Allow for at least 30 minutes. You will need a blanket, a sleeveless T-shirt and shorts. 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.
Begin by finding a comfortable place to rest in lying, sitting or standing while wearing your shorts and T-shirt. If you are in a colder climate, you can place the blanket on your body to keep you warm.
As you are ready,
begin lying on your back
closing your eyes
gathering your attention
towards the movement
of your breath.
Allow your body
to arrive and rest
sensing the support
of gravity.
With each inhale
sensing the breath´s pulsation
rise and slightly expand
towards the edges
of the body.
With each exhale
sensing the breath´s pulsation
returning towards
the centre of the body
settling towards the earth.
This ongoing pulsation
is moving you
quietly
with each breath.
Allowing time...
As you are breathing, pulsating
gathering your attention
towards your skin.
The skin
one of the largest organs
in your body
composed of about
60% water.
A living, breathing,
permeable membrane
offering protection,
circulation, regulation,
and irrigation.
The skin is
the interface between
your inner world and
your outer world.
Sensing this resource
as you breathe,
and if you like,
move, in small ways,
for a moment.
Allowing time…
As you are ready,
begin with your palms and fingers
gently brushing and sliding your hands
along the surfaces
of your bare skin
that is easy to reach.
The touch is light
but with clear contact
with a moderate pace.
Touch as much
of the bare skin directly
as possible.
If it is covered
by hair or clothing
then simply touch
the hair or clothing
while sensing the skin.
Begin at the places
that are easy
to reach
while lying down
and when and if you need
you can also
roll to one side
or even sit
to access touching
your body
more easily.
Discovering
all the surfaces
of the skin
the front
the sides
the back
of the body.
This becomes
an awakening dance
of touch and skin –
your living, breathing,
moving landscape.
Allowing time…
As you are breathing
and touching skin
noticing the quiet hidden places
- the bottom of the feet
the sides of the fingers…
Offering a little extra time
on the landscape of the face
sensing the different qualities
of skin.
The crevices of the ears
the valleys of the eyes
the hill of the nose.
An awakening dance
of touch and skin –
your living, breathing,
moving landscape.
Allowing time...
And gradually
allowing the hands
to rest
for a moment
returning to resting
on your back.
Sensing the reverberations
of your touch
along your skin
And breathing.
With each inhale
sensing the breath´s pulsation
rise and slightly expand
towards the edges
of the body.
With each exhale
sensing the breath´s pulsation
returning towards
the centre of the body
settling towards the earth.
Allowing time…
As you are inhaling
and exhaling
sensing the breath´s pulsation
moving towards
and away
from the centre of the body.
With eyes closed,
picturing
following the direction
of your exhale
with the touch
of your hands.
On each exhale
picturing
hands brushing
the skin
starting from the head, feet and hands
to the belly
and middle of the back area.
On the inhale, picturing the hands now resting.
Continue picturing
brushing towards the centre
of your body
on each exhale.
On the inhale, picturing the hands now resting.
The brushing is with a slightly quicker pace
but with many little brushes
as you picture
your touch travelling towards
the centre
of your body
on each exhale
Brushing towards
the centre of the body
on each exhale.
Allowing time…
And pausing for a moment
sensing the reverberations
of the touch direction
of the exhale.
As you are ready,
with eyes still closed,
picturing
following the direction
of your inhale
with the touch
of your hands.
On each inhale,
continue picturing
your hands brushing
the skin
starting from the belly
and the middle of the back area
out to the head, feet and hands.
On the exhale, picturing the hands resting.
On the inhale,
picturing brushing away
from the centre
of your body.
On the exhale, picturing the hands resting.
Brushing the skin,
this time,
is with a slightly quicker pace
but with many little brushes
as you picture your touch
travelling away from
your centre to the extremities.
Brushing away
from the centre of the body
on each inhale.
Allowing time…
And gradually,
returning to resting
for a moment
sensing the reverberations
of the touch direction
of the inhale.
Allowing the breath now
to move on its own.
Allowing time…
As you are breathing,
slowly finding a gentle transition
to sitting or standing
allowing the eyes
to open.
Gradually, moving towards
a partner to begin
a brushing touch exploration
together.
One person is the toucher
the other person
is the touchee.
As you decide on
which role to start with
please have a brief
conversation with your friend
if there or any areas
that you would prefer
not to be touched
or any touch-based needs.
The touch can be stopped
or adjusted, at any time.
Please be in communication
with each other, when needed,
during the touch experience.
As you are ready,
the toucher begins
brushing with their fingertips
and palms of their hands
along the surfaces
of your skin
starting from the extremeties
and moving towards the centre
of your body.
As you begin brushing
from the hands – to the centre (the belly and middle back area).
from the head - to the centre
from the feet - to the centre.
With a slightly quicker
yet not at a hurried pace.
With time and spaciousness
to sense the reverberations
of the touch directions
on your skin.
The brushing is repetitive-
with many little brushes
as the toucher travels towards
your centre
with their touch
From the hands – to the centre (the belly and middle back area).
from the head - to the centre
from the feet - to the centre.
Allowing the breath
to move on its own.
Brushing all the surfaces
of the skin
the front
the sides
the back
of the body.
Allowing time…
And finding a pause…
Allowing a moment
for the touchee
to sense the reverberations
of the touch
that has travelled
towards the centre
of the body.
Allowing time…
As you are ready,
the toucher begins
brushing with their fingertips
and palms of their hands
along the surfaces
of your skin
starting from the centre
and moving towards the extremities
of your body.
As you begin brushing
from the centre (the belly and middle back area) to the hands
from the centre – to the head
from the centre – to the feet.
With a slightly quicker
yet not at a hurried pace.
With time and spaciousness
to sense the reverberations
of the touch directions
on your skin.
The brushing is repetitive-
with many little brushes
as the toucher travels
away from your centre
with their touch.
From the centre (the belly and middle back area) to the hands
from the centre – to the head
from the centre – to the feet.
Allowing the breath
to move on its own.
Brushing all the surfaces
of the skin
the front
the sides
the back
of the body.
Allowing time…
And finding a pause…
Allowing a moment
for the touchee
to sense the reverberations
of the touch
that has travelled
away from the centre
of the body.
Allowing time…
And changing roles,
repeating the above journey
from the hand icon.
Allowing time…
And then, after each person
has offered and received touch
moving away from your partner.
As you are sensing
the reverberations
of the touch and breath
explorations,
allowing a dance of skin, breath
and resonating touch imprints
to emerge.
Perhaps still sensing
your partner’s hands
travelling towards the centre
and away from the centre
of your body
as you move.
Moments of movement
Moments of stillness.
Riding the inhales
and exhales
of your breath
pulsating with the skin.
Sensing all the surfaces
of the skin
front
sides
back.
An awakening dance
from touch and skin –
your living, breathing,
moving landscape.
Allowing time…
And gradually returning
to resting and sensing
the touch of the floor
as your breath
moves on its own.
In your own time, finding a transition to writing, drawing and sharing your reflections. What was your experience of the difference between the brushing touch towards the centre of the body or away from the centre towards the extremities? Other reflections?
Note 1: Pulsation inspired by the work of Joan Davis in her Essence project.
Note 2: The quality of touch, its weight, pressure, direction and more, activates different body systems. The lighter brushing quality in this Somatic Act will awaken the skin, as opposed to a deeper, more pressured and sustained touch will awaken the muscle and bone systems, for example.