TOUCH
We humans have five senses through which we perceive the world we live in. The first sense to be developed is the sense of touch. As
babies we respond to touch and find comfort in the caring caresses of our mothers. As we grow older, we develop our other senses, taste, smell, sight and hearing. As adults, we tend to focus on sight and hearing more often than not. You will notice that we are glued to technology that primarily demands our sight and hearing attention. We have lost our primal need to be touched, held and cuddled. Many people who cannot fulfill this basic human suffer from depression, anxiety or illness more frequently.
There is a great need for us to communicate through touch other than electronically. And YES! Touch is a vital form of
communication. We tend to instinctively feel better when someone hugs us, or caresses our shoulder when we need emotional support or encouragement. The act of hugging someone shows that we genuinely care about that person.
MIND AND BODY BENEFITS
Cuddling with someone provides many positive benefits for your mental health, but for your physical health as well. The result of
comforting touch is an increase of both oxytocin, (a pain relieving hormone), and serotonin, (a ‘happy’ hormone). Higher levels of oxytocin boost your immunity by increasing T-regulatory cells in your gut. It helps to reduce your risk for heart disease and makes you more resilient in body and in mind.
Snuggling is also known to ease anxiety, relieve stress and promote restful sleep. By increasing serotonin levels, you feel good about
yourself and the world, your personal relationships improve and this will spurn increased creativity and confidence.
PLATONIC TOUCH CUDDLING
Platonic touch cuddling is a new concept of providing the experience of being close without feeling uncomfortable. There is a dynamic
professional relationship between the client and Cuddling Practitioner. Guidelines are established to ensure that both the Practitioner and Client feel safe and confident within the agreed upon parameters. Both parties consent to an initial agreement and promise to speak up confidently if any line is crossed that makes them uncomfortable emotionally, or if there is physical discomfort
from being in a certain position. Being open, honest and assertive ensures that both parties especially the client that they can feel at ease in being vulnerable and expressing their feelings.
The Cuddling session is about the client and fulfilling their needs for emotional well-being. The client sets the pace of the session, but may need some suggestions on where to start.
Quite often, a session would begin with the client/cuddler agreement, followed by some consent exercises, such as; the
Practitioner asking if they could touch the client’s arm or shoulder, (without taking any action), and the client then chooses to say yes or no, and the whole exercise is reciprocated so that each party has a turn to accept or refuse a request. Then after the initial exercise, the client will feel more confident in making requests and deciding to truly accept or refuse a request made to them.
Sessions typically last an hour, and towards the last 10 minutes of the session, there is a winding down period to settle down from the high oxytocin and serotonin levels. Parties often talk about what they experienced, if they enjoyed the session and plans for follow up or future appointments.
Everyone needs a space they can share themselves with another fellow human being. Why not try a session for yourself to see what benefits Platonic Touch Cuddling can offer you in your life?
