We can’t deny it—we live in a high-tech, low-touch world.

We’re actually touch-starved.

And this has gotten worse in this new world of social distancing we now find ourselves in.
 
I say this a lot because there are actual consequences to touch-starvation, especially as our access to touch is continually decreasing.
 
Physical touch, such as hugs, can make us happy, feel cared for, and loved.

Science can prove that touching another person releases oxytocin, the “love hormone,” which is associated with trust, empathy, and relationship-building.

No wonder massages or Reiki treatments make us feel calm, soothed, and relaxed.

Lack of touch has been shown to increase stress, anxiety, and depression... ☹

This has all sorts of negative effects on our physical and mental well-being because the hormone cortisol becomes released. And that can increase muscle tension while suppressing digestion and the immune system, making us more vulnerable to infection.
 
Did you know that self-touch also decreases the stress hormone cortisol in your body?

It can be a simple gesture like placing your hands on your chest to help you calm down or resting your hands on your belly to help you get centered.
 

Reiki has taught me that touch can be very grounding because it helps to remind me that the body is always present, in the here and now.

It’s the mind that wanders into the past and into the future, causing all different kinds of distress.

Here’s a quick (90 seconds) tip for you to help bring you back to center and balance:

• Place your right hand two inches below your navel.
• Place your left hand on your chest.
• Focus on your inhale and exhale.
• Make the exhale longer than the inhale.
• Stay until you’re feeling calm.

My services, both in person and virtual , integrate touch, to help you:

• Tune into your body
• Get out of your head
• And find the inner peace and calm you crave.

Touch is woven into both formats, so that we can work together on releasing those happy hormones in your brain and reducing the stress ones. Find out more on my website.
 
Let me know your questions, I’d be happy to answer them.

I look forward to being in touch. If you want to get in touch with me, click here.

About Andrea Deierlein:

I help high-performing professionals, struggling with anxiety and overwhelm, to relax, calm down and breathe again. Focusing on stress management and the mind-body-connection, I help my clients shift out of survival mode into optimizing their potential.

Once this baseline calm is established, I help my clients cultivate resilience, so they not only navigate the present better, but gain tools to navigate the future as well. Would you like to know more? Then let's get in touch.