The Touch Expert is an educational platform designed to address the lack of awareness and understanding of how the body communicates through physical and emotional signals, particularly with trauma
The disparity between public and professional knowledge about how our bodies function & communicate is both vast and concerning. This lack of understanding not only delays early interventions but also limits the potential for fostering deeper connections between individuals and their own physical and emotional well-being. In an increasingly contactless world, touch remains essential. Yet, even in professions where physical connection is fundamental, the art of touch is at risk of being overlooked. The body is our primary resource for interacting with the outside world, translating our external world into internal experiences. In our current society, the emotional texture that shapes our experiences is increasingly influenced by hypersensitivity, overstimulation, and emotional residue—factors that can overwhelm our nervous systems and hinder the natural development we all need to heal from unprocessed trauma.
This problem presents as: Delayed Awareness: Many individuals only recognize bodily issues when faced with pain, injury, or dysfunction, rather than understanding the early signals the body sends. For those who have experienced trauma, the challenge is even greater. The body may respond with uncontrollable trauma reactions, such as dissociation, hypervigilance, or chronic tension, before the mind fully registers distress. Inadequate Training: Health and holistic providers often lack trauma-informed practices and tools to create environments where clients feel physically and emotionally safe. Communication Barriers: Providers and clients struggle to understand and interpret the subtle ways trauma and stress are stored in the body. The Touch Expert Workshops & Lectures solve this by: EDUCATION --- on how to communicate through touch & communication to recognize physical trauma manifestations. Offering TOOLS & FRAMEWORK to foster safety-first environments. Empowering both professionals and clients with CONFIDENCE to build body awareness and healing.
The Touch Expert was created to enhance safe connection with ourselves & others
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Mariama Bah (Mary-Ya-Ma)
Maryland native who began my massage therapy journey just three months after high school, long before “somatic” became a buzzword. Rooted in the belief that bodyworkers have always known the intrinsic connection between physical and emotional well-being, I’ve built an 18-year career around this truth. I’ve seen firsthand how just as many clients seek massage for emotional regulation as much as physical pain, revealing the power of touch in restoring balance. Working in diverse environments—such as conventions, clinics, health fairs, and marathons—has taught me how to create safety and connection quickly, especially during first-time interactions. My goal has always been more than relief; it’s to offer a space where the body can experience organcity: its natural capacity to self-regulate. Most people only become aware of their bodies when something feels off. This reactive approach reveals a critical gap in body awareness and education. I’ve studied the body inside and out— Polyvagal Theory, kinesiology, and trauma-informed care—alongside anatomy instructors and mental health clinicians. That path led me to Floating Hammock Massage, a clothed, three-dimensional technique that delivers deep cues of safety to the nervous system, helping regulate stress responses and support the body’s return to homeostasis. These days, you’ll find me either at the hammock or on a stage, educating my peers—and anyBODY who works with the body—on how to expand our capacity for connection, both within ourselves and with others.
Over the past decade, I have brought my skills in-house as part of comprehensive wellness programs, spending the last 10 years at GOOGLE integrating massage therapy into workplace well-being. In the last five years, I have stepped into leadership, serving as Lead Massage Therapist in Austin, TX, while also acting as a Liaison between Google and Vendor Management. This dual role allows me to bridge the gap between touch care and hands-off strategic wellness initiatives. Key Achievements: - Maintained a stellar 4.99/5 rating over my entire career at Google - Most requested therapist for sites with a 3,000+ headcount in Austin and Washington, DC. +200 headcount - Contributed to team initiatives that resulted in a 19% increase in wellness program utilization - Freelanced for Fortune 500/1000 companies, including Nike, Oracle, Scripps Network, Goodyear, AOL, NPR, and more. - Served on the founding board of directors for a nonprofit supporting survivors of trauma and coercive control - Guided holistic approaches into conventional settings, bridging gaps between diverse populations and health care - Vast experience working with marginalized groups
Services
Touch Modality Consulting
The Touch Modality: Consulting In a world where touch is often misunderstood or misused, The Touch Modality was created to support professionals who center physical contact in their work and want to do so with clarity, consent, and care. Elevating How We Teach, Guide, and Practice Touch
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Floating Hammock Massage
Floating Hammock Massage® (FHM) offers a truly unique experience: a blissful, weightless reset for the body and nervous system. Suspended in a supportive Cloud Hammock that mimics the structure of fascia, your body receives gentle, multidirectional traction and compression. Unlike traditional massage, FHM takes place fully clothed and off the table—no oil, no pressure to disrobe. Through rhythmic movements and gentle pressure, FHM supports the nervous system in releasing unprocessed stress and/or trauma while maintaining a state of grounded safety. The body is allowed to reorganize itself from the inside out, without conscious effort, making this modality especially valuable for trauma-informed care and burnout recovery. Whether you're seeking relief from emotional strain, sensory overload, or just need a moment of peace, Floating Hammock Massage is designed for the modern nervous system—one that invites balance and a deeper sense of internal alignment. Float Feel Center
It's A Touchy Subject
"It's a Touchy Subject" is a series of educational lectures that explore the science of touch through engaging personal stories, blending neuroscience and lived experience to reveal how touch shapes our emotions, relationships, and sense of self. Where science meets storytelling, these talks invite audiences to feel, reflect, and connect.
It's A Touchy Subject
FAQ
TTE? The Touch Expert (TTE) is a trauma-informed education platform for health and wellness professionals. Our courses explore safe touch, somatic awareness, and nervous system regulation. No prior touch or anatomy training required.
Who? This platform is ideal for: Mental health professionals (therapists, LCSWs, psychologists) Restorative Justice Professionals Visual & Hearing Impaired Advocates Reproductive Health Professionals Refugees Assosications SA Organizations Corporate Wellness Groups Rehabilitation Organizations Continuing Education Conventions/Conferences Bodyworkers and movement educators Holistic professionals Anyone exploring how touch affects safety, healing, and connection
Why? Touch is a powerful form of communication. When used with skill and awareness, it can foster healing and resilience. Our programs help professionals understand how trauma lives in the body and how to support clients with sensitivity and consent.
Lectures & Experiences
Included: Guided somatic practices Hands-on (For professional bodyworkers) and hands-off touch exercises "Touch Studies," case study-style investigations of touch response.
ITS? All It's a Touchy Subject courses are taught live. M2M is taught asynchronous or live, designed for LMT only.
Touch Study? My version of a case study. You’ll explore the physical and emotional impact of touch using real examples, sensory cues, and storytelling rooted in science.
Touch Ethics, Consent & Cultural Competency
Framework Provided support safe touch and somatic regulation in trauma-sensitive settings.
Perspective On touch and offer guidance for adapting to the diverse needs of clients and communities.
Floating Hammock Massage
FHM? A fully clothed and accessible approach, offering a 3D experience. Muscles are gently cradled from all sides, creating deep release without pressure. FHM offers more than relaxation. It helps regulate the nervous system, making it effective for burnout, trauma, or overstimulation.
