Art of Contact Intro · 90 minutes
An introduction to authentic connection, boundaries, consent and conscious touch. Playful individual, partner and group exercises offer a first experience of the work.
Art of Contact
Bring authentic connection into your space.
Workshops exploring the body, emotions, and authentic connection.
Art of Contact is an international project that helps people build more authentic relationships with themselves, their bodies and other people.
It offers a space where people can feel accepted and understood, allow themselves to be vulnerable, and discover new ways of relating to their bodies, their emotions and one another - to feel more connected, more alive and happier.
I collaborate with spaces to create experiences that invite guests to slow down, explore themselves and connect beyond everyday conversation.
Together, we can choose a format that fits your community, space and program - starting with one session.
What this can bring to your space
- An addition to your program - experiences exploring body awareness, emotions, boundaries, intimacy and connection.
- Opportunities for guests to connect - guided practices that help people meet, communicate and feel part of a community.
- Flexible ways to collaborate - a standalone event, a regular gathering, a retreat workshop or private sessions for your guests.
The approach
Through movement, honest communication, meditation and gentle touch, participants explore their bodies, emotions, sensitivity and ways of relating.
They practice expressing their needs and boundaries, respecting those of others, and discovering new possibilities beyond familiar patterns of interaction.
My approach combines principles of Nonviolent Communication, Authentic Relating, psychological exercises, body-oriented therapy and white tantra.
Sensuality means exploring our senses and our capacity to feel. Intimacy means allowing ourselves to be seen and connecting honestly.
Consent comes first
White tantra, as practiced here, is a non-sexual exploration of presence, sensuality and connection.
All practices are fully clothed. There is no nudity or sexual interaction.
Every exercise and every touch is optional. Participants choose their level of involvement and can pause, step back or change their mind at any time.
No partner or previous experience is needed for group workshops.
Choose a format for your community
Art of Contact Immersion · 4 hours
More time to explore emotions, sensitivity, intimacy and patterns of relating through movement, communication and gentle touch.
Other possibilities
- Human Circle - guided conversations for openness, meaningful connection and community.
- Embodied Meditation - movement, sound and body awareness, with formats that involve no interpersonal touch.
- Individual & Couples Sessions - personalized somatic and tantra-based experiences for your guests.
We can also adapt a practice to fit your retreat theme or create a program together.
Sessions are available in English and Russian.
About me
I’m Maria May, a body-oriented therapist, facilitator of conscious contact practices and founder of Art of Contact.
My experience includes:
- 70+ group practices facilitated
- Dozens of individual sessions
- 520 hours of training in body-oriented therapy
- 300+ hours of personal immersion in sensual and conscious contact practices
I work with individuals, couples and groups, creating gentle spaces for self-exploration, honest communication and connection.
What kind of space works?
For contact-based practices, I look for:
- An enclosed, private space with no access for outside visitors during the session
- Natural light and artificial lighting
- Yoga mats or soft flooring
- A speaker
- Drinking water
- Ideally, air conditioning or a fan
The practices do not involve shouting or loud music. Music and sound stay at a comfortable volume.
Different formats have different needs. If your space doesn’t meet every condition, let’s explore what could work - through a different format, group size or setup, while preserving comfort and privacy.
How we can work together
Venue rental
I rent your space for an Art of Contact event.
Shared ticket revenue
We co-host an event and agree on how to share the revenue and responsibilities.
Facilitator fee
You invite me to deliver a session for your guests, community or retreat.
For each collaboration, we agree in advance on promotion, bookings, equipment and financial arrangements.
Message me to explore a collaboration
Send me your location, a few photos of your space and a little about your audience. If you have dates or a program in mind, include those too.
Together, we can choose a suitable format, group size and next step.
Message me to explore a collaboration.Art of Contact: @art_of_contact