We all benefit from soft, touchable skin. The first sense to develop, touch has incredible physical and mental health benefits for both toucher and recipient. Touch expresses compassion, reduces stress, boosts the immune system, and lowers blood pressure. Touching another provides benefits, but self-touch also slows the heart rate and lowers the level of the stress hormone cortisol. Incredibly, touch is the only sense we cannot live without.

Touch is essential for our babies’ physical, emotional, and eventually social development. Positively touching our children stimulates pressure receptors under the skin lowering the heart rate, slowing the breath, decreasing stress hormones, and boosting the immune system. In other words, touch helps bodies stay healthy. Positive touch raises kids’ spirits immeasurably; science has shown that positive touch lowers depression and is a powerful way to communicate affection, care, and concern for your child. When your daughter comes off the basketball court and you say, “Tough game,” your words acknowledge her feelings, but when you wrap your arm around her shoulders, that is the nurturing part. Thus, touch is vital for building healthy family relationships. There is power in intentional gentle touch, a hug of apology, a gentle squeeze of encouragement. Touch stimulates emotional growth and increases positive bonding. The practice of regular hugs and cuddles is a simple, practical way to help build and maintain harmony and unity in the home. That is true between adult partners and children as well.

Touch is vital in our close relationships. Touch soothes, signalling safety and trust. Physical touch increases levels of dopamine and serotonin, two neurotransmitters that help regulate mood as well as relieve stress and anxiety. A simple touch between friends or loved ones can trigger release of oxytocin, a hormone that helps inspire positive thinking and maintaining an optimistic outlook on the world. The role of oxytocin for bonding also extends to helping generate feelings of compassion. We feel more connected in our close relationships because of touch. At Terra Supra, we are passionate about helping people feel good about themselves and reconnect with those around them through the power of touch.