May I Touch?
"May I touch?" is a question the my yoga mentor taught me to ask my students every single time I felt like I needed to physically manipulate their bodies to better access a pose. She drilled that into me.
This is a great question to ask when being in the role of a teacher--both yoga and in school systems. Heck! It's a great question to ask all people no matter what role we are performing.
I work diligently to remind myself to ask, "May I touch?" if I am going to remove a piece of tape off of a student's shoulder, or if I am going to reach for their computer or any other item they are using. I'm very aware that I am going into their personal space.
Now, this is not always easy for me, because I am a hugger and comforting mother, but it is important for me to keep in my mind with my students.
Do you ask if you can touch before doing so?