Touch Literacy

www.lisbontemplenights.com

WHAT IS TOUCH LITERACY?

Nobody taught us how to touch each other. We fumble through it, afraid to ask what feels good because that would shatter the illusion that we know what we're doing. We confuse intensity with intimacy and speed with depth.

This workshop treats touch like what it actually is: a language. And like any language, it has vocabulary (the types of touch), grammar (how we string sensations together) and dialects (the unique ways each body speaks and listens) - and we're going to learn to read touch the way you'd read a slow burning novel.

Here's the thing: not all touch is everyone's cup of tea. What warms one person up might leave another cold. This is a place to try giving and receiving touch beyond what you already know, to explore different kinds of touch and to find what actually works for you.

Not what you think should work. What does.

This is a beginner workshop but that doesn't mean it's basic. It means we're starting from scratch with the awkward, vulnerable truth: most of us don't actually know how to touch or be touched.

And that's exactly where we begin.

WHY THIS MATTERS.

Touch is one of the most intimate things we do, and we do it with almost zero education.

Think about it: you learned to read and write in school. You learned math, history, science. But nobody ever taught you how to touch another person's body. Nobody explained that a hand on the lower back feels very different than a hand on the shoulder. That speed changes everything. That hesitation is information.

So we wing it. We copy what we’ve seen in movies (which is usually pretty terrible) or we follow our instincts (which are often shaped by our very unique experiences). We touch people the way we like to be touched, or we don't touch at all because we're terrified of getting it wrong.

And the results? Missed connections. Confusion. That feeling of "wait, did they want me to do that?" The freeze-up when someone reaches for you and you don't know if you want to reach back but you also don't know how to say no without feeling like you’re being rude.

Touch literacy changes this. When you can understand, read and communicate touch, you stop guessing. You notice when someone's body says “no” even if their mouth hasn't caught up yet. You feel when someone's pulling closer before they've even moved. And you feel comfy AF asking if it feels unclear. When you can speak through touch, you stop relying on assumptions to carry all the weight.

This matters in Temple Nights, yes. But it also matters in relationships. It matters in every moment when bodies touch (which is quite a lot tbh).

WHAT WE DO HERE

We're going to slow the fuck down. Stop pretending we know what we're doing. Start learning what our bodies actually want.

Through guided exercises and group exploration, you'll learn:

• The different "dialects" of touch
• How to read the subtle signals a body gives when it wants more, less or different
• How to touch with clear intention instead of hoping for the best
• How to receive touch and give feedback that actually helps
• How to navigate the awkwardness when you're not sure what you want
• How to stay connected to your own body while being present to someone else's

This workshop involves physical non sexual touch with others. You'll work in pairs and small groups, with clear consent protocols and the freedom to adjust your level of engagement at any time. If you want to observe rather than participate in the touch exercises, that's completely fine.

This is a beginner workshop. No experience needed. Just bring your body and your willingness to be a little awkward with us.

PRACTICALS.

Schedule.

12.45PM Doors open

1.05PM We start (doors close - don't be late, no exceptions!)

1.05 - 3PM Workshop

Venue.

IMPACT HALL in Penha de França, Lisbon

R. Neves Ferreira 13B, 1170-273 Lisboa

What to bring.

• You and your body (please avoid heavy perfumes/scents)
• A full water bottle

Dress Code.

This is a fully dressed workshop. Come in clothes that make you feel comfy and you can move well in. If you want to feel the presence of others more closely, especially in touch exercises, we suggest bringing something that gives you the option to show some skin. Bring layers to take off and put on if the temperature shifts

Refund policy.

You can request a refund through eventbrite up to five days before the event. There are no refunds available afterwards but you can transfer your ticket to someone up to 24 hours before the workshop begins. Send an eMail to hello@lisbontemplenights.com (we only answer until 24 hours before the workshop begins).