I recently completed a Somatic Touch Training module taught by Kathy Kain, a Somatic Touch specialist and Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute faculty member.

Ms. Kain taught how healing of past traumas is possible through respectful and intentional touch with different layers of our bodies such as skin, muscle, bones, and organs. During the training, participants take turns being the practitioner and client to learn the approaches. Here is an account of what happened in my practice session in the role of client.

The instruction for connecting to the bones was simple:  As the client, I was invited to lie, clothed and comfortable, on a massage table. My partner, a Somatic Experiencing therapist, placed her hands on my lower right leg with an intention of “touching” or connecting with the tibia or shinbone.  She suggested focusing on my shinbone as it is a large bone and easy to feel. We checked in with each other about the placement of her hands and the amount of pressure so that we were both comfortable.

As my Somatic Experiencing therapist made contact, I felt the comforting warmth of her hands and enjoyed the quiet contemplative nature of Somatic Touch.  The lower right leg she was touching was at rest and at ease. From time-to-time I felt a light buzzing or tingling sensation in a specific spot on the inner side of my right knee.  At first I thought it was a fleeting response and then as the sensation became more regular, I realized that the tingling spot was exactly where I had some discomfort as a result of over-stretching a ligament a few months ago.  My knee had not been bothering me and so until the practice session, I had forgotten about the small injury.

At this point you might be asking yourself, “How on earth can intending to touch a bone do anything?!?” All of us in training wondered the same thing as we are not massaging, manipulating or sending energy.

This is what happened to me after the 20 minute session.

When I stood up, I was surprised to feel a change in my right leg. It felt stronger. I then noticed a different feeling around my right knee. The knee joint felt solid and aligned with my upper leg and the lower leg.  I was “standing in my leg” in a way that was different than before I began the exercise.

I was further surprised the next morning when I stood up.  I had tingling sensations in the soles of both feet as if I was energized from underfoot. I felt rooted to the ground; my feet felt like they were sinking inches below the surface. It was an unusual sensation, but not uncomfortable.

The following week, I was on one of my favourite trails, navigating a downhill path over rocks. I suddenly had a recollection of the energy and grounded feeling in my feet that I had after the “bone” session.  As I brought my attention to my feet, I sensed that my feet were well connected to the terrain.  I knew I could trust my feet and legs. They knew what to do without my mind having to be on alert to steady myself with my upper body. My feet were taking care to keep me from slipping or falling.

In Buddhist meditation practices, contemplation of what constitutes our body is an important mindfulness exercise. We are reminded that we are creatures of nature, made of mere elements – air, water, fire, earth. Bones are associated to the earth element and so when contemplating how we are made up of earth, we can contemplate our own skeleton or bones of our body.

The meaning I make from this experience is that through my Somatic Experiencing Practitioner’s kind and intentional support of my shinbone, my knee continued to heal without either of us intending this to happen. The ripple effect was that the bone and earth element became more alive in my awareness, further supporting me in my daily life.

I have been applying this new training with Somatic Experiencing clients and we are noticing positive responses. I am continually reminded that our bodies want to heal and with directed support, we come to balance, heal and awaken.

Here’s Two Bone Contemplations for you to try:

I.Attending to the Feel of Your Bones

  1. If you’re feeling a bit unstable or a little too “airy” or “watery”, lightly press your fingers to a prominent bone in your body. For example, you could make contact with a bone in your forearm.
  2. Feel the solidity and firmness of the bone in contrast to the fleshy muscle, smooth fascia or the finer layer of skin.
  3. Let your fingers explore the texture, the amount of pressure, and the location of where you are touching the bone. Stay with what feels good.
  4. Bring your full attention to the bone so that all you are perceiving is the touch of the bone under your fingers.

II. Meditation on Bones.
After getting comfortable and settled in your meditation posture, imagine your body in its skeletal form. Try visualizing the skeletal structure within you, or imagine that you are viewing your skeleton from a distance.

See your skeleton as one inter-connected structure or scan the body from head to toe, focusing on the bones.

With both exercises, notice any changes that might happen as you focus on your bones/skeleton. Does your body feel different? Is your mood different? Has your breathing pattern changed?  Experiment and see if connecting more directly to the bones of your body can bring greater balance and wellbeing for your mind/body/spirit.

Curious about trying a Somatic Experiencing session? Please contact me through my Contact Page
 or call me at 250-280-2954.