A Simple Practice - Tapping

This technique brings movement into the body through tapping and focuses the mind by naming where you are tapping. Movement is key when we are feeling stressed and reactive (sympathetic state) as it helps the body to feel calm and relaxed again.

If you enjoyed this technique, you might also find these helpful:
A Simple Practice - Rhythmic Movement
A Simple Practice - Figure of 8

Everyday Mindfulness - Less Stress, More You.

Transcript

Welcome to this simple practice of tapping.

I hope you are in a comfortable space.

There is going to be movement with this technique.

You are going to be tapping your body,

So make sure you're in a comfortable space.

Allow your attention just to fall to your breath for a moment,

Bringing yourself here into the present moment,

Which can be challenging if you're particularly,

If you're in a sympathetic state,

If you're in that activated state.

And then I just want you to use your hands and start tapping your body.

So you might say,

I'm tapping my shoulders whilst using both hands to tap your shoulders.

I'm tapping my chest.

I'm tapping my abdomen.

I'm tapping my right arm,

My right hand,

My left arm,

My left hand.

I'm tapping my legs.

I'm tapping my knees.

I'm tapping my back.

And just keep going.

Tap wherever feels good with one or both hands.

And as you do it,

Give yourself the anchor of I'm tapping my.

Just find a rhythm and a pace that feels supportive for you today.

Moving around in a structured or unstructured fashion,

Tapping places that you might not normally touch,

Like your ears,

Your cheeks and jaw.

How about your forehead and the top of your head?

How about the soles of your feet or the backs of your knees?

And as your mind gets distracted,

Which it will,

Just come back to I am tapping my,

I'm tapping my chest.

And move on as fast or as slowly as your body feels it wants today.

When we're in a sympathetic,

So when we're in that kind of fight or flight space,

We might go faster.

And when we're feeling more dorsal vagal,

So numb and overwhelmed,

We might want to go we might want to go slower.

Both are welcome here.

We're just bringing back awareness of the outside of our body with some gentle tapping and movement.

Keep going.

I'm proud of you.

I'm tapping my ankle.

I'm tapping my other ankle.

Beautiful.

I'm tapping my back,

My solar plexus,

My nose,

The back of my head.

I'm tapping my ring fingers,

Tapping my little fingers,

My middle fingers,

My index fingers and my thumbs.

Beautiful.

You can keep going for as long as you'd like,

But when you want to come to an end,

Just allow stillness to come to your body.

Take a deep breath in.

Take a deep breath out.

And from this place,

Just notice any sensations or messages from your body.

There might be a desire to move or stretch.

Honor that.

Do what it needs in this moment.

And then when you're ready,

Just gently open your eyes if you decided to close them.

Move your body and welcome yourself back into the space.

Thank you so much for joining me.

Keep an eye out for other simple practices that I hope can be supported.

Take care.