Zen awareness in the teaching of palpation: An osteopathic perspective

This article introduces to osteopathy, and manual practice generally, some of these terms and tactics from Zen, hoping to develop an appreciation of the common challenges of perception, action, and communication in both disciplines. In this context, the role of practitioner's awareness is discussed as a means of directing action. Illustrations of attempts to reconcile biomechanics and mental focus in past and current osteopathic literature are cited to help define the problem. It is suggested that a better recognition of the problem of joining perception, intention and action may lead to a change in teaching strategies within the western manual healing arts to better integrate the work of our hands, hearts and minds.