JF giving and receiving hugs with absolutely fabulous daughter Emma

I’ve said it before, and most likely you’ll hear me say it again. We just don’t touch each other enough for health and wellness. Research is increasingly proving the extraordinary effectiveness of touch. The warmth and security that touch gives us is necessary for survival. But all too often we are afraid to touch one another.

So why is touch so important? The gentle touching of skin triggers hormonal reactions. When we are touched in a healthy, respectfully and loving way, happy, feel good hormones called endorphins whiz around the body. They bring feelings of happiness, increase our willingness to perform, enhance our awareness of vital consciousness, which means ‘makes us feel glad to be alive’. And they increase the intensity of our sensory perception, which means the world seems a brighter place to be!

And …healthy touching induces feelings of tenderness, of warmth and closeness. Surveys of people in hospital settings in the UK have shown the simple act of massage improved morale and hastened the rate of recovery. We heal quicker when we are touched with tenderness and love.

Have you heard about the therapy dogs that are taken into hospitals and hospices? Petting an animal makes you feel warm and fuzzy, sending those feel-good hormones into overdrive…woohoo!

So, go ahead and hug a friend, pet the dog or cat, give your partner a foot rub, hold hands with your friends.

And if you are squeamish about all this touching, then push yourself right out of your comfort zone ~ get a massage! Afraid to go the full monty? Try a reflexology session and allow your feet to be loved. Reflexology is a great way to receive healthy, healing touch ~ and it feels wonderful. You can also learn to become a Reflexologist ~ go ahead, reach out and touch someone.