CONSCIOUS TOUCH MASSAGE WORKSHOP
How to truly hear and respond to your and your partner’s body-mind-spirits
A weekend of deep listening touch with Steve Kokker
Many friends have asked me to share in some of the experienceI have gathered in the last 20+ years of studying various forms of massage and bodywork; to share how to touch. I’ve been holding back for many reasons, most of them silly. Yet in this introductory weekend, I will do my best to sharpen your ability to touch more deeply, and to offer the loved ones in your life a new way to communicate through touch.
Is this a massage course then? Yes! Sort of. One of the reasons I have hesitated so long to teach ‘massage’ is that demonstrating techniques just...isn’t really it. It’s not the what but the how that’s important. That’s where the conscious touch aspect comes in and why I don’t call this ‘Massage 101’. I wish to focus on the quality of human touch, how to deeply listen to others and how to activate a deeper awareness during touch. How to bring focus and presence into your touch. How to awaken and deepen your quality of touch. However, we also need practical tips and techniques, tools of the trade, so about half the time there will be actual massage technique teaching and practising.
Half of the time? What else will we be doing in a ‘massage’ course? Fair question. One of the main goals of the workshop is that you can go home with a good idea of how to give a classical massage. Deeper touch can best come when some standard, classical massage moves are learned, practised and mastered. So there will be techniques. But I also want to frame these within the context of something that goes beyond them. And which is much harder to teach. So there will also be some meditation, some physical movement, some guided meditations, and touch-based body-awareness exercises in pairs. These are both fun and challenging exercises designed to open up new ways to experience and share touch.
How intimate will this get? Will I be naked? I will not be teaching erotic massage in this course and there shall be no genital touching during the workshop. A person receiving massage can be nude if they wish (the best way to receive a massage) but they shall be partially covered so there won’t be any overt nudity. People can absolutely keep underwear on if they wish.
Alone or in a couple? If you would like to come with your partner as a way to deepen your intimate relationship, you are more than welcome. You can choose to work mainly with your partner, or there will be opportunities to switch. Be aware however that some exercises might be practised with different people. Yet you are also welcome to attend as an individual, in which case you will be paired on-site with different people (note: your partner may be of either gender).
Practicalities…
Shall I eat before or best to keep the stomach empty? Plan on having a nice dinner after the course somewhere! :) Indeed, have a light breakfast, and I will provide some snacks and tea we can share during a break, but if you feel you need something bigger, then please bring it yourself. There is no need to not eat before we meet, but during our few hours together, I do suggest that a lighter and not full stomach will keep the head and heart clearer.
Details
March 21-22 2020
March 21 10-18
March 22 10-17
Charen, Uus 11, Tallinn
95€ per person, in cash
(this is much less than what future courses will be; as it’s the first one this is a special introductory offer)
I will speak mainly in English; though participants are more than welcome to speak entirely in Estonian.
How to register or ask more questions:
Send Steve an email at Steve.kokker@gmail.com
What to bring:
Wear loose comfortable clothes and be aware that you might get some oil on them.
I will provide for everyone organic unscented coconut oil. If you wish to use another type of oil or cream for your massages, feel free to bring it yourself.
Bring a sheet you can use to cover your table or mattress, and another piece of cloth (sheet, long scarf, lunghi, sarong) to partially cover your partner’s body. If you have an extra sarong, they are very comfortable to wear. I will have a few extra just in case.
A notebook and pen to make notes. There will be no filming or photographing out of respect for people’s privacy. So best to make notes on something non electronic.
A water bottle!
A hand cloth or two to wipe off oil or sweat.
A mind and heart which has temporarily set aside nervousness in order to open the self to the magic within our reach.
