02/11/2026
Touch is a conversation. As teachers, we need to listen as much as we guide.
Hands-on teaching has been a big part of my life for years. With permission, touch can offer reassurance, build trust and help someone find a little more space.
But I also experience it as an exchange. I’m giving my attention and support, and receiving so much information in return. A change in breath. A body softening or bracing. The feeling of someone beginning to trust.
There’s an emotional side to that closeness, too. We don’t always know what someone brings into the room, and we can’t assume we understand it through our hands. But when we’re attentive and empathetic, being alongside someone can move us.
For me, that’s where the energetic exchange comes in. Some mornings I leave feeling lighter, lifted by the people I’ve taught. Other days, I notice a heaviness or sadness that wasn’t there when I arrived. It can feel as though I’ve taken on some of what others were feeling.
I don’t always know where my own emotions end and my response to someone else begins. Learning to recognise that has become an important part of teaching for me.
Empathy helps us connect. It also asks us to have boundaries, so we can care deeply without feeling responsible for carrying everything.
Sometimes I need movement afterwards. Sometimes quiet, a walk, or a little time on my own. Space to notice what has stayed with me and allow it to settle.
We spend years learning how to place our hands. I think learning how to let go afterwards deserves some attention, too.
