A Teacher’s Touch

I was lucky enough to attend a workshop in person recently with one of my teachers. For the first time in ages, I soaked up the familiar benefit of a physical yoga assist from someone who knows my body well. How about you - has an assist in a posture ever facilitated learning in your body that a verbal cue couldn’t reach? Have you ever felt a message land in a single touch that requires no words?

In the old days BC (Before Covid), it might’ve been a familiar thing to be manually adjusted by a teacher in a yoga class, whether it be a soft directional nudge or a firmer hand to help you ‘go deeper’ into a posture. Some people love being adjusted, while others would rather not be touched. Some of us interpret being assisted as being seen by the teacher, while others see the adjustment as a criticism, bringing shame or embarrassment. Touch has become a contentious subject, particularly in the wake of the scandals of teachers abusing their positions and considering issues of consent.

Personally, I’ve always appreciated physical assists in yoga classes from someone I trust and understand that through touch, another kind of communication, connection and learning is possible. That a touch can at once convey guidance and knowing, correction and facilitation, and at the same time offer reassurance and safety, is remarkable to me.

Love Language

I’ve realised over time, particularly with the growth of digital communication, just how vital real-life contact is to me. If you know about Gary Chapman’s book, The 5 Love Languages, touch is undoubtedly one of my top languages. It’s part of how I give and wish to receive love.

I reflect on the past week and think about how many people I’ve touched and have touched me. Giving touch, I think of every patient I’ve examined (both diagnostically and therapeutically), opening my arms to encourage a colleague to receive a hug, touching hands or shoulders to comfort or acknowledge. When I think about receiving, I’ve enjoyed hugs back, a kiss, a full-bellied leap from small nieces, and a massage (the ultimate treat). I’m grateful for every touch I encounter and hungrily soak them in.

Go On, Touch Yourself

I always encourage students to touch themselves in class and have a chuckle while I’m at it. Touch can be sensual in obvious ways, but it can also be supremely informative. DIY touch does much. Self-soothing touches can calm an anxious situation and often occur reflexively. Self-massage is a beautiful way to relieve tension and stiff tissue. And self-feedback heightens awareness.

Through the sensitivity of the skin, hands, feet and body, we can see the world just as we might through pictures. I think Yoga helps us with this - with practice; we grow the pathways of kinesthetic sensing and feeling. Through awakening and stoking this most delicious sense, we feel alive and vibrant with innate energy and knowing - helping us come out of the mind stuff that locks us in our heads and out of our bodies.

Touch with intention

When learning to be a yoga teacher, I remember having a conversation about how a touch can transmit so much of your heart and your intention, not just the direction of a physical correction. I see this a little like tasting food made by ‘mamma’s hand.’ Just as there’s something special about mum’s food (is it love?), the touch steeped with intention is the magic ingredient.

Although we can communicate well through words, gestures and body language, it’s remarkable how telling a real-life touch can be. We rely so much on the visual and auditory (especially in this digital world - perhaps we touch our phones more than each other these days) we neglect the communicative benefits of truly intentional touch, whether we are touching ourselves or others. But know, love transmits - through hands as well as through words.

‘Tis the Season to Give and Receive

We know that people who go for long periods without human contact can feel the loneliness and absence of something tangible. The warmth and love of another human or animal’s living body can do so much for the nervous system, immune system and stress, impacting our overall health.

How much do you give and receive when it comes to touch? Touches that comfort, hold, reassure. Touches that acknowledge, understand, and affirm. Touches that guide and direct.

As we perhaps come across more people and loved ones around this festive period, I’d like to think we could fill our touches with love and kindness in the way we might wish to speak words.

As I continue to transmit my version of Yoga online, the opportunity to touch my students is primarily remote. I genuinely wish I could give every one of you a big embrace as we approach the end of the year, conveying my love and warmth to you for joining this community, having fun in class, and spending time to awaken your own body awareness.

If and when the opportunity arises, perhaps the touch will become real.

Until then, let’s practise.