I would remember what I was doing, and then focus on the pelvic sensations again. Eventually I got that sense of some impending event that I haven't had since the first month a year back. It felt like... my body sort of coming to a point... my heart rate went up and I was aware of it. I got a rhythmic quivering in my breathing. I felt a feeling of "change" in all of the muscles of my body, like they were anticipating something. I remained calm, and tried to keep the course and not change anything, to let whatever event was coming play out.

You entered an altered state of consciousness where your perceptions of stimuli are shifted, IMHO, this is a good sign and something you can cultivate (please see Aneros and an 'Optimal' mind state?).

My abdominal muscles began to tense themselves involuntarily, and they would build in a powerful contraction feeling like a crunch over about 5 seconds, reach a peak, then relax slowly. I had maybe 15 such contraction cycles, all pretty involuntary. I wonder if somehow I had reached a hormonal state with oxytocin that triggered that built in response... I was looking for a sense of pleasure in this happening, peeking around at genital and prostate sensations to see if they would arise, but they didn't.

Oh but they did! You were experiencing orgasmic contractions but did not make an association to pleasure. Prostate based orgasms are qualitatively different from penile centric orgasmic sensations, this is an important distinction you need to make psychologically. You experienced the cyclic nature of P-wave generation, the ebb and flow of your body's energy stream, this is a common experience for Aneros users. I get the impression you may have fallen into the trap of over analyzing your sensations during the session in lieu of just surrendering your ego to experience those sensations.

Is this sort of experience something you recognize? Is it related to "progress" in any way? Is it an experience that can be built off of in the future and expanded?

Yes, Yes & Yes.

Is it an anomaly that leads nowhere?

IMHO, NO this was not an anomaly. It is your body leading you in the right direction.

"Large muscle quaking (no pleasure)" Is a milestone on the Aneros wiki, toward the middle. Maybe this was that?

Yes, I believe it does fit within the framework of those descriptions.

My experience of it was that it was novel and unique, but it doesn't seem to be a prototype of the sort of experience people like to build to. I guess the most interesting part about it was the involuntary contraction, because that is the element that most resembles a sexual experience to me. I feel a sort of adominal tiredness now, like I had been working out. What do you guys think of this?

Every Anerosession is really a unique experience as each session is influenced by the subtle nuanced state of your physical body, your psychological outlook and your emotional condition. Please read @rook 's thread Whole Body/Whole Mind - the mental side & @SteelColdiron 's thread Aneros: The Essential Mind State for a little insight. These states of being are always changing and each individual has a particular range (often very narrow) in which pleasurable orgasmic experiences will manifest. It may not be helpful to think in terms of a "...prototype..." experience as that can create mental expectations which can be self limiting.

What I found most interesting in your post was the complete lack of mention of your state of arousal (I'm not talking about penile erectile state here). It seems this is an aspect of your sessions which may be sorely missing. Aneros massagers are not particularly good arousal generators, rather they are better as arousal amplifiers. The importance of being in a highly aroused erotic state of mind for a successful Anerosession can not be over emphasized. Your mind is your most powerful sexual organ and without it being fully engaged any orgasm produced by your body will seem dull, shallow and limited in pleasure. I suspect your sessions may be suffering as a result of insufficient arousal. May I suggest you embark upon a plan to heighten your arousal level prior to any future Anerosession.

One of the more common practices mentioned here on the Forum for increasing arousal level is the practice of semen retention and there are numerous threads dedicated to this topic. The threads Aneros, Arousal & Abstinence/Semen Retention & 21 day challenge post are but two which address this practice. IMHO, this practice is an effective way to increase arousal level without having to rely on pornography or other artificial means.
Good Vibes to You !

You entered an altered state of consciousness where your perceptions of stimuli are shifted, IMHO, this is a good sign and something you can cultivate (please see Aneros and an 'Optimal' mind state?).
Originally posted by Thistledown View Post

Yeah I drifted into some state or other for a while... maybe what could be described as hypnogaugic. At the time when the big contractions hit, I was in a fairly lucid and aware state though. The most pleasant thing about it was the moment right before... it felt like I was hit with a jolt of horomones, like a small dopamine rush.It felt similar to the jolt with an ejaculation, but maybe 8 seconds long. I'd have loved for that precursor state to continue actually.

