Hugging Booth For Healing! Downtown Prescott, AZ Feb 11-14, 2022

When arriving at my monthly women’s empowerment circle, Magical Mamas, we hug instead of shake hands. Hugging is our way of saying hello to our fellow sisters. A few months back, one of my sisters said to me, “My husband and I have been working on incorporating more non-sexual intimacy. When he hugged me, all I could think was “I wish he could give me a Tiffany hug!”.” My response to her was simply, “I can teach him!”

I surprise most people I hug with my unique hug ability. The average person starts to move away after about 3 seconds. I have often experienced a friend or colleague start to pull away, realize I’m not budging, then say ‘oh, you give REAL hugs!’ Is there any other kind?! A REAL HUG, as my friends and I call it, is one that lasts 20 seconds or longer.

Before we dive into the physiology behind a hug, the most important aspect of a REAL HUG is presence. Just as we can usually tell when someone is ‘waiting to respond’ versus ‘actively listening when we are speaking’, we can FEEL when someone isn’t present. That feeling is connection. As humans, we thrive on connection. Now, here’s where I sometimes lose people. I start to sound too ‘WOO’. Some of the greatest minds in human history incorporated the tangible & the intangible, the physical & the metaphysical. Einstein and Tesla are among my faves. “Everything is Energy”.

Presence is allowing ourselves, in that precise moment, to BE only there. We are thinking only about the person we are hugging, even if it’s someone we just met. The other party has a soul. Every soul deserves to be shown love. Whether a fellow human, an animal, or a tree, embracing in a hug and thinking only about sharing love and kindness with the one in your arms… that’s presence. Humans get caught in the tangible and forget that the intangible is where ‘all the magic happens’. The energetics that we cannot see are how we build the ‘master key’ to a life journey filled with enjoyment.

Let’s talk SCIENCE! I am an avid researcher, especially on things related to the human body and healing. I learned about the benefits of a 20 second hug sometime in my late 20’s, during times of chronic illness and whacked-out hormones. My breastfeeding journey opened my eyes to the euphoria of non-sexual oxytocin releases, and I was hooked! A REAL HUG for 20 seconds or longer activates the hypothalamus to produce oxytocin. From there, the pituitary gland sends oxytocin through the blood. Oxytocin is also dispersed from the hypothalamus to oxytocin receptors in the brain and spinal cord that guide our behavior. This process enables the infinite benefits of a REAL HUG. Researchers have highlighted some of the benefits, which include reduced stress, immune system boost, decreased depression, better sleep, and increased cardiovascular wellness. PSST, remember above when I mentioned the ‘woo’? The energy of the heart IS LOVE! And that is why I LOVE to LOVE! Articles from Dignity Health, University of California, Berkeley, and SCL Health have linked the studies performed by researchers on these benefits.

Hugging Etiquette. Yes, it’s a thing! I’ve got screenshots of memes on my phone for when I know a friend needs a hug, or even when I do. I share the image, then either ask if they would like to meet up for a hug or I state that I could really use a hug. Being clear about if you are the giver or receiver of a hug, can help those who are new to REAL HUGGING. When we know we are receiving a hug, it sounds a bit in our heads like “Oh, this person wants to share love with me?! Okay, yes! I accept.” And when we know we are giving a hug, we can set the intention of sharing love with the other person. As you get more comfortable giving and receiving hugs, an alchemy begins to happen, and both people walk away feeling as though they got the biggest cuddly bear hug of all!

Reading about hugging won’t get your heart healthy. We encourage you to experience the benefits for yourself!
* Singing * What the world needs now… is love, sweet love… it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of. Have you ever asked someone you’ve never met before if they want a hug?! It’s so exhilarating!

For our local readers, we invite you to HUGGING BOOTH FOR HEALING: A Crowdfunding event for mom startups! We are taking over the Tour Prescott trailer at the Plaza Courtyard on the corner of Montezuma and Goodwin in downtown Prescott, AZ! Join us next Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, February 11-14, 2022. We will have FREE REAL HUGS, gifts for you and your Valentine, herbal wellness goods, and more! Donations accepted, no purchase necessary.

All proceeds are considered crowdfunding for moms starting businesses, to benefit Three Goddess Gardens, Prescott Wellness Expo, and Ayurnatana.

Thank you for reading Three Goddess Gardens’ first blog post! Sending you lots of love and healing hugs, Tiffany

We appreciate Tour Prescott for their support and sponsorship!

2/2/22