Walking Well: A Play of Touch and Restoration in Three Acts

A somatic movement detective accepts that there is more than meets the eye in movement, even in walking. Walking is fundamental to humans. We all do it, but for the most part, we don’t give much attention to it, unless we consider what walking holds in its power to reveal individuality and personality, or that postural balance in walking can deteriorate quickly when any part of the foot loses feeling or function, especially the big toe. The play we enter here includes my detective work in movement and touch with a client I call ‘Amy’. Parts of the play might be read as a case study in a somatic process focusing on the whole person through the feet and big toes. My case study with Amy is embedded in matters of body image, approaches to touch, instances of attunement and matching, and the consciousness of the teacher/practitioner.