THE ART OF TOUCH AND REPATTERING

When we touch someone, they touch us equally.
The subtle interplay betwen body and mind can be experienced clearly through touching others. The art of touch and repattering is an explorationof communication through touch- the transmission and acceptance  of the flow of energy within ourselves and between ourselves and others.
In hands-on work, through touching in different rhythms, through placement of attention within specific layers of the body, through following existing lines of force and suggesting new ones, and through changes in the pressure and quality of our touch, we come into harmony with the different tissues and their associated qualities of mind. We begin with cellular presence (cellular breathing) and focus on the resonation and dialogue between client  and practitioner. Each tissue of the clientis explored from the corresponding tissue of the practitioner, i.e., bone from bone, organ from organ, fluid from fluid, etc. The initiation of intent, based upon what each person is perceiving, may be shared consciously and/or unconsciously by both people.
Acceptance and curiosity guide the inquiry. Through mutual resonance between client and practitioner, attention is given to discovering the primary tissues through which the clients express themselves and those tissues which are usually in the shadow, so that the supporting tissue can be given voice and articulation ones be allowed to recuperate. This shifting of enery expression allows for more choices and expanded consciousness of body-mind for both the client/student and practioner/teacher.

by Bonnie Bainbrigde Cohen, the founder of Body Mind Centering.

Bodywork