Touch in Yoga Teaching

Ep 279 Keen on Yoga Podcast - Adam Keen Discover the nuanced role of physical touch in yoga, including its profound benefits and significant risks. In this episode, yoga teacher Adam explores the power of touch as a tool for connection, affirmation, and energy work, while addressing the dangers of abuse, boundary setting, and how to incorporate touch thoughtfully and ethically. Key Topics • The significance of touch in embodying energy and cultivating connection in yoga • Personal experiences and crises of touch during the COVID-19 pandemic • The impact of touch on healing and the importance of positive affirmation • Recognizing and preventing physical and sexual abuse in yoga settings • Establishing consent, feedback, and trust to create a safe environment • The difference between assistance, adjustments, and forcing body shapes • Safeguards such as consent cards and open communication with students • Principles for ethical touch: gentle, clear, affirmative, and gradual • The role of trust, relationship building, and sensitivity to personal boundaries • Alternatives to adjustments, emphasizing support through presence and subtle cues CONNECT WITH ADAM https://linktr.ee/Keenonyoga SUPPORT KEEN ON YOGA: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/infoRf FULL PODCAST LIST: https://www.keenonyoga.com/keen-on-yoga-podcast-guests/ WATCH https://www.youtube.com/@keenonyoga LISTEN Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keen-on-yoga-podcast/id1509303411 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5iM9lcw52JskHUZ2eFvVxN Chapters 00:00 - Intro to the episode and topic of touch in yoga 00:29 - Announcing a retreat in Puglia and its vibe 01:25 - Exploring the multiple meanings of touch in yoga 01:54 - Personal crisis of touch during COVID-19 and rethinking its place 02:14 - The wisdom of Bessel van der Kolk on healing and touch 03:11 - Touch as affirmation and its roots in yoga philosophy 04:06 - Why yoga uses touch to connect with energy beyond the mind 04:55 - The power of energy and physical connection in yoga practice 05:24 - Risks of abuse and the importance of ethical touch 06:28 - Affirming individuals as they are and avoiding negative messages 07:54 - The fundamental yoga idea: wholeness and acceptance 08:24 - Addressing abuse, harassment, and inappropriate touch 09:21 - Managing boundaries in teacher-student relationships 10:21 - Recognizing creepy or inappropriate touches and trusting intuition 11:40 - The subtlety of reinforcing feelings of inadequacy through false adjustments 12:27 - Safeguarding touch: consent, feedback, and community responsibility 13:45 - Implementing consent cards and peer feedback systems 15:13 - The challenge of asking permission and avoiding loaded questions 16:09 - Building trust through awareness of student reactions 17:01 - The importance of open communication and feedback loops 18:42 - Moving toward ethical and positive touch practices in yoga 20:24 - Affirmative touch and supporting tension patterns in the body 21:39 - Prioritizing "do no harm" and gentle, clear assistance 22:48 - The dangers of forceful adjustments and passive stretching risks 24:52 - Gradual build-up of trust and intimacy in touch 26:00 - Reading individual responses and respecting personal comfort levels 27:07 - The importance of feedback and adjusting practices accordingly 28:42 - Replacing adjustments with subtle support and presence 30:45 - The philosophy of holding tension through the center for optimal support 31:09 - Active versus passive stretches and the importance of muscle engagement 32:26 - Dangers of forced adjustments and joint injury risks 33:54 - Trusting your body's signals over forceful adjustments 35:15 - How surrendering to forceful adjustments can be harmful 36:36 - The significance of gentle, supported, and active engagement 38:45 - The body's homeostatic response and gradual change 39:16 - The calming power of presence and non-verbal support 40:30 - Objectivity of touch when performed by unknown or impartial persons 41:23 - The concept of bandha: supporting energy and tension through the core 43:04 - Redefining shape adjustments: supporting inner alignment rather than visual correction 44:31 - The diverse purposes of yoga: from physical health to energy work 45:11 - Promoting diaphragmatic breathing and the importance of full breath 46:36 - Synchronizing touch with breath to enhance release and nervous system regulation 48:43 - Using touch to foster neurological pathways and awareness 49:12 - Less is more: the power of minimal but meaningful touch 50:09 - Building trust gradually and respecting boundaries 50:57 - Clear, directive, gentle touches for safety and efficacy 52:24 - Embracing continual growth and openness in understanding touch's role