Why Does Touch Matter?

Pantarei Approach sessions include hands-on touch. The way I see it, touch is a form of communication that never lies. It invites in an experience that can bridge the gap between feeling and understanding. When we first founded the Pantarei Approach, it was clear that we would continue to use touch as the base for communication with our clients. The question: why does touch matter? is one we often consider and time and time again, we reach the same conclusion: touch continues to be a fundamental part of what forms our sessions and our approach.

The answers lie within you

If you have ever received a Pantarei session, you will recognize that it can roughly be divided into two parts. The first part takes the form of a conversation. The second part includes a hands-on element, in which your practitioner will use their touch to direct your attention towards your body. The kind of touch used can be soft, or intense, quick, or slow. The practitioner might place their hands on a specific area or move and touch different areas of your body.

And regardless of which part of the session you are engaged in, it is your uniqueness that is explored. Your practitioner will explore your unique voice, your abilities, and your qualities, with you. They know that all the answers to your current challenges in life exist within you. And through the sessions, you search for ways in which to tap into your unique strengths and resources.

Your body knows

Let’s say that you are about to open your own business. You are facing all the challenges that come with this situation. You have to market your business, tell people why they should come to you, arrange all the practical elements that have to do with your business, and find your confidence even if you feel scared and insecure. Just like with any new start, the excitement is there but so are the questions and doubts.

Your Pantarei practitioner trusts that everything you need in order to rise to this challenge is already within you. At the start of your session together, they would ask you questions, in order to discover your reasons for choosing your current profession. They would want to explore your passion for your business with you. Your practitioner would then search for the knowledge you already have within you, including what you already know about marketing and promotion.  Your practitioner would see that you have your unique way of feeling and showing your excitement. And if you could access it well, your chances of success will grow. So why does touch matter in this discovery process?

Touch is one of the ways in which your practitioner will communicate with you. Initially, they will talk to you about your situation and the resources at hand. They will also ask questions about your past experiences and similar projects you have been involved in, even during your younger years. They will look for your resources, your particular circumstances, and the questions that remain unanswered. And all of this in order for you to face your challenges in the way that is most relevant and fitting to you.

Touch and your inner-knowledge

However, your practitioner will want to do much more than simply talk. They would like to connect you to your physical being, your strengths, and your inner wisdom. They would want you to notice your feelings and sense of self. And this, they would do through touch. Through their hands, you would feel your own body, your wishes and your wants.

You might be asked to breathe towards your practitioner’s hands, placed on your belly or your chest. You might be asked to talk about why you have chosen your career path, while their hands communicate directly with your body. While you talk, your practitioner would explore the physical experience with you, and let you connect to your inner wisdom. The wisdom that can lead you to connect to your confidence; to find the right consultants and support. And ultimately, to find your path, in order to succeed in the way only you can.

By using touch, your practitioner is able to create a sensation of self. We believe that touch is a form of communication. And what’s more, it is a form of communication that allows the inner wisdom of a person to reveal itself.

Why does touch matter? Touch is a form of communication that is clear and direct. It is a form of communication that cannot lie. If, as a practitioner, I place my hands on my client’s back and ask them to tell me about their professional dream, I will feel way more with my hands than what their words can express.

My client, for instance, can talk about how insecure they are, while I would feel how their heart is excited by their ideas and plans. Of course, this doesn’t mean that they don’t feel insecure. However, it allows me to direct them to their sense of excitement and the longing in their heart. They can then sense their insecurity in connection with their excitement.  And who knows? Perhaps this would encourage them to dare reach their professional goals. If they were able to show their insecurities together with their passion and excitement, it might just open new doors for them to invite people towards their new business.

Try it yourself

When you ask yourself why touch matters, think of a challenge you are facing at the moment. Then close your eyes and place your hands on your own body. Place one hand on your belly and the other on your chest. Breathe towards your hands and connect to your core. Feel your body, your emotions, and your presence. Continue like this for a few minutes and then think again about your challenge. I’m pretty sure that although the challenge itself is still there, you started to feel calmer, and perhaps you may have found a new way to perceive or deal with what you are facing.

Just imagine that the hands that touch you are not yours but those of your practitioner. Imagine that your practitioner is asking you questions while placing their hands on your body. And that together you are exploring new directions and solutions. Imagine that you are both exploring your unique ways to trust your strengths and lay the foundation for your path.

Connecting to our core

Why does touch matter? Among the many reasons is the knowledge that touch connects us to our center, our foundation, and our ground. It connects us to the inner wisdom we have within us. And it connects us to what it takes in order to reach our dreams and goals. Touch belongs to the domain of experience. Perhaps that is the reason it is almost impossible to describe the impact that a hands-on session has, in words.

If you have ever received a Pantarei session, you will know what I mean. And if not, go ahead and book a session with one of our certified practitioners.

And don’t forget to post about it below. I would be more than happy to read more about your experiences and what you would answer to the question: why does touch matter?

Written by Vered Manasse