Celebrating the loving touch this Valentine’s Day

We’ve got the feels this Valentine’s Day as we celebrate the sensational sense of touch – what feels good, and how it can make you happier. And no need to blush – we’re keeping this completely clean!

Touch can be comforting, arousing, soothing and invigorating. Our skin, the largest organ of our bodies, is a tingling web of nerve endings and touch receptors which respond to contact from outside stimuli. This system is responsible for all the sensations we feel – cold, hot, smooth, rough, tickle, itch and many more. Sadly, the Covid pandemic has created a touch drought for many of us, with record numbers of people experiencing exacerbated feelings of stress and loneliness.

That’s because human beings process touch in far more complicated ways than ‘fire is hot, take hand away from fire’! Like other primates, touch is a way of bonding and forming social structures. Studies into human touch have also found it’s a rich language in itself which elicits specific responses in our brain – a big hug helps release oxytocin which promotes trust and co-operation; holding the hand of a loved one can comfort by deactivating stress-related regions of the brain.

So, with warm hugs outside of our bubble still off the cards for now, here are a few (clean) ways to get those feel good tingles…

Hot, hot, hot!

As one of the most basic of sensations on the skin, playing with temperature can bring pleasurable benefits. A long soak in a hot bath is the ‘go to’ treat for relieving stress and calming the mind. But did you know that heat therapy can improve circulation and vascular function, which in turn may reduce blood pressure? Watch your limbs turn pink as the bloody rushes to the surface of the skin to cool you. And once you leave a hot bath, your core temperature dips signalling to the brain that it’s time to sleep. A long, hot bath before bed is a cliché but it’s a good one.

Cold water buzz

And at the other end of the temperature scale… Do not be afraid of the cold, it can leave you feeling sensational! Cold water therapy is having a moment right now – everything from ice baths to sea swimming. But you don’t have to brave the great outdoors to get the benefits. Try it out near the end of your next shower – turn the dial slowly to the coldest temperature you can withstand and stay there for 10 to 20 seconds. Decrease the temperature and increase your time with each shower to reap the benefits – studies have shown just a daily 30-second cold shower could reduce illness by a third. Along with improving your immune system, a jolt of cold water on the skin boosts endorphins which promotes euphoria and the release of sex hormones, leaving cold water bathers on an orgasmic natural high!

Feel the pressure

Massage is a great form of touch that you can do yourself. There are many good ‘at home’ massage devices available to buy to alleviate pain or relax tension, but we love these acupressure mats. Also called a ‘bed of nails’ it may appear scary but the sharp spikes aren’t as severe as they look (although it does help to wear clothes when lying or standing on it, then build up to bare skin contact). Working in a similar way to acupuncture, the mats help restore balance within the body alleviating stress and promoting elation and happiness.

Yogi Bare

Comfy not frumpy

It’s no surprise that sales of loungewear have rocketed during lockdown. With rarely any need to dress for the outside world, we humans have reverted to putting comfort above most things when getting dressed. All-day pyjamas, jogging bottoms, wrap-around cardigans and duvet coats have become staples in many of our wardrobes, with luxury fabrics including silk, cashmere and natural cotton boosting the feel good factor.

But don’t forget that comfortable dressing begins with your underwear. Our Comfort range is so-called because we believe we’ve designed some of the most comfortable bras around! All are wirefree and most are lined in soft cotton so they feel ultra-smooth, like a second skin.