How does yoga support the tactile system?

I often have people ask me how does yoga support the tactile system and how can we weave this sensory system into the practice if we are to consider Sensory Processing Yoga.

The role of the tactile system takes the form of either protective or discriminative. It protects us from pain and temperature whilst helps use discriminate textures, shapes, pressure helping us to use a pen, finding something in the bottom of our bag, sense a stone in our shoe and do our fastenings on our clothes.

In our yoga poses we tend to have either our hands or feet on the mat to help us ground, connect to the earth and stabilise ourselves and maybe if we took our awareness to that area it would help use focus and notice what we are feeling through our fingers, hands toes and feet.

So let’s begin:

Sit on your mat and look at your hands.

Can you touch each finger individually on one hand with the thumb of that hand. Can you do both hands simultaneously? Can you do it with your eyes open, eyes closed?

Clench your fists of your hands and hold this for 15 seconds.

Notice how it feels and name it: tight, warm, closed, squeezed

Now spread your fingers of your hands wide and hold like this for 15 seconds. Name how it feels: stretched, wide, open, tingly, spread, dry

On each hand can you rub each finger with your thumb with small rotations – notice if one way is easier than the other. Does each finger feel the same or do they feel different – some softer, drier, smoother than others?

Bring you hands on to the mat in front of you and spreading your fingers place your hands down on the mat. Can you press down a little firmer under your fingers tips. Do you see your nails changing a little as you press down a little more? Can you lift your fingers a little so your knuckles press down more?

Now with this awareness come up on to all fours. Shift your weight forward a little so your hands become heavier and press down more. Now shift your weight back slightly so there is less weight through your hands. Find the position when the weight is even.

Close your eyes and feel the mat – name it – smooth, bumpy, rough, cold, hot.