The whole practice comes alive when you attune to the sense of touch. A sensory modality that can be so primary and yet so far off the radar for our every day awareness. Mindfulness touch is about awakening to the subtleties of physical sensations, about feeling into the possibility of the world at your fingertips, and about listening to and recognizing the silent and yet so very powerful language of touch.
Touch is a radiant lemma from the outside in; a roadway through which we see and understand and express ourselves. Mindfulness Touch says slow down. Pay attention. Feel the texture of life with your fingers, your skin, your body and awaken yourself to the thousands of texts, temperatures, pressures, of the fabrics of life that articulate the language of living in the body.
Mindfulness Touch is the intentional practice of touching and of being in the felt sensory experience beyond judgement. It involves:
Intentional Awareness – A conscious knowing period where we are moment to moment aware of the sensation of touch, whether it is of a fabric against the skin, of sunlight against the body, a cool breeze upon your face, or the resistance of the ground beneath your feet.
Present Moment Engagement – It is placing your attention upon each aspect of a tactile sensation and following that sensation back to its point of origin and back out into its texture, quality, and feel. The sensation of touch anchors the mind to the moment and keeps it from slipping back into to past or away into future.
Mindful Exploration: Actively exploring objects or surfaces with a sense of curiosity, discovering the subtle differences and unique characteristics of each tactile experience.
Emotional Connection: Recognizing the emotional responses that arise from touch, such as comfort, discomfort, pleasure, or neutrality, and observing these responses with a gentle, non-judgmental attitude.
Mindfulness Touch is more than just feeling with the skin; it’s about perceiving with the heart and the mind. It’s a practice that can transform ordinary physical contact into a meaningful and insightful experience. By engaging fully in the sense of touch, we can develop a deeper connection with our environment, a greater understanding of our bodily experiences, and a heightened appreciation for the present moment.
Mindfulness Touch is an open invitation to explore the world through the sense of touch and to discover the depth and richness of our tactile experiences. It’s a practice that teaches us to be present with each sensation, to embrace the subtleties of touch, and to understand the profound ways in which our physical experiences are intertwined with our emotional and spiritual well-being.