I miss being touched

Ok, ok before everyone gets weirded out - I am referring to adjustments and mini massages during my yoga practice.

I love yoga and I attend different classes taught by different teachers for different reasons.

I attend Erika's classes for her inspirational readings. I will never forget crying in shavasana three years ago when she ended her Christmas Eve class by reading the below. I had moved out of my house 4 or 5 months prior, and was finalizing my divorce to Joe. It was a really dark time for me, and those words, spoken in her voice, in that room, at that moment were exactly what I needed.

I attend Dawn's classes for all the little extras - the head massage, the wet towel over my eyes. It also helps that she teaches class at the same time as the children's class at the other studio. I appreciate when people consider single parents and their childcare needs :) Dawn and Natalie - please know these little gestures don't go unnoticed!

I attend T.J.'s classes for the playlist. I'll never forget attending my first class with him when he declared that he has the "girliest playlists ever" - I loved every song lol - most of which were already on my own Spotify.

I attend Nat's classes for her presence. I love knowing that it is my friend circling the room, and am reminded of when she was first brave enough to set out on this entrepreneurial and spiritual adventure. I am so proud of what she has built. I love hearing her voice lead us through salutations, and how she seems to always give subtle special nudges to the people in her class letting them know, that she knows, and cares that they are there (I loved how you ended the class I attended the other day with the song Into the Mystic - you introduced me to that song! We were on our way clubbing with you and Matt many moons ago). I honestly feel like she is speaking directly to me in class. I bet she makes many other students feel the same :)

I try to attend any class where Shawn is playing! I mean, can we get him a permanent spot on the schedule? Please! It is like this perfect pure voice that sounds too smooth to be happening live. He played this song during class which I thought was really beautiful. Shawn - let me know when that red light song is released.

Signing up for the 45 day yoga challenge means that I've attended lots and lots of classes lately, and I am sad to say that I noticed hardly anybody touches you anymore? This is not unique to one studio either, as I attend several studios depending on my work schedule and what side of town I happen to find myself in.

I'm curious if this is like a 'thing' now? Are instructors being discouraged from adjusting clients? Are the instructors making the choice individually and independently not to do this? Is this a consequence of all the inappropriate touching happening in the larger world around us?

I guess I'm just curious if anyone else has noticed this lack of touch as of late, and to ask that if you own a studio, or teach a class that you bring back the choice for those of us that find healing, community, and better alignment from those touches. Thanks for giving that gift back this week Hallie!