Category: Massage

 

Have you ever been so busy that time flew? Sure, obligations were met: family fed, homework completed, and kids ferried around. Suddenly, you realize it’s been days (or weeks or months) since someone touched you, hugged you, held your hand.

 

Not being touched can leave a person feeling unmoored. Disconnected. While you may not recognize the lack of touching immediately, not being touched can negatively affect your mood, confidence, and — ultimately — your health.

So here are five reasons you need to be touched – STAT:

1. Feel connected. When we are touched or touch others, we expand into feeling connected, literally and emotionally. A sense of connection can be felt energetically with even the most casual of touches.
2. Bonding. I wrote last week about newborns being placed on their mother’s chests in order to facilitate bonding. Touch allows parents to bond with children and romantic partners to bond to each other. Relationships suffer when touching is a casualty of a busy lifestyle.
3. Improves health. Regular touch has been shown to lower blood pressure. The great news is that even petting your puppy or stroking your cat will also suffice! Also, being hugged is a great reducer of anxious feelings.
4. Improves your mood. Have you ever been in a grumpy mood only to have someone you care about fold you into a hug? Did their touch dissipate your bad feelings? Touch is one way people feel optimistic, less cynical, and grounded.
5. It feels great. Can I get an “Amen?” Whether you’re getting a hug from you child, holding hands with your lover, or relaxing into a great massage, being touched feels wonderful.

Being touched is good for you and your loved ones! Make sure to include touch into your life daily.

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Newly born babies are placed upon their mothers’ bare chest, creating a skin-to-skin contact. It’s believed that this type of contact is critical for bonding and connection. Babies who bond with their parents via skin-to-skin contact are calmer, sleep better, and cry less.

The need for touch doesn’t end just because we’ve grown up. Think about it: your skin is your largest organ! It’s extremely sensitive and responsive. Holding hands, hugging, or other ways of touching are how we show affection. But these acts go well beyond pleasure; touching one another can bring healing and comfort.

And our world needs more healing.

Today, you’re invited to try one of these methods:

DIY Massage: If you’re shy about visiting a massage therapist or short on time, you can give yourself a massage. Simply rub your hands together to warm them up and gently massage your face by using circular motions on your temples, jawbone joint, and on your shoulders. According to Psychology Today, “Evidence supports the idea that it’s effective: Self-massage has been shown to slow the heart rate and lower the level of the stress hormone cortisol.

Tickle Massage: Touch is great for all ages and especially fun cross-generationally. Not only will tickles result in touch, there’s sure to be lots of laughter as well. It’s a win-win situation!

Foot massage: Grab a tennis ball and place it on the ground. With bare feet, rub your right foot slowly over the ball, making sure to touch all areas. Try to pick up the ball between your toes. When you’re finished with the right foot, repeat with your left. It’s amazing how grounded and awake you’ll feel after this simple exercise.

Schedule a massage: There’s nothing quite as relaxing as a great massage! Cortisol levels decrease, blood flow increases, and joints loosen. We happen to think Miracles Massage is perfect (okay, so we may be biased). Schedule your appointment today.

Take a deep breath in. Let it out slowly. We hope to see you soon!