Objectives of the exercise:
- to build trust among participants,
- to develop body awareness and spatial awareness,
- to enhance cooperation and non-verbal communication skills,
- to improve balance, coordination, and control of body weight.
Procedure:
Participants work in pairs or small groups of three to four people. The instructor explains the rules of the activity and emphasizes safety, mutual respect, and awareness of personal boundaries.
The task is to find and maintain stable points of support using their own bodies, a partner’s body, or elements of the surrounding environment. Examples of support points include:
- leaning back-to-back with a partner,
- pressing palms against a partner’s hands,
- leaning against a wall with the hands, back, or shoulders,
- combining several support points simultaneously.
The exercise begins with positions that provide a high level of stability (four points of support). As participants gain confidence, the level of difficulty is gradually increased by reducing the number of support points:
- Four points of support – highly stable positions that allow participants to become familiar with the task.
- Three points of support – positions requiring greater balance, concentration, and cooperation.
- Two points of support – the most challenging stage, demanding trust, body control, and careful weight distribution.
At each stage, participants are encouraged to explore different body positions and configurations while paying attention to balance, muscle tension, body alignment, and their relationship with the surrounding space.
After completing the exercise, participants briefly reflect on their experiences, discussing how the activity influenced their sense of trust, stability, body awareness, and interaction with others.
Methodological guidelines:
- Each participant chooses the level and type of physical contact according to their comfort and personal boundaries.
- A non-contact version of the exercise is available, using a wall or another stable object as the main point of support.
- The instructor continuously monitors participants to ensure safety and proper execution of the activity.
- Participants should be encouraged to communicate openly about their comfort level and to stop immediately if they experience discomfort or feel unsafe.
- The difficulty level should be adjusted to the needs and abilities of the group, progressing gradually and without pressure.