The story of The Power PlayGround begins with a paradox—one that mirrors the ancient Taoist parable of The Three Vinegar Tasters. In the tale, three sages—Confucius, Buddha, and Laozi—taste vinegar, each reacting according to their philosophy. Confucius finds it sour, seeing a world that must be structured. Buddha finds it bitter, recognizing suffering. Laozi finds it sweet, accepting life as it is.

Like those three sages, I found myself tasting the essence of power dynamics in both the kink/BDSM world and the so-called “vanilla” world. Kink and BDSM gave me a deeper consciousness of power, and what I discovered wasn’t just sour, bitter, or sweet—it was complex, nuanced, and transformative.

I saw issues with the current state of BDSM and kink—too much theory, not enough embodiment. It had become overly cerebral, over-sensationalized, and misrepresented. My interactions, especially with newcomers, didn’t feel like I was talking to people, but to caricatures shaped by media narratives. The culture I had been deeply immersed in—even from its borders—was still fundamentally misunderstood.

I created The Power PlayGround when considering what to teach within my alumni groups for Somatica’s Sex, Intimacy, and Relationship Coaching network. There was an overwhelming interest in learning how to design one’s dominance journey. Naturally, I shaped many of my classes around dominance. But soon, I realized that I wasn’t just teaching dominance—I was teaching power itself. Power in all its facets: yin and yang, dominance and submission, resistance and surrender.

That realization became the foundation of The Power PlayGround. This is not just a space to learn techniques, nor is it about performing an identity. It is a space to experience power—not as a rigid structure, not as a misunderstood taboo, but as an ever-shifting, embodied force that shapes our relationships, our self-awareness, and our world.

For me, kink/BDSM is literally a playground where we play. Many say it’s fantasy, but fantasy is a mirror—a mirror that reflects not only our desires, but our traumas, our fears, and our society. When we engage with these elements through play, we gain insight into the stories we tell ourselves about power, control, and surrender. These lessons don’t just stay in the dungeon. They show up in how we set boundaries, how we negotiate relationships, and how we navigate leadership, teamwork, and personal agency in every part of our lives.

At The Power PlayGround, power is not a performance. It is not a game of ego. It is a practice—one that requires embodiment, awareness, and a willingness to explore. Whether you come to learn about dominance, submission, or the infinite space in between, this is a place where you can taste power for yourself. And what you discover—sour, bitter, sweet, or something entirely new—is up to you.