July 2, 2010 in Emotional Healing, Massage Therapy, Wellness by empoweringwellness

The Need for Touch – A Follow Up

A while back, I wrote a post called “The Need for Touch.” I came across this quote by Virginia Satir this morning that makes the perfect complement to my original post. I want to share it with you today.

We need 4 hugs a day for survival.
We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance.
We need 12 hugs a day for growth.

~ Virginia Satir

Studies have shown that nurturing touch has remarkable benefits. Touch can be relaxing and comforting; it reassures. It helps to relax the body, and when this happens our immune system is actually strengthened.

I love this article titled, The Benefits of Human Touch. It concludes by saying that positive touch benefits everyone.

Touch is vital to the positive health and development of all human beings, regardless of age. Humans need to touch and be touched, just like they need food and water. It is a way of communicating, lifting their spirits, and experiencing happiness in their lives. Without it, people experience sadness, loneliness and isolation. It is important to have this physical contact in people’s lives, yet in today’s society many people are removed from benefiting from it due to negative associations with touch or lack of someone to share touch with.

This is why people have started seeking other forms of human touch in their lives such as attending a Cuddle Party, going for a regular massage, or experiencing other forms of healthy touch.