Why we use touch  

Touch is used across a variety of bodywork health professions. Just as cranio-osteopaths, chiropractors and massage therapists use touch, somatic movement dance therapists also use touch. We do not manipulate, but rather use touch to enhance interoceptive, proprioceptive and kinaesthetic awareness. Touch is vital and often underpins effective therapeutic practice. In the wake of Covid-19, defining why we use touch  has become even more important.  Additionally. still using PPE and safeguarding both practitioner and client is at the forefront of our profession. The type of touch that is used in our therapeutic field is 'subjective touch', not 'objective touch'. Subjective touch not only enhances proprioception, but is experienced through our proprioceptors.  The intention of touch is to support easeful movement and self-regulation. Touch is used for the following reasons, greatly enhancing a clients ability to self-regulate and recover from sensory motor amnesia. Somatic Moving & Dancing Therapists always ask their clients and participants to sign consent forms. These forms explain clearly why touch is used and delineate the type of touch therapists use. When you register with our organisation, we provide educative touch waiver forms that are used across the UK. 

• To reconnect participants to their sensory-motor feedback loop
• To support fascial release
• To support alignment 
• To support movement integration 
• To help people reconnect to their sensory-motor feedback loop
• To clam and balance the nervous system 
• To locate particular body tissues and systems 
• To teach anatomy and physiology through subjective experience and objective knowledge
• To release stressful patterns of neuromuscular holding
• To initiate movement flow and support different movement qualities