Allow for at least 30 minutes. You will need trousers and a long-sleeved shirt. The clothing, when worn, needs to be loose and comfortable, allowing for space and movement between the clothing and the skin. Natural materials such as cotton are best.
This Somatic Act can be done as a duet or a group and is a continuation and development of Somatic Act 12a: Attending to Skin & Touch Direction.
Slowly, finding a transition
to wearing your long sleeved shirt
and trousers
and finding a friend
to move with
for later.
Allowing time…
And then, finding a comfortable place
to lie on the floor.
Closing your eyes.
Noticing that your clothing
is touching you
and you
are touching your clothing…
Your clothing is like
a second skin
- a living moving permeable membrane
and boundary.
Slowly, finding small ways of moving,
allowing your skin
to slide along your clothing
and your clothing
to slide along your skin.
Perhaps a simple rotation
of one arm at first,
or a gentle bend of one knee.
Clothing and skin,
meeting and touching
each other.
Allowing time…
And noticing the skin places
without clothing,
such as the face,
allowing the skin to slide
along the air or the floor,
as if it is a second clothing.
This becomes a gentle dance
– a duet of sliding skin and clothing.
Sometimes sliding over each other
Sometimes meeting
Sometimes resting on each other.
Moments of movement
Moments of stillness.
As the movement grows
allowing the eyes
to open a little
now and then
with a soft focus.
Allowing time…
And allowing a moment
of stillness to slowly arrive
returning to sensing
your breath
and all the surfaces
of your skin.
Gradually, gathering your attention
to the space between
your two skins – your skin
and your second skin – your clothing.
A gentle duet emerges
– a dance
sensing the space between
the two skins.
Perhaps there is a lot of space
between a sleeve and an arm
or very little space between
the trouser and the leg.
Allowing the dance to unfold
and move you.
Moments of movement
Moments of stillness.
As the movement grows
allowing the eyes
to open a little
now and then
with a soft focus.
Allowing time…
As the dance continues,
begin sensing the presence
of your friend
in the place with you.
As you are ready,
begin slowly sensing the presence
of your friend
in the place with you
as your dance continues.
Allowing time..
And returning to sensing
your breath
and all the surfaces
of your skin
as a pause,
a moment of stillness
arises.
Your clothing
is touching you
and you
are touching your clothing.
While still sensing
your clothing, skin
and the space between
begin sensing
the presence
of your partner´s clothing,
skin, and the space
between.
A dance begins to emerge, at first,
without touch.
Moments of movement
Moments of stillness.
If the eyes have been closed,
allowing them
to slowly open
little by little
and in layers.
Sliding skin, clothing
and the space between.
Allowing time…
Allowing the breath
to support you
as you begin playing with
moving towards
or away from
your partner.
Exploring how close
before touch arises
when moving together.
Discovering how far away
spatially, to be
while still sensing
the presence of
your partner´s clothing, skin
and the space between.
Moments of spatial closeness
without touch.
Moments of spatial distance
while breathing.
As the dance continues
of sliding clothing, skin
and the space between.
Moments of movement
Moments of stillness.
Allowing time…
The movement
of the inhale
the movement
of the exhale
supporting the dance.
As you are sensing
the presence
of your clothing, skin
and the space between
and your partner´s clothing,
skin, and the space
between.
Moments of movement
Moments of stillness.
Allowing time…
As you are ready,
you can begin to include
brushing touch
with your partner.
Brushing touch towards
the centre of the body
and away from the centre
of the body
while still sensing
the layers of clothing, skin,
and the space between.
Moments with touch
Moments without touch.
Allowing time…
And then slowly,
moving away from
your partner
and moving with
an invisible partner
as if they are still
touching and moving
with you
as you move.
Sensing their tangible presence
with sliding clothing, skin
and the space between.
Moments of movement
Moments of stillness.
Allowing time…
And gradually,
your dance slowly
invites you into the floor
into a place of rest
and stillness.
Allowing time…
Closing your eyes,
returning to your breath
with each inhale
with each exhale
sensing your body
settle into the support
of the floor.
Your clothing
is touching you
and you
are touching your clothing.
Your clothing is like
a second skin,
a living moving
permeable membrane
and boundary
enveloping your body
in touch.
Allowing time to rest and settle…
And when you are ready,
gently opening the eyes
layer by layer
as you find a way to your feet.
Allowing your skin and clothing
to support your transition
into the rest of your day.
You are welcome to write, draw, and/or share your experiences with your friend.