Pure and simple.
Sometimes we just need to be held. Without bodywork, or without even talking. Clients experience this practice as nurturing, restorative and empowering.
And I am honored to be present for this spiritual practice. I see it as embodying the divine which “holds” us all the time – unconditionally loving us. I practice unconditional presence and acceptance to the person I’m holding, aspiring to be a conduit for this divine presence so that my client may remember for him or herself.
I believe we ALL deserve to remember that we are being held by the divine, but Life, by Universal Life energy – at all times. And physical holding, with the intention of remembering and raising esteem, can be a powerful experience leading us to wholeness.
One can be held:
- Mentally – with positive regard
- Emotionally – with loving-kindness
- Physically – with the body.
Holding sessions typically involve:
- Talking about your goal for our session
- Creating an empowering idea to nurture (for example, “I am loveable,” “My body deserves to be touched”)
- Physical holding
- Debriefing our time together, during the holding or after.
- Holding can be a full session or part of a session.
Physical holding is typically:
- My hands to your body and resting for long periods of time in one place, or
- me seated with you seated in front of me, leaning back into my chest and arms, or
- an extended hug
- clothes-on
- for 15-30 minutes.
Why be held? Who wants to be held?
You may be feeling:
- Tired from directing others all day at work and just need to be held.
- Lonely
- Feeling out of touch with your body
- a desire for connection
- a man curious about physical connection with another man
- a man in a heterosexual relationship, looking for a way to receive nurturing from another man (that we often typically wanted as a child from our father, but may not have received)
- a hope to be more comfortable with another person touching you in a safe way after some challenging physical experience
- dislike for your body and hope for appreciation of it through touch.
Inspiration
I spent many years disliking my body, criticizing it, ungrateful for it. Holding has been immensely helpful in growing my gratitude for a physical body. Holding has helped me feel more “worthy” in general in my life, as well as connected to others.
Amma, the “Hugging Saint” from India, offers a hug to whoever comes to her. She has grown several humanitarian charities over many years of hugging and loving. She is an inspiration to me. See: www.amma.org.