If you think she may be receptive to this, try it—but move slowly, and be prepared for rejection. To play it safe, keep your hands still on her back or keep one hand over your other arm. Shorter hugs are lighter and more casual. The average "hello" or "goodbye" hug should be about 1 or 2 seconds of holding.
They found that a longer hug — between five and 10 seconds — delivered a more positive impact compared to shorter ones.
Scientists say the perfect hug should last more than five seconds – but there is one problem. Too-quick embraces are less pleasant, according to research. But how do you get the other person to stand still for long enough?
“The average length of a hug between two people is three seconds, but researchers have discovered something fantastic. When a hug lasts 20 seconds, there is a therapeutic effect on the body and mind. The reason is that a sincere hug produces a hormone called oxytocin, also known as the love hormone.
Keep your hugs short and sweet.
When you're hugging your crush, the last thing you want is to make them feel smothered. Instead, limit yourself to a short, 3-second hug—that's how long most people hug for. As you and your crush get more comfortable with each other, you can always work up to longer hugs!
A 'seven second hug' takes you to level two – it's a sincere, genuine transaction of love and care. Level three is the 'run up hug' – a euphoric, outburst of affection.
Place one arm under her armpit, in the lower half of her ribcage. Put your other hand on the general area of her shoulder blade. As the hug deepens, you can hold her waist or wrap both arms around the small of her back. Alternately, hug her from behind.
Length and timing. A quick squeeze is usually platonic. The longer the hug lasts, the more likely it is that they have romantic feelings for you. Take timing into account, too.
Put your hands around her waist from behind.
Touch her gently so you don't startle her. If you two get really comfortable she might even let you slide your hand down a little lower. Once she's comfortable with you putting your hands on her waist, grab her and swing her around. Then, she'll be facing you.
During a hug, we release oxytocin, a hormone that relaxes us and lowers anxiety. It's often called the “cuddle hormone,” and when it's released during these 20-second hugs it can effectively lower blood pressure and reduce the stress hormone norepinephrine.
Albers said there is a biological reaction to a hug. "There is a release of oxytocin. That is