I don't touch them. If I did it would add sensation to my hands as I'd feel our skin touching, and that would mask or hinder my ability to feel that "little ball of energy" I "hold" between their body and my palm. In order to be able to manipulate it I of course need to feel it but if I were touching them I would receive interference from the heat of touching them. By not making contact I am much more sensitive to it. 1/3 of the time it is weak, but there and about 2/3 of the time it is stronger. I liked it early on when I did it to some and their eyes would light up and they would smile and say "what are you doing" or "I can feel it !!" and their eyes light all up and they smile big because it is sort of surprising at first. You can even do it to yourself for practice.