Hugs for Health
Touch is necessary to Health and Happiness. Hugs for Health!
Are you getting your healthy touch need met daily?
Unfortunately, our culture is constantly teaching us to NOT touch each other. Students can no longer receive a hug from a teacher. Holding hands is falling from favor, as we carry out cell phones. What examples can you think of?
However, studies have shown that touch is a basic need. Our health + well-being, along with our sense of self is nurtured by healthy touch!
Healthy touch includes hugs, holding hands, kisses + smooches. But what about when we aren’t able to access intimacy?
Hugs for health are fine + good when we’ve people around we wish to hug. But what when we don’t? I’m not advocating go hug-a-stranger. But we can hug our pets. And our friends. But if you aren’t making it to Ten Hugs a Day, you aren’t in wellness maintenance mode.
That’s when we head to a professional:
The basis of massage is touch
All too often we are afraid to touch one another. However, research is increasingly proving the extraordinary effectiveness of touch. The feelings of warmth + security that touch brings to us is necessary. Yes, necessary for our holistic health + wellness. That’s body, mind, emotions + spiritual wellness.
Did you know that the gentle touching of skin triggers hormonal reactions?
Healthy touch stimulates endorphins, the happy hormones.
Endorphins bring feelings of happiness + increase the willingness to perform. They enhance the awareness of vital consciousness + intensity of our sensory perception.
Healthy touching induces feelings of tenderness, of warmth and closeness.
Surveys of people in hospital settings in the UK show the simple act of massage improves morale and hastens the rate of recovery.
Massage however is not only physical. Take for example, the skilled practitioner of Holistic Aromatherapy Massage or a Registered Reflexologist. The well-trained and practiced therapist learns to ‘understand’ the person under their hands. They have developed empathy and intuition.
One of the hugs for health is included in the Fairbrass Method of Reflexology. Foot hugs improve wellness. And are nice and easy for the Reflexologist to give.
Reflexology + Massage includes a little dose of psychology. The therapist develops a practice recognizing the importance of listening to the client. The client is offered a ‘safe place’ as part of their healing journey. Remember, the therapist is there to help. And in this way, aromatherapy massage + reflexology can be as pleasant to give as it is to receive.
Essential oils are concentrated plant essences. They’ve been valued throughout history for their therapeutic properties. The Holistic Aromatherapist has studied these essences in great detail. And uses their skill to make a personal healing-blend for your massage. As well as the benefits of touch you are soaking up aromas. Along with incredible feelings of well-being + relaxation.
Ahhhh…
Holistic Aromatherapy Massage may be stimulating or soothing. It depends on the speed + depth of strokes used.
Reflexology is a massage, foot-hug + rub, pressure technique. Typically on the feet. And is very appropriate as an introduction to touch therapies. So, if you’re feeling a bit shy, Foot Reflexology is an excellent way to begin enjoying the benefits of touch therapies.
Accordingly, after your massage with a beautiful aromatic blend of oils specific to your requirements. Or your wonderfully balancing foot reflexology session. You may leave feeling ready to take on the world. Or you may leave feeling ready to climb into bed + take a nap. Tension may be relieved. Muscles that were tight are now soft and relaxed. Aches + pains have disappeared. And you can bet that you’ll sleep-like-a-baby that night.
The therapist is responsible for providing a context for you, the client, in which your induced sense of well-being offers a path to recovery.
The pleasure of an aromatic massage has a therapeutic effect in itself.
If you would like to learn how to become an Holistic Aromatherapist in the Traditional UK trained style or wish to become a Reflexologist, please check out the School of Complementary Therapies site. We have on-line and distance programs, so wherever you are you can train with me. It may even be the next step in your career path. Or you may simply learn to treat family and friends.
Any questions? Just drop me a line and I’ll be happy to answer them for you.
Jacqueline – I’m lucky enough to have a massage therapist for a sister. Very luck! Still I forget to go in and see her as often as I should.
I hope you are reminded by my post to take some time for you darling! Go book with your sister. I’m currently playing telephone tag with my massage therapist!
I loved this! It is so true, no one wants to touch anymore. I always hug my clients, sometimes they resist at first but then they always give into the hug. It creates such a better bond than a handshake!
So true! And it’s important to be aware of people’s comfort zones…gently coaxing them into touch and not forcing. Then they just love it…we are designed for touch!
I make it a point, every few weeks or so, to get a massage. It’s one of my favorite ways to treat myself! Btw, I have that same metal poster as you have in the photo, The Pampered Goddess Spa.
I often get bogged down in life and forget to get a massage. It’s so important to be able to receive.
Jacqueline- you are a women of many talents!
I want a Holistic Aromatherapy Massage and a Foot Reflexology session a the same time!
I’m all about body work. I used to get a massage twice a month- until my massage guy got a massage gig at Google and closed up his private practice 🙁
I haven’t found anyone to replace him that I like as much….so now i only get massages every month or two. I am in great need of one right now….gonna have to get on that!
Come visit me and I’ll treat you to both…you’ll love it! I hope you can find someone fabulous soon…ask the universe to send you someone even better than Mr Google <3
Just let me buy my plane tickets and I’ll be there! Totally agree – touch is so important, you can feel so isolated and alone without it. Hugs are really necessary and touch is a big player in happiness levels. I’ve noticed this with bf, he loves to be stroked just like my cat! All I have to do is stroke his arm while he’s watching TV & his mood just shifts! Magic touch!
Ooh…cheeky!
yes.. I am a “hugger” and know for sure that touch is healing in so many forms. always remember that awful study of the baby rhesus monkeys who weren’t held.. psych 101.. just got some amazing essential oils from my friend online.. we are sensual beings.. the more we light up any and all of our senses the happier and healthier we are.. I would LOVE to come for a massage.. I bet you are wonderful..
Love to you, Lisa
I remember that study too! Ugh! I was in tears. We’d have a wonderful time together…one day. Enjoy your oils. xox
Massage helped me heal from my health crisis a few years ago, and kept me healthy before I started doing energy work. I haven’t had the opportunity to see my amazing massage therapist (who also does energy work and cranio-sacral therapy and works with essential oils and I don’t even know what else) in months now. Might be time to see if I can book an appointment… Hugs and butterflies, ~Teresa~
Yes…it’s time! Go book. xox
Love how you’ve put a spotlight on touch — it’s essential to a life well-lived! It takes me back to my days as a mom of newborns, rubbing their little limbs and back and tummies with lotion and singing “loving touch” to them. <3
Beautiful! My little ones are rather big now…but still love to get rubs from mum. Start ’em young!