Chicago singles try mindful dating at "The Feels"
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Sustained eye contact is one of the activities at events. Photo: Courtesy of The Feels
The disillusionment of online dating has led to new and creative ways to meet people, and a new event in Chicago is all about "the feels."
The big picture: The Feels is centered on both emotional and physical touch, tapping into the teachings of Carl Jung and Buddhism to explore vulnerability and trust to get past the superficial confines of early dating.
Driving the news: The Feels launched in Chicago this summer. Its next event is Oct. 1 in Ukrainian Village.
Flashback: In 2022, while studying spiritual psychology in New York City, Allie Hoffman launched the project as she sought a partner and grew tired of swipe culture.
- Since then, it's expanded to six cities — New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Chicago.
How it works: Facilitators with advanced degrees in therapy, mental health, and embodiment practices lead each three-hour event, which includes guided meditations, prompts such as "What is a transformation you're going through and how are you handling it?" and exercises like a three-minute eye gaze.
- The event is geared toward heterosexual, monogamous(ish) match-ups for people ages 25-55.
- There are alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and light bites.
What they're saying: "I love the concept of an event that not only has attendees engaging with each other emotionally, but also physically!" my friend Becca Russo, a Chicago fitness instructor, said about The Feels when I sent her the details.
- "The 80 minutes of facilitation means that you have almost half of the time carefully laid out and you don't have to think about how you're going to begin a conversation with a stranger, where to stand, how to move on to the next person."
Zoom in: The Feels also hosts events for singles looking for Queer partners or non-monogamous relationships.
If you go: The event runs 6:30-9:30pm Oct. 1 at 2250 W. Grand Ave.
- Tickets start around $100.