Oh but they did! You were experiencing orgasmic contractions but did not make an association to pleasure. Prostate based orgasms are qualitatively different from penile centric orgasmic sensations, this is an important distinction you need to make psychologically. You experienced the cyclic nature of P-wave generation, the ebb and flow of your body's energy stream, this is a common experience for Aneros users. I get the impression you may have fallen into the trap of over analyzing your sensations during the session in lieu of just surrendering your ego to experience those sensations.

The fact that the adominal contractions were involuntary was the most orgasm-like aspect of it I think. I think you are actually acurately describing what happened. I had a strong sexual reaction that was fairly removed from a sense of pleasure, hehe. If only I knew how to change that.

It seems like I may have most of the equation down now, but need to find some way to put it all together.

What I found most interesting in your post was the complete lack of mention of your state of arousal (I'm not talking about penile erectile state here). It seems this is an aspect of your sessions which may be sorely missing. Aneros massagers are not particularly good arousal generators, rather they are better as arousal amplifiers. The importance of being in a highly aroused erotic state of mind for a successful Anerosession can not be over emphasized. Your mind is your most powerful sexual organ and without it being fully engaged any orgasm produced by your body will seem dull, shallow and limited in pleasure. I suspect your sessions may be suffering as a result of insufficient arousal. May I suggest you embark upon a plan to heighten your arousal level prior to any future Anerosession.

Right, so something important I've left out is that I've been practicing some SR cycles with the goal of heightening arousal to better Aneros sessions. At the time of this session, I was maybe on day 7 or 8, which is normally a strong peak for me (and I know many others). I wasn't feeling at peak arousal, but I felt some desire, and there was a good block of time open, so I had a feeling to try a session. I think I have sort of dissociated the sessions with penile pleasure at this point... I don't self-pleasure that often, and never after a session, as I don't want to have that association. I seldom get erect during a session, and I was flacid for this session too, so I am missing that marker that some users have, but I understand that isn't critical. I would say my arousal was at a 4-5 /10. Getting higher levels of arousal may help, but I am not sure how to change that. I don't think my body associates Aneros with strong pleasure yet, so any arousal I have going into a session seems to subside by 10 minutes in.

TBH... I have never made it 21 days! I think 14 is my record? It is hard to explain, but it is like my body tricks me into self-pleasuring, even if I have the conscious goal not to for SR purposes... I am 32 years old, so 14 days is still probably quite long at my age. Maybe I need to go longer... I am sort of on the fence about how necessary SR is for our goals, at least for we younger folks. I don't see a massive change past 7 days, but I keep at it just in case it is helping. I mean if my body can trick me into self-pleasuring eventually, it must be doing something...

A big problem is that while generally start an aneros session because I am feeling aroused, that arousal usually fades early in the session, and I don't associate Aneros with sexy feelings... I think I associate it with gentle pleasant feelings and relaxation at this point. Do I need to work myself up more during the session?

It seems like I may have most of the equation down now, but need to find some way to put it all together.

I agree, I think you have the basics pretty well understood but you haven't quite got the refinements worked out. This is what takes the most time and patience, it is understanding your own body's unique mechanics. Reading of others experience and techniques can only partially teach you, the most valued learning is through self acceptance, intuition, focused body awareness and interpreting your body's unique language.

Getting higher levels of arousal may help, but I am not sure how to change that.

You may find some additional helpful tips in the thread Identifying Facilitators to Progress. Each little environmental/sensory element does help with the arousal buildup, so why not take advantage of all of your sensory apparatus?

I don't think my body associates Aneros with strong pleasure yet, so any arousal I have going into a session seems to subside by 10 minutes in.

This is something that has to develop over time but you can accelerate it with positive reinforcements, affirmations and self hypnotic reprogramming. It is part of the rewiring process.

I have never made it 21 days! I think 14 is my record? It is hard to explain, but it is like my body tricks me into self-pleasuring, even if I have the conscious goal not to for SR purposes... Maybe I need to go longer... I am sort of on the fence about how necessary SR is for our goals, at least for we younger folks. I don't see a massive change past 7 days, but I keep at it just in case it is helping.

