Are you part of the 1/3 or 75%?

A hug is a universal medicine, it is how we handshake from the heart.  -Anonymous

A study found that one-third of people receive no hugs on a daily basis while 75 percent said they wanted more hugs. (1)

Did you know that hugging can:

lower blood pressure
reduce stress
ease depression
boost your immune system
improve your mental, physical and emotional health 

Did you know there's a better way to hug?

1. Hug heart to heart (hug to the right) to develop a connection. Most people tend to hug liver to liver (hug to the left) where anger and frustration energies are held. Not really something you want to share or pick up from someone else. 

2. Make it count. Most people do the quick hug that lasts just a few seconds. Research and personal experience have shown me, the longer the hug - the better. That doesn't mean you have to hug someone for 5 minutes, but you do want to make sure it's an actual hug lasting 10 - 20 seconds or more. 

Who to hug?

Definitely hug the people you trust and have a connection with: your kids, your partner, your siblings, your parents, your best friends. If you don't get along with a certain person, hugging them probably won't feel that great. I've read articles that claim hugging campaigns (people holding posters saying FREE HUGS) can be dangerous and increase stress. If it's someone who doesn't give you a good vibe or they don't want to be hugged, then I agree - hold off on the hugging. More often than not, there are a lot of people out there who long for a connection, who really could use a hug. When I see someone I don't know, or casually know, and it's obvious they need a hug, I always ask permission first. 

How to hug?

Embrace the other person heart to heart, let your mind clear and soon your breathing will match. Allow for that connection to happen. This takes some time, but you can hug as long as it feels right. For those who aren't used to it, it may feel uncomfortable at first. It just takes some practice. Once you're into it, these are the best hugs ever. 

Why hug longer?

1. It gives you time to connect to the other person, which is especially important in this day and age when everything is happening at such a fast pace and on a very impersonal level. 

2. It gives your body some time to relax and release into the hug.

3. It allows oxytocin to start to flow which is beneficial to our health and well-being.

4. A genuine hug allows us to feel love, oneness and safety. 

Try it out for yourself. It won't take long to feel the benefits of a real, connected hug. The cool part is it's reciprocal. You can't give a hug without getting one back. 

Sources: 
1 http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/02/06/hugging.aspx
2 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2230972/Embrace-hugging--good-you.html
3 http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-benefits-of-hugging.html?page=1