Allow for at least 45 minutes. You will need a comfortable place to either sit or stand. You will need access to a nearby wardrobe of clothes.
This Somatic Act can be done as a solo, duet, or group. If done as a duet or group, you can dress each other. Please touch yourself before touching others. Also, at any point, the touch can be stopped if not wanted.
Begin playfully dressing yourself
following your sense of touch
in many layers of clothing
Explore, as a child would,
wearing clothing in
unexpected ways
such as trousers on the
head, or tights over your shoes.
Allowing time…
As you finish dressing
in your many layered costume
find a comfortable position
sitting or standing
Close your eyes.
Notice your breathing…
Sensing that your clothing
is touching you
and you are touching
your clothing
Each layer of clothing
touching and meeting
our bodies
in its own unique way.
Perhaps calling our attention
to our feet, legs, pelvis,
torso, arms, hands, head.
Sensing the tactile impacts
from the clothing
resonating in our bones, tissues,
organs, cells.
Allowing time…
And then bringing
our attention
towards the strongest or ´loudest´
touch sensations
noticing where
they are coming from…
Changing the position of our bodies
when and if
you need to.
Allowing time…
And then, sensing the places,
where the touch of the clothing,
is more subtle.
A quality of touch
that rests more in the background
than the foreground.
Pause…
Or a place where the touch
from more than one material
merges into one?
Pause…
Sometimes, adding a little movement
such as shifting the weight
from one foot to another
can support the sensing
of the clothing´s touch.
Allowing time…
Noticing your breathing...
Sensing
if there is a place
of touch, from the clothing,
that has a sense
of disappearing into the body
as if it is not there?
Such as the underwear
that you wear.
Allowing time…
Slowly, opening your eyes.
While still dressed,
begin writing and drawing
the tactile experiences from
the clothing and its impact
on your body.
Allowing time…
As you finish, slowly undress from your
‘costume’ and share your tactile experiences
with your friend.