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Sensual Awareness Activity
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 This exercise is derived from the
eco-therapy approach by George Burns in
"Nature-guided therapy: Brief integrative strategies for health and
well-being".
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Surprisingly simple, insightful, and
practical.
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Invite participants to create 5 columns on a piece of paper. Label each
with one of the 5 senses:
touch,
taste,
smell,
sight,
sound.
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 Ask participants to write down as many examples as they can of how they
receive pleasure, comfort or enjoyment for each of their 5 senses.
(Allow 10-15 minutes)
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Share and discuss.
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e.g.,
Invite people to find a partner and explain to one another how they gain
pleasure through each of their senses - or discuss as larger group what
people noticed about their lists.
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Possible questions:
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Were people surprised by their lists?
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Are the lists long or short?
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Are the lists even or uneven?
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Tick the items that you do each day - could you do more?
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What if a person committed to experiencing at
least one source of sensual pleasure from each sense each
day? (This can be a practical, homework, assignment, to do this
for a week and report back to the group).
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Burns notes in his book that depressed people tend to have the
shortest lists; the healthiest, happiest people tend to have long lists.
After therapy, or even as part of therapy, people tend to develop longer
lists.
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Burns also discusses that many of the pleasures people describe are
nature-based.
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Equipment: each person needs a piece of paper
and a pen/pencil
Time: ~45 mins
Brief description:
An eco-therapy exercise adapted for a group setting. Participants identify what
experiences give them pleasure through each of their five senses, then
share and discuss this with the group. |