mindful touch (as a sense similar to hearing, speaking)
--> Combine touch with individual meditation
Research to do: What are the modes of success and failure? We probably aren't the first group to explore this...
Reaction from a participant before we've even begun: too much analysis is causing a feeling of building up too much thought
Why touch is complicated
The channels for interaction that I'm aware of are intellectual, emotional, and physical. I'm interested in talking with people to connect intellectually, emotionally, and physically. I'm interested in touch for people who I want to interact with emotionally and physically.I do not seek touch with people who I want to connect with intellectually. I do not seek to touch or talk with people who I do not find desirably intellectual emotional or physical.
Initial honest intent may change dynamically as the situation evolves.
Attendance
- need to participate in initial process
- need to not miss too many meetings in the sequence
- initial group will be hand-selected to minimize risk
Other participants will be less comfortable -- we are biasing the initial group towards people who are comfortable with touch and have thought more about the issue.
Boundaries
- participant may not know what their boundaries are
- participant may not alert others that their boundary is crossed in the moment
- jealousy: what is the role of participant's partner's (boyfriend's/girlfriend's) boundaries?
Facilitator: explicitly talk about the role of trauma, boundaries
Goal: no surprises.
Explicit consent
Rather than interact with humans, start with animals
Activities/exercises
Activity that is about physical interaction and not touch:Walk with eyes closed and forearms crossed over chest. Wander slowly until bump elbows, then pause and open eyes.
Guided forearm. Walking person has eyes closed, one arm acts as both steering and head tilt. When hand is squeezed, then flash open eyes for a moment. Focus is visual, but touch is a component
Topic to discuss before starting: What's our baseline of touch experience?
Fingers only, not palms. Looking into eyes (or not). Fingers only is intentionally restrained -- you clearly could do more
Holding hands in a circle
- religious connotations
- group pressure
Contact improv
Have a dyad in which the topic is touch (ie participant history)
- dyad with no knees touching
- dyad with one knee touching
- dyad with two knees touching
Sit back-to-back to feel other participants breathing
Explore touching back-of-hand to other person's back-of-hand
contrast with palm-to-palm
Do common touch (ie handshake, hug) but very mindfully (slowly)
Hugs
different types- church hug
- bro hug
- friend hug
- long hug
- collapsing hug
