Are You a Human Sponge?

I’d spent the weekend pottering, brewing up some questionable herbal tea concoctions. Wandering in and out of the garden, pretending I might do some actual gardening but mostly just tormenting my dog.

And in between all that “relaxing”, I noticed something, even in my quiet little weekend bubble, my shoulders still felt tight, my head a little foggy, and my body tired.

It’s not that I had anything particularly stressful going on. Then I remembered an article I’d read a while ago.

We are human sponges, quietly soaking up not just our own tension, but everyone else’s tiredness and stress too.

Researchers call this 'The Great Exhaustion'. It’s not simply feeling tired; it’s a collective, pervasive fatigue that so many of us are experiencing right now.

It’s the weight of everything the constant connectivity, the pressures at work, the global crises, the pace of life that never seems to slow down.

Unfortunately all of it lands in our bodies, accumulating quietly in the background, taking in the strain and weariness of the people and the world around us, often without us even noticing.

A Touch of Wisdom: Did you know that your nervous system and your sense of touch share the same origin story. In the earliest weeks of life, they develop side by side from the same layer of embryonic cells, designed to feel, sense, and respond as one.

That’s why a simple touch can travel instantly along your nerves, sending a message straight to your brain and body, saying “You’re safe. You can soften. You can let go.” How fascinating is that!

Touch Yoga can guide you away from everyone’s collective tension into a softer, calmer place of release and gently back to yourself.

So, here’s a little Touch Yoga practice you can try right now, to help shift your whole mood, soften tension and let go of that collective energy:

1. Sit comfortably, either on a chair with both feet grounded or on the floor.

2. Rub your palms together until you feel warmth, gently building energy and a sense of connection.

3. Sweep your right arm up and over your ear into a gentle side stretch.

4. Bend the elbow and rest your right hand lightly on the crown of your head. This is a very powerful Touch Point known for soothing the nervous system.

5. If it feels good, turn your head to gaze towards the inside of the elbow. If not, simply keep the head facing forward.

6. Let your left hand either rest on the earth beside you, or gently hold the side of the chair for support.

7. As you hold the side stretch, breathe slowly and repeat quietly to yourself: “I am safe. I release all that no longer serves me.”

8. With each exhale, allow that release to ripple not just through your own body, but into the wider collective energy, letting go for yourself, and on behalf of the whole.

9. Stay here for several breaths, sighing out if the body calls for it, letting stress and worry melt away. This wonderful stretch nourishes the spleen, easing the emotional weight of overthinking and anxiety.

10. When you’re ready, gently return to centre. Repeat on the other side.

Now, take a moment to notice how you are feeling. This simple practice takes only moments, yet it can deeply shift your energy and uplift your mood.