I'm so glad you brought this up, Thank you!

I think this is a very natural response to the form, though I also feel that most people aren't aware of it... at least at first. This seems to be something that has taken time to be noticed as it wasn't the original intentions of the creators. I have witnessed and felt the immense healing power of CI and am in the works of developing a text and/or workshops and/or larger dialogue - as the implications are incredible!

What CI seems to work on first and foremost is presence, and awareness... and acceptance. What is that other than meditation? Which we all know is powerful. The difference between CI and meditation in my opinion is that it is social (which brings up more of ourselves), is in a larger environment (as Martin says "inviting the outside world in", which makes the experience bigger), is fun (so distracting and we can remain unware... though eventually we still have to do the noticing and releasing), AND the touch itself, physical release, dialogue, witness, inutitive listening also increases its power. It's AMAZING! I've been surprised at the lack of discussion on this, at least that I can find, and think so much more can be done this way.

Not that I think the instruction needs to be changed - allowing it to do what it does is wonderful and much more welcoming and inviting. BUT I think it would help tremendously if as CI communities we could teach each other how to take care of our own emotions - I feel that instruction in those tools are greatly lacking in our culture.

Congrats and good luck to you, by the way, on your journey! I look forward to hearing responses on this wonderful topic.

peace and love,
Lynn

I too find that the practice of CI allows for spiritual and emotional healing. For one thing, I've learned that I can only do so much CI at a time, I'll do it for a while and then I'll need a break to process what has come up. Also, I find that when I attend weekend jam gatherings, the effects of doing CI are enhanced, and I'll often want to journal or have conversations with people about whatever has come up. I'd love to see some work done around group therapy that integrates CI. I am amazed at how my awareness of emotions is heightened while at a jam, and I really appreciate being in community with others who practice CI. I find that people who do CI are quite aware and that deep conversations are easy to have.

Yes, CI moves the body into an amazing dance of life: healing, uplifting, full of presence and possibility. It's been my greatest teacher over the years, which provides me with releases and much more. I recently came across an article by Vipassana teacher Phillip Moffit. Though not a contacter, he is referring to the compression and release that takes place in CI. His terms are contraction and expansion.

www.lifebalance.org/articles...-11.shtml

I might also point out the 3rd chapter in my book, CI: An Intro to a Vitalizing Dance Form. The entire work looks at the experiential aspect of the dance, but Ch 3 looks at how we come to know what we know. Moving the body moves the mind.

Cheryl

I consider that CI has been greatly healing in my life. It has allowed me to connect with people without words, without my shy self having to think what to say, just be present and heard (in the physical sense). Also being able to fully relax with people in safe physical contact has allowed me to calm my nervous system enough to be able to be with people and allow myself to be seen by them so much more fully.
The community I have met from Contact Improv are some of the people that affect me in the deepest and most profound ways in my life.
So a big YES from me, contact & healing have been one and the same in many ways for me.
It still has it's challenges at times, but the rewards are so great!
Helen.