You probably won't see a "...massive change..." but you will detect a more subtle change in how your body feels after 21 days. There will be a physical difference but more importantly there will be a psychological shift in your mind set, a confidence in knowing that you are directing the action of your body even though you are not controlling its functioning. Just as a Captain directs the action of his crew, it is the crew that actually performs the functions, not the Captain.

A big problem is that while generally start an aneros session because I am feeling aroused, that arousal usually fades early in the session, and I don't associate Aneros with sexy feelings... I think I associate it with gentle pleasant feelings and relaxation at this point. Do I need to work myself up more during the session?

NO, you don't need to work yourself up more during a session. There is nothing wrong with just having "...gentle pleasant feelings and relaxation...", expecting more is just setting yourself up for frustration. Your body will give you orgasms when it is ready, your ego needs to be patient because it can not dictate when an orgasm will occur.
Good Vibes to You !

Two things..
1: when you say arousal fades,that can be normal,press onward,but be patient,it comes back,and it can peak and valley.
2: Although your on the fence,I can testify,sr is not strictly necessary,I mostly have sessions within 8-24 hrs of sex with the wife. And I’m in my 40’s and still have sex at least 6 days out of 7 so sr is off limits for me. Belief is key,if you believe you must sr,then that’s likely how it will be,if you believe you can PO anytime,whatever the circumstances,then that’s how it’ll be too. Thinking of what I was told here that prostate play bypasses ejaculation and refractory periods,I don’t see why it’s relevant when you’ve last had sex/ejaculations etc.

I'm very new to aless p-orgasms and small orgasms and super orgasms and dry orgasms. But I'd share a couple thoughts. First, reading about your experience actually lead to a very nice 30-minute aless session for me, so thanks! Second, I am finding when I'm in a session and those p-waves start to build up, I often talk to myself in my head. I'll literally be thinking to myself, "Oh, you can feel the cum building." It's like I step out of myself and then coach myself along. This helps me because it forces me to be very self-aware of what my body wants to do in the moment--if I just acknowledge it and give myself over to it. I even have found that it sometimes really ramps up the arousal and response if I give myself a countdown. I'll tell myself, "You can feel the orgasm. I'm gonna give you 20 and then you're gonna cum" and then I'll slowly count to 20. Sometimes, I really feel like I'm going to cum before I get there, so I make myself relax and wait for it, and that just ramps it up more.

Fantastic responses, Rumel. I really appreciate how you not only answer methodically, but you link your thoughts to the body of knowledge of the site to expand the statements. I've read through these, and will do my best to apply the concepts, and see where things lead over time!

Thinking of what I was told here that prostate play bypasses ejaculation and refractory periods,I don’t see why it’s relevant when you’ve last had sex/ejaculations etc.

The way I understand it, an ejaculation-orgasm triggers a cascade of hormonal re-adjustments, which don't reach their peak again for a week, and don't stabilize for a full month.

First, reading about your experience actually lead to a very nice 30-minute aless session for me, so thanks!

😎 Glad to be of service!

second, I am finding when I'm in a session and those p-waves start to build up, I often talk to myself in my head. I'll literally be thinking to myself, "Oh, you can feel the cum building." It's like I step out of myself and then coach myself along. This helps me because it forces me to be very self-aware of what my body wants to do in the moment--if I just acknowledge it and give myself over to it. I even have found that it sometimes really ramps up the arousal and response if I give myself a countdown. I'll tell myself, "You can feel the orgasm. I'm gonna give you 20 and then you're gonna cum" and then I'll slowly count to 20. Sometimes, I really feel like I'm going to cum before I get there, so I make myself relax and wait for it, and that just ramps it up more.

That's an interesting concept... I don't think I've run into anyone saying anything like that yet!

Thanks for the well written detailed account of your experience. As rumel says, that allows for well directed answers. And hen he went right ahead and answered it well.

I agree with speaking in your head, and add that speaking ALOUD is even sexier. Or speaking to imaginary partners. And moaning. Force moans at first, and they might become real moans of pleasure. I usually do two « fake » moans before suddenly I am swept away with real moans that send shivers through my body and carry me to orgasms.