If there is such a thing as a “hug advocate” it would be me. I absolutely love hugs. Getting them, giving them and even seeing them given makes me smile. I would hug just about anyone, even animals. I grew up on a farm where my parents were huge hug promoters. In our house, you couldn’t visit or leave without being caught in a hug. I think it was a rule somewhere in our book of family rules: thou shalt hug loved ones whenever possible. My dad sure didn’t appear to be the hugging type, a tall, broad and burly man with grease stained mitts and just about as much hair covered his face as it did his head. Those big paws gave the warmest and best hugs though, the kind that would make you forget all your troubles. My mom still follows the family’s hugging philosophy to this day. I love this.
It looked like the hug bug had bitten me as a youngster.
As I grew older, I didn’t outgrow the appreciation for a great hug and I would take one whenever I could get one. It was impossible for me to turn down the offer of a hug. I couldn’t find anything that could warm my heart better than a good hug, though a really good cup of coffee could come close. I discovered that hugs do more than make you feel good; hugs are actually good for you. I wonder if a hug a day might just keep the doctor away as well as an apple will. They’d sure be more fun to make a part of the daily routine. A good hug only takes ten to twenty seconds but can reap many benefits.
What Can a Hug Do?
* Relieves Stress. When you hug someone, you reduce the amount of a stress hormone called cortisol in your body.(1)
* Aids Relaxation. Hugging helps your muscles relax and can send feelings of calmness to your brain.(2)
* Lowers Blood Pressure. When you touch someone during a hug, pressure receptors under the skin called “Pacinian Corpuscles” are stimulated. These receptors signal the vagus nerve in the brain.
The vagus nerve branches out to many organs, including the heart.
This nerve slows the heart down and decreases blood pressure.(1)
* Increases Security. Hugging someone you love builds trust and security and can help you feel safe.(2)
* Pain Reliever. A good hug can help ease your aches and pains by helping the body release tension.(2)
* Immune System Booster. A hug gives the body an emotional uplift that motivates the third Chakra, known as the Solar Plexus Chakra. The stimulation of this Chakra rouses the thymus gland, which regulates the body’s production of white blood cells, which keep you healthy.(2)
* Increases Happiness. Hugging boosts serotonin levels in our bodies, bringing about feelings of happiness and well-being and improving our mood.(2)
* Decreases Feelings of Loneliness. Hugging increases oxytocin in your blood stream.
Oxytocin, otherwise considered as the “cuddle hormone” heals negative feelings of loneliness, anger and anxiety.(1)
* Teaches Us Giving and Receiving. Hugs teach us how to give and receive friendly exchanges with each other.(2)
* Encourages Mindfulness. Hugs help you to connect with your heart and your feelings and let go of routine everyday thoughts for a few minutes. Hugging can be like meditation for your body by teaching you to “be present in the moment.”(2)
* Teaches us how to connect with each other. I have added this benefit because I am convinced of it. The more hugs you give, the more you learn to connect with people. Your senses of empathy, sympathy, care, compassion and understanding become more tuned in and you develop better personal connections with the people around you.
Why Hug?
Hugs are awesome! They’re one of the best gifts you can give someone. They’re free, they’re quick and you can give someone a hug just about anywhere. You really can’t mess up a hug. They’re non-discriminatory; you can hug people of both sexes, of any race and of all ages. A hug speaks many languages: hello, good-bye, sympathy, compassion, gratitude, good luck, appreciation, thanks, you’re special and I love you. If you’re not hugging, you’re missing out.
Feeling a little blue? Get a hug. Notice that someone else is down? Give them a hug. Have no one to hug? You can still reap some of these benefits from hugging a pet or a stuffed animal.(3)
Give a hug to the most deserving person you know – yourself!
You’ll not only gain some of the benefits but you’ll get a nice stretch in your shoulders at the same time.
Go Hug!
Turn on those hug receptors of yours and watch for the chance to put your hugging skills to use. If you’re looking for a day to celebrate the art of hugging, mark January 21 on your calendar. This day is reserved every year as National Hug Day. National Hug Day, though not a public holiday, is an annual unofficial event created by Rev. Kevin Zaborney.
National Hug Day began in 1986 as a way to encourage people to hug the people they care about more often.(4)
An American psychotherapist, Virginia Satir, determined that “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance.
We need twelve hugs a day for growth.” Everyone can use a hug and you can never have too many. As soon as you finish reading this magazine, get out there and hug someone you care about. They’ll be thankful for it and so will you!
Sources:
1. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/27/health-benefits-of-huggin n 5008616.html
2. http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5756/10-Reasons-Why-We-Need-at-Least-8-Hugs-a-Day.html
3. http://www.eternitysunrise.org/reconnecting-with-your-body/benefits-and-power-of-hugs/
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Hug_Day
