frequent hugs. The pressure of a hug may stimulate your thymus gland, responsible for the regulation and balance of your white blood cells, another way in which hugging may support your immune system. This reduction in cortisol and perceived stress may also help you stay calm during a stressful event, such as a presentation at work or medical test. The reduction in stress also lowers your heart rate and blood pressure, which may reduce your potential risk for heart disease. The reduction of stress may also have a direct response on


the prevention of other diseases. The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine has carried out multiple studies on the significance of touch and found a reduc- tion in pain, lowered glucose levels in children with diabetes and improved immune system in people with cancer.


Hugs Each Day May Help Keep Depression at Bay


A hug is also one of the easiest ways to demonstrate appre-


ciation and acknowledges the person you are hugging as impor- tant to you. Nearly 55 percent of all communication is nonverbal, so a single gesture of hugging is an excellent method of com- municating love and care. Hugs stimulate your brain to release several other chemicals


that affect your mood and emotions. The first, dopamine, is a hormone that evokes pleasure in the brain. Endorphins and se- rotonin are also released, helping to reduce pain and feelings of sadness. According to Debra Castaldo, Ph.D., relationship expert


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and couples and family therapist: "We also know that hugging our loved ones promotes healthy


emotional attachment and intimacy, which is the foundation of a happy, healthy long-term relationship.”


Unfortunately, with age, the number of touches and hugs


received often goes down. Seniors who live alone may not ex- perience a touch on a daily basis. Affection may make a big difference in the emotional and physical health of seniors. Sha- ron Farber, Ph.D., commented in Psychology Today:


“Being touched and touching someone else are fundamen- tal modes of human interaction, and increasingly, many people are seeking out their own professional touchers and body arts teachers — chiropractors, physical therapists, Gestalt therapists, Rolfers, the Alexander-technique and Feldenkrais people, massage therapists, martial arts and T’ai Chi Ch’uan instructors. And some even wait in physicians’ offices for a physical examination for ailments with no organic cause — they wait to be touched.”


Hug Evolution: Mindful Hugging Yogi masters also recognize the health benefits associated


with physical touch, and specifically with hugging. Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, who made hugging meditation famous, is a global leader whose key teaching is that through mindfulness people can learn to live in the present moment. He believes that a good hug may have life-changing effects on the individual. He writes about his pursuit of hugging meditation:


"When we hug, our hearts connect and we know that we


are not separate beings. Hugging with mindfulness and concen- tration can bring reconciliation, healing, understanding and much happiness."


Hugging meditation can be practiced with your mother,


father, sibling, spouse or even a tree, according to Hanh. The practice begins with the recognition of each other's presence and then an embrace that encompasses three deep breaths. The first breath is designed to help you acknowledge your presence in the present moment. With the second breath you become aware of the presence of the other and with your third breath you celebrate with grati- tude your presence with the other person. Hanh believes that hugging in such a way brings reality into the present moment, and possibly reconciliation. At the same time, this practice re- leases the other health benefits mentioned above.


Fun Facts About Hugging Hugs are healthy for your emotional and physical well-being.


Even a 10-second hug may give you most of the benefits listed above. Based on one study, those health benefits may include reduced fatigue, improved heart health and reduced depression.


Cuddling, a longer form of hugging, with your partner, re-


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