The Magical Power of Hugs
It's my birthday, folks, and I'm celebrating the touch that heals. Here's why we all should hug us more often.
No matter if I'm sad, stressed or even in a good mood, when someone gives me a long and honest hug, my body immediately reaches a new level of relaxation. I mean, of course I have to like the person. But 'like' doesn't mean I fancy or even know them.
It's fascinating. The moment my body comes into contact with another body, communication happens. And boy, that was a cheesy sentence. But well, it's true.
(Side note: why is it so hard to find men hugging each other in stock photos? So another topic for another article)
The first time I noticed my body doing its own chatty thing was during a contact improvisation class. For those of you who never heard of this: Contact impro is a type of improvised partner dancing that started in the 70s. Praise the hippies, once again✌️
The technique involves a lot of rolling over the contact points of your bodies, sharing weight and touch are the basic principles here. I'm going to put a video of a contact jam at the end of the newsletter. It will give you a pretty good idea of what it looks like.
But in short, the name says it all. You are in contact with other bodies. And each class I was amazed at how my body automatically had these incredible and very different conversations with other bodies. We were telling stories. Just through the power of touch.
It's a wonderful feeling, beautiful, surprising, but sometimes also quite exhausting. Imagine all these energies you are encountering and exchanging. It can be overwhelming, challenging and at times scary.
Hugs at Home, But Only Handshakes at Work
Maybe that's one of the reasons why, especially in the Western world, we often maintain physical distance. We reserve touch for close relationships—family, friends, and children. Touch between strangers or colleagues, however, remains rare.
I don't want to get too dark here, but I think this increasing "physical distance" is a problem in today's society, where rational thinking and decision-making are already considered more valuable than what our bodies tell us.
Because in the end it’s like this: We all crave closeness, human touch, hugs, because our body, our mind, our whole being needs it to survive - mentally and physically.
A Cure Called Touch
And science proves me right. Touch has numerous benefits for our minds and bodies, according to a recent analysis of over 130 international studies conducted by researchers from the universities of Amsterdam, Bochum and Duisburg-Essen (try pronouncing that, my English-speaking friends). Here are the key findings:
Touch can alleviate pain, depression and anxiety in children and adults.
Shorter but more frequent hugs are particularly beneficial. It doesn't have to be an expensive, long massage (although you can get one). Even a short hug has a positive effect.
Touch also had a positive effect on cardiovascular factors such as blood pressure and heart rate, but the effect was less pronounced.
Touching objects - such as robots, stuffed animals or hug cushions - also has a positive effect. It led to similar physical benefits as human touch, but smaller mental health benefits. Who would have thought?
It goes without saying that touching and hugging another body has to be consensual. But when it is, the moment our bodies touch each other, they respond by releasing some essential hormones.
Hormones Galore: A Delicious Cocktail with Every Hug
It is the ultimate wellness cocktail. A powerful mix that no bartender can match – only a good hug. Maybe by a bartender ;) Anyhow, here are the magic ingredients:
Oxytocin: When the "cuddle hormone" is released in the body, it makes us feel calm and relaxed. But it also has all sorts of positive effects on the body, such as reducing inflammation, lowering blood pressure, losing weight, reducing stress and increasing libido. I need all of that. Right now.
Dopamine: the pleasure hormone that simply makes us feel good. And who doesn't want to feel that way?
Serotonin, also known as the antidepressant hormone. This little guy lifts your mood, controls anxiety and reduces feelings of loneliness.
Quite a good mix, right? So why don't we order this delicious drink more often? Some experts say that we need…
… 4 hugs a day for survival,
… 8 hugs a day for maintenance,
… 12 hugs a day for growth.
It's my birthday, folks, and you've already guessed what I'd like as a present. Give me a long hug, a short hug, virtual hugs are welcome too. So I can toast to life with the most delicious cocktail my body has to offer.
Cheers (and a big hug. Of course)
Katie
P.S. This is what a contact impro jam looks like.
Sending you a long virtual hug, Katie 🤗