- checking login information
Loading...The Benefits of Hugging
- Wendy Strgar
- June 22, 2011
- 3:01 pm
- 78 comments
- 2 of 2
- back to page 1
As in the mind, so in the body as recent medical research at University of North Carolina found that both blood pressure and levels of Cortisol, the hormone produced when we’re under stress, were significantly lowered (particularly in women) when subjects hugged their partners for at least twenty seconds. Another study that took place in 2000 showed that hugging babies while they were given blood tests made them cry less and kept their heart rates steadier. Other studies suggest a strong link between increased hugs and lower risk of heart disease.
In addition to the clear health benefits, hugging also provides a window into the health of your relationship and offers an easy way to improve it. Hugging Until Relaxed is a therapeutic technique that encourages partners to hold each other while in a standing hug. Ultimately, both partners find stability and comfort in the embrace by achieving equilibrium of balance and closeness while holding each other. This technique, introduced by David Schnarch in Passionate Marriage, allows both partners to open up to a deeply intimate space where both are held and fully relaxed. This technique generally translates into better overall communication and more passionate intimacy. Opening up to being held is a powerful metaphor. A relaxed and full embrace allows us to feel and connect bodies in a way that literally couples us.
- 2 of 2
- back to page 1
Read more: Ask the Loveologist, Caregiving, Children, Guidance, Love, Relationships, Sex, Spirit, affection, hugging
Wendy Strgar
Wendy Strgar, founder and CEO of Good Clean Love, is a loveologist who writes and lectures on Making Love Sustainable, a green philosophy of relationships which teaches the importance of valuing the renewable resources of love, intimacy and family. In her new book, Love that Works: A Guide to Enduring Intimacy, she tackles the challenging issues of sustaining relationships and healthy intimacy with an authentic and disarming style and simple yet innovative advice. It has been called "the essential guide for relationships." The book is available on ebook. Wendy has been married for 27 years to her husband, a psychiatrist, and lives with their four children ages 13- 22 in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
people are talking
thanks
We must be careful about claims like this
You guys done did it again, turned the cute up to 11
Thank you so much Katie, this is another must try. Very unusual combo.
One side effect is a lot of action in the old folks home!
78 comments
+ add your ownLol. I'm kind of unlucky being amongst non-huggers, especially since I'm a hugger. I have one daughter that hugs sometimes, shouldn't complain I guess.
great reminders
my bf and I usually hug several times a day. if we feel bad we also cuddle up and we tend to feel instantly better by doing this. our touch to each other is very therapeutic.
Thank you very much.
Wish all people would recognize this. Too many of them think only husband/boyfriend or wife/girlfirend or children have a "right" to see that they are loved. Others shall be alone - so is it with me
Hugs are a good thing.
HUGS! Best thing every, although some people do have problems with technique.
Now I'm craving a hug...
That is so great!
Children need hugs. If they don't receive the affection from the people closest to them, they will get it wherever they can. Companion animals need tactile affection also.
very interesting, i never would have thought of this, but it makes total sense, thankyou!
login to add your comment
use your care2 login
add your comment