A hug is often a beginning and an ending. Many parents begin and end the day embracing their children. Spouses and life partners say daily “Goodbyes” and “Hellos” accompanied by hugs. Friends greet one another with hugs when meeting for a lunch date and embrace again before they part. Family gatherings, weddings, celebrations and reunions become a dance of arms as relatives line up to embrace one another. As arms open and close, we hold someone near and convey a message of peace.

Sharon Askey, owner of Gracefull Heart wellness center, in Carlisle, understands the powerful effect of hugging. “A hug is medicine for the soul. During the precious moments of a hug, a soul can be lifted above earthly concerns, even if only momentarily,” she explains. “A welcomed hug allows those earthly concerns to not feel as heavy; with the embrace of another, we feel supported.”

In response to an experience or challenge, a simple hug can relay a profound message from the giver to the receiver. The giver conveys a message of encouragement, while the receiver feels cherished. A hug is an expression of love or an affirmation of caring that exemplifies how much someone means to us.

The feeling of support transferred from person to person in a hug comes from the physical touch and expression of compassion. “The compassion, love and caring can be felt in a very deep way, and a hug can communicate so much more than words,” affirms Askey. “Hugging ‘heart to heart’ can make it even more special.”

We may hug people we know well, or we may hug people we just met because we feel a connection with them. “It seems like such a simple thing, and yet it is so powerful,” says Askey. “A hug helps us connect to each other and reconnect to the oneness of all.”

Gracefull Heart is located at 1953 W. Trindle Rd., Ste. C, in Carlisle. For more information, call 717-287-0937, email [email protected] or visit Gracefull-Heart.com.