In somatic work, we often begin by meeting the feeling that’s actually present, even when it contradicts what we think we should feel. During today’s session, my client felt disgust when describing how he’d received an award for his teaching. Most people expect recognition to bring joy or pride, but for him, praise triggered an old, familiar voice of inadequacy.

Having woken up early, my eyes are still groggy with sleep. I wear my stiff green work polo and formal skirt as I climb across the slim mattress in my spare bedroom and I try to arrange the pillows so I have back and neck support during the video call. I search for something to prop up my computer, finally settling on a suitcase, and I open a test browser on my Zoom screen. “O.K. you can see my head and my chest. I think I’m ready.”

My Pantarei Approach teacher said something that always stuck with me. She said, when you touch someone, you help them to feel themselves more fully. When you touch someone’s hand or shoulder, your attention is immediately pulled into this part of their body. I’d like to extend this to say that when you touch yourself, place a hand on your heart, your knee, your arm, it also helps you to direct your awareness towards that part of yourself and to feel it more fully.