Stress is a permanent companion of our lives. Accelerated rhythm, endless flow of information and pressure from all sides require from us quick decisions and strength, which sometimes is simply not enough. In such conditions tactile practices can be a real salvation. Their essence is simple: through touching and interacting with different textures, you can shift your attention, ground yourself and give your body time to recover.
Whether you are just holding a piece of soft fabric, running your fingers over the cool surface of a stone, or examining the relief of a coin using your fingers and then the Coin ID Scanner (https://coin-identifier.com/) app, tactile practices can help you come back to yourself. So, today we would like to discuss and share five practices to help reduce stress levels and restore harmony.
Simple Ways to Find Calm through Feelings
In the fast pace of modern life, we all need simple and accessible ways to cope with stress. One such solution can be tactile practices that bring us back to the basics and help us shift our focus from problems in our heads to real, physical sensations. So below in this article you may find a detailed look at 5 tactile practices that can help you manage stress while providing an opportunity to find harmony through a simple touch.
Warmth and Texture: Meditation with Stones
Stones are already used both medicinally and for meditation for many decades. These practices help you focus, experience stability, and ground yourself. Today, stones with smooth surfaces such as quartz, obsidian or jasper can be used as a tool to release tension. By the way, neuropsychologists claim that touching natural materials such as stones activates areas of the brain responsible for calmness and a sense of comfort.
What you need to do:
Find a stone of the right size and texture. It should fit comfortably in the palm of your hand.
Then for relaxation you need to close your eyes, relax and focus on the sensations: its temperature, weight, shape, surface texture. Feel the touch of the stone and think about the perishable “here and now”.
When choosing a stone for meditation, you need to focus on stones with symbolism that is important to you. For example, heart-shaped stones will add a sense of caring and warmth.
Lifehack: You can store stones in the refrigerator, then their cool surface helps reduce emotional stress. And if you are meditating outdoors, you can warm the stone in the sunlight to strengthen the relaxing effect.
Kinetic Sand: Return to Childhood
Kinetic sand is a unique material that combines the texture of sand and plasticity. It is incredibly pleasant to touch, and the process of molding is soothing and makes you feel as if the tension is “flowing” through your fingers. This practice is designed to relieve tension in the hands, stimulates fine motor skills and gives a sense of satisfaction from creativity.
How to use sand:
Place it in a small container so the sand is always at hand.
Spend 10-15 minutes rolling it between your fingers or creating different shapes.
You can scent the sand a little by adding a drop of essential oil (such as lavender or sandalwood) to the sand. This will increase the relaxing effect.
Moreover, buy sand and try practicing with sand of different colors that match your mood (it has long been proven that bright colors lift your mood).
Interesting fact: In psychology, kinetic sand is used as a therapy tool for children and adults, helping to cope with anxiety and recovery from stressful situations.
Exploring Textures through Fabrics
Fabrics with different textures can evoke completely unique sensations. Touching soft, rough, smooth or rough materials can act as an anti-stressor, especially if you feel a connection to a particular type of texture.
What do you need to do? Consider compiling and creating your own tactile kit. Take and use small pieces of fabrics: velvet, silk, cotton, wool. When you feel anxious, slowly run your fingers over the fabric, focusing on the sensations in your fingers from its texture. By the way, materials that resemble leather, such as suede or velvet, help reduce cortisol (stress hormone) levels by inducing feelings of warmth and protection.
Idea: If you spend a lot of time in the office, keep a small scrap of fabric in your desk drawer. This will become a “quick fix” to relieve stress in the middle of the workday.
Relaxation through Coins: Touching History
Coins are not just a means of payment but also a way to literally “touch” the past and present. The unique shapes, materials, and relief patterns of coins make them a great tool for tactile practices.
How it works:
Find an antique or unusual coin, preferably one with a relief pattern.
Run your fingers over its surface, feeling the details of the pattern, edges and texture. Concentrate on this feeling, feel the rough surface and the coldness of the metal.
Try to distract yourself from depressing thoughts and think about who might have held this coin before, what stories it has “seen”.
How to make practice more interesting: Use the Coin ID Scanner app to learn more about the coin you are working with. Due to the app, you can easily find out the main features of the coin, its composition, and can even clarify its market value. With the help of the app you will also add an element of research to the relaxation process, and collecting and studying coins will come tightly into your life as a relaxing hobby.
Wooden Objects: The Power of Nature
Wood has long been associated with natural energy and warmth. So, the tactile sensations of wooden objects can often help you focus and regain a sense of stability. By the way, according to some studies, touching natural materials such as wood reduces heart rate, promoting physical relaxation.
What to use:
Wooden massage balls.
Smooth figurines or wooden rosaries.
Miniature wooden figurines.
You can similarly place wooden objects under sunlight before use - this will add a pleasant warmth. The basic principle of action is simple and predictable: you need to focus on tactile sensations at the moment of practice. And for rhythmic and invigorating practices you can use wooden rosaries to get rid of tension.
The Magic of Tactile Feelings
Tactile practices are evidence that calmness is already within our grasp. All that is important is to stop, touch, feel and allow us some magic in a world of textures and sensations. So let us consider a touch as a step towards our inner harmony.