Is it possible to work hands on without conditioning the other, without correcting, and yet support and guide towards more presence and understanding, towards a better use?

This workshop is an invitation to approach hands on work from a non-invasive perspective.  Over the years many AT teachers has renounced the use of touch owing to possible corrective and manipulative elements, which can hinder the pupil to from owning or really learning something for themselves.  I can fully understand this position, but I believe that the use of touch is a cornerstone in teaching the AT.  Touching and being touched is a basic act of human relationship, and through touch, it is possible to communicate on a deep level, verbally and non-verbally.

Co-regulation in this context means that the teacher (the person behind the touching hands), is continuously regulating his/her self towards the pupil: Whatever is sensed or perceived in the ‘pupils’ system must at first be dealt with in his/her own system, to enable him/her to be fully present with the other person.  This brings a sense of being there together, teacher and pupil, exploring possibilities.

Touching means crossing personal boundaries.  In order to assure safety, it is necessary to negotiate boundaries before and during a session based on touching, so that the individual being touched is always in control of the situation.

This workshop is based on the perspectives that:

– Whatever the state of use of the pupil is in, it is the perfect version of that specific model of use.

– To step out of the zone of the known/control, there must be safety

– The teacher must always work for establishing a safe environment