I like to believe that I am the biggest fan of cuddling. I mean, I love to cuddle, and lately, if I don’t cuddle I find it so hard to sleep. Cuddling is a must for me after sex and it is a must for me when I’m sleeping on the same bed with a partner. I mean, why sleep far away from me when we are on the same bed? Hold me and let me have a good sleep. How about you? Do you love cuddling?
There are several other reasons for anyone to love cuddling. What is yours? If you don’t have one already, this article might give you one. I will also be introducing you to 19 cuddling positions that you can explore with your partner, friends, or family depending on which works for your situation.
IS CUDDLING AN INTIMATE ACT?
Should cuddling be considered an intimate act? For so many people, cuddling is intimate. Others would tell you that cuddling is more intimate than sex. I’m still trying to understand how! It is the reason why so many people wouldn’t want to cuddle someone they are just casually dating or someone they are having a one-time fling with. Such people can only cuddle if they have an emotional connection with you or if they have feelings for you. I mean, it’s fine if that’s your thing but is it really that deep?
For me, unless the sex sucks or I didn’t have a good time, I’d want to cuddle after. I don’t care if it will only be a one-time thing or if you aren’t my boyfriend. It really is just about cuddling and having arms around me or another warm body next to mine while I go to sleep. It wouldn’t be about the person unless I’m that into him. It doesn’t even have to be about sex even, cuddling platonic friends is a thing too.
WHAT ARE THE WAYS TO CUDDLE?
Before I talk about the cuddling positions, I need to mention the two main types of cuddling:
- Naked cuddling
Here, both partners have absolutely nothing on. It’s just skin to skin and it’s usually the type you’d go for after having sex. It can feel good for the woman to feel the hardness of the penis on her butt while she sleeps (from my own experience). It can also feel great in a cold-weather because of the warmth that another naked body offers.
- Clothed cuddling
This type is common for friends, family, and couples even. You can be in your sleepwear/clothes and cuddle friends or relatives without it being considered sexual. It’s like hugging someone in bed, so it’s not that deep unless you want to believe that it is.
THE 9 CUDDLING POSITIONS (from IndianWomenBlog & RedBookMag)
Ignore the sexes depicted in the images. The positions can work for any sex or gender.
- THE STANDARD SPOON
This is the classic cuddling position where the taller person (big spoon) lies behind the shorter person (small spoon)
- TEASPOON & LADLE
This is just like the spoon but the shorter person ends up being the bigger spoon. In other cases, the woman becomes the big spoon whereas the man is the small spoon.
- HARD-ON HUG
Here, one partner has a hard-on and the other creates a little space between the hard-on and their butt
- ON THE ARM
- MOUNTAIN CLIMBER
- HONEYMOON HUG
- ON-TOP
- FACE-TO-FACE
- SWEETHEART CRADLE
- ARM DRAPER
- HOLD-MY-HAND
- THE FEET-TOUCH
- THE ESCAPE
- THREESOME TOUCH
- THE LEG HUG
- THE TEAMWORK SNUGGLE
- BUTT-PILLOW
- LAP-PILLOW
- THE WIND MILL
THE BENEFITS
- IT HELPS WITH INSOMNIA
Cuddling helps you sleep faster, longer, and better, so if you usually have trouble sleeping, maybe you should try cuddling. I find it so hard to sleep sometimes but once you hold me, I would be fast asleep in a few minutes. It’s same for so many people!
- STRENGTHENS BONDS IN RELATIONSHIPS & FRIENDSHIPS
There’s a reason why oxytocin is called the ‘cuddle’ hormone. It is a feel-good or bonding hormone that is released when you are physically affectionate with people. It can be released when you hug or cuddle and the warm feeling is great for a great connection and bonding. It can also build and improve trust between people.
- IT RELIEVES STRESS
Don’t we all love to be hugged when we stressed? Imagine getting a long hug in the form of a cuddle after a stressful day. Won’t it feel nice? Cuddling reduces the levels of the ‘stress’ hormone (cortisol) in your body. The oxytocin released also works with the reduction in stress hormones to give you the relaxation you need.
- RELIEVES PAIN
The oxytocin released during cuddling can go a long way to relieve some amount of pain in your body because it blocks pain signals. One key example is stress headaches. Cuddling easily relieves that.
- GREAT FOR THE HEART
Cuddling lowers your chances of getting heart disease because of reduced stress levels, lowered heart rate, and lowered blood pressure (because of oxytocin released). So, if you love your heart and you need it in the best condition, cuddle often.
- IT BOOSTS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
If you want your immune system to function better, you need to cuddle often. Reduced stress levels from cuddling have a positive effect on the immune system because it strengthens it. Hence, your immune system is able to fight infections easily and help you heal faster from all kinds of ailments. In some cases, it can fight off infections before you see symptoms (an example is the common cold).
- FULFILLS THE HUMAN NEED FOR TOUCH
There’s a thing called touch starvation that happens when you haven’t been touched by another person for a long time. Humans need touch; we crave the calming effect that comes with it. Cuddling offers you more than just touch and it keeps you from getting ‘touch starved’.
- REDUCES ANXIETY AND WORKS AS A MOOD-BOOSTER
The anti-stress and calming effects of cuddling is great if you have anxiety disorders. It can reduce your anxiety levels and boost your mood to make you feel more confident. Also, if you are feeling blue, cuddling can be of great help to you because of the feel-good hormone it releases. I would want to cuddle when I’m depressed because it would help me feel less alone and improve my mood.
- WORKS GREAT FOR AFTERCARE
I already mentioned that cuddling after good sex is a must for me. It’s a form of aftercare and most people don’t know it. Cuddling after sex makes you feel more connected to each other and less alone. It also makes you feel appreciated and cared for, so don’t take it for granted.
- BABIES NEED TO BE CUDDLED TOO!
Finally, did you know that newborn babies crave touch, hence cuddling them is very important? It makes them feel safe, warm and promotes their overall health and immunity. It’s also very important for bonding between the baby and the mom.
I honestly don’t know why anyone would hate cuddling. Do you hate cuddling? I need to know the reason why, so kindly let me know in the comments. Do you get other benefits from cuddling that weren’t mentioned in this article? Let me know in the comments too!
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