The Art of Touch | Touch, Sensation, Anticipation & Connection

Do Less. Feel More. What if touch didn’t always have to lead somewhere?

The Art of Touch | Touch, Sensation, Anticipation & Connection

Do Less. Feel More.

Friday, August 14, 2026

Doors Open: 5:30 PM

Class: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Location: Studio125

113 East 125th Street, New York, NY 10035

What if touch didn’t always have to lead somewhere?

The Art of Touch is a three-hour hands-on class led by Joshua Rodriguez exploring how presence, anticipation, pressure, movement, stillness, and communication can completely change the way we experience touch.

We often approach touch by thinking about what we should do next — where our hands should go, what technique we should use, or how we can increase the intensity.

The Art of Touch slows that process down and brings the attention back to what is actually happening between two people.

Through guided exercises, we’ll explore how simple changes in pressure, pace, movement, stillness, and anticipation can create entirely different experiences.

Rather than focusing on collecting techniques, the class is about becoming more aware of the person in front of you, communicating clearly, and noticing how touch is actually being received.

No partner or previous experience is required.

Clothing can remain on, exercises can be adapted to your comfort level, and observing is always a valid way to participate.

Everything is grounded in consent, communication, choice, and People Before Kink.

What We’ll Explore

During the class, we’ll work with:

• Light touch, pressure, speed, and movement
• Anticipation and contrast
• Body mapping through curiosity
• Stillness as part of sensation
• Reading physical responses without making assumptions
• Communicating wants, limits, and preferences
• Giving and receiving useful feedback
• Creating connection without constantly increasing intensity
• Paying attention to how different people give and receive sensation
• Allowing touch to exist without needing it to lead somewhere else

The goal is to become more attentive to what is happening in the moment — how someone responds, what changes when you slow down, and how communication can make even simple touch feel more intentional and connected.

What to Expect

5:30 PM | Doors Open

Arrive, check in, get comfortable, and settle into the space before class begins.

This is a good time to meet other participants, ask questions, and get familiar with the room.

6:00 PM | The Art of Touch Begins

We’ll begin by introducing the ideas we’ll be working with and establishing a shared understanding around consent, communication, boundaries, and choice.

Joshua will then guide the group through a progression of exercises involving touch, pressure, movement, anticipation, stillness, and response.

Some exercises may give you the opportunity to work with different people so you can experience how differently each person gives, receives, and responds to sensation.

Participation always remains within your control.

You may modify an exercise, keep clothing on, establish areas you do or do not want touched, sit something out, or simply observe.

Consent can also change at any point.

The class is designed around curiosity rather than performance. You do not need to arrive knowing what you are doing, and there is no expectation that touch becomes sexual or develops into a BDSM scene.

Instead, we’ll pay attention to questions like:

• What changes when pressure changes?
• What happens when movement suddenly stops?
• How does anticipation affect sensation?
• What can we learn by noticing someone’s breathing, movement, tension, or relaxation?
• What becomes possible when we stop rushing toward whatever comes next?

9:00 PM | The Art of Touch Ends

From here, those staying for Sensation NYC can carry what they just explored into a self-led evening of sensation, BDSM, connection, and play.

What to Bring

Come in clothing that allows you to move and feel comfortable.

You may also want to bring:

• Comfortable or layered clothing
• A notebook if you enjoy taking notes
• Personal comfort items
• Curiosity and a willingness to communicate

Specialized BDSM equipment or sensation toys are not required for the class. However, you may want those items for the Sensation Play party after the class.

Meet Your Facilitator

The Art of Touch is facilitated by Joshua Rodriguez, President and co-founder of The Kink Collective.

Joshua’s teaching explores the relationship between technique, intention, communication, presence, and connection.

Rather than focusing only on what someone should do with their hands, his approach encourages people to pay attention to the person receiving the experience and to what is developing between them.

That approach reflects The Kink Collective’s philosophy of People Before Kink — where the activity matters, but the people doing it, their communication, their boundaries, and their experience matter more.

Class + Sensation

The Art of Touch | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Class Only: $30

Want to stay for Sensation NYC afterward?

Class attendees can add a Sensation Solo Ticket for 50% off.

The Art of Touch + Sensation NYC: $55 total

That gets you the full three-hour class followed by an entire evening at Sensation NYC.

Spend the evening exploring touch, presence, anticipation, and connection — then carry what you discovered directly into the play space.

Learn it at The Art of Touch.

Explore it at Sensation.

You can attend either experience independently or stay for both and make an entire night of it.

Stay for Sensation NYC

After The Art of Touch, Studio125 transitions into Sensation NYC, our all-gender sensation and intimate BDSM play party.

The two experiences are intentionally paired.

The Art of Touch gives you an opportunity to slow down, practice communicating, explore sensation, and become more aware of how you give and receive touch in a guided environment.

Sensation then gives you the freedom to take those ideas into a self-led play space and continue exploring:

• Touch
• Texture
• Pressure
• Anticipation
• Impact
• Restraint
• Power exchange
• Service
• Sensation
• Connection

You may also simply spend time connecting with other people in the room and exploring at your own pace.

Location + Entry

Studio125

113 East 125th Street

New York, NY 10035

Enter through the door immediately to the right of Forno on 125th Street.

Look for 113 in the window above the entrance.

Push the door firmly to enter.

Accessibility: Studio125 is a second-floor walk-up with approximately 20 steps and no elevator.

Interested in Becoming a Member?

You do not need to be a member to attend The Art of Touch.

Members receive discounted Studio125 event tickets and complimentary access to our weekly online space, Conscious Conversations, for deeper connection and ongoing community.

Pricing

The Art of Touch Only: $30

The Art of Touch + Sensation NYC: $55

The combined ticket includes the full three-hour Art of Touch class plus a 50% discounted Sensation Solo Ticket for the party immediately afterward.

People Before Kink. Slow down. Pay attention. Feel more.