All About You FRIDAY – Hugs for Health

If you are a proactive person, you probably spend a fair amount of time and money on your health. Gym memberships. Organic food. Wellness visits. Exercise. But there is one thing you can do everyday that has proven health benefits and it doesn’t cost a thing: hugging.

Hugging has been proven to:

Increase oxytocin levels, improving heart health and lowering blood pressure
Boost dopamine, improving feelings of pleasure
Increase seratonin, the anti-depressant hormone, easing anxiety, loneliness and anger.
Stimulate the thymus gland through gentle pressure on the sternum and emotional charge, regulating a person’s white blood cells and boosting the immune system
Activate the parasympathetic system, which helps digestion, rest and recovery.

There are two basic types of hugs. (This is a free country. You can hug freestyle and I encourage the creativity). This is the classic neck-waist hug. It puts you face to face with the one you love. And if you move your feet a little, it can double as a dance.

This is the cross arm hug. Notice how one arm is high and the other one is low. This allows you to put your head on someone’s shoulder, increasing surface area contact.

Studies show it doesn’t matter so much the technique you use, but the length of the hugdoes matter.

A 1-second hug was seen to be less pleasant and under control than a 5 second or 10 second hug (don’t bother).
10-second hugs help the body fight infection and ease depression and lesson fatigue (start here).
20-second hugs (this one is a commitment) reduces cortisol levels, blood pressure and ensures a healthy heart.
Longer hugs had lasting effects for the rest of the day.

At Disney World, the characters have a Hug Rule. The character never lets go of the hug first. The child may hug as long as they want. Why? Walt said, “You never know how much that child may need that hug.”

So why not give it a try? A little can go a long way. I challenge you to hug at least 3 people today. Like a real hug. From the heart. It just might change someone’s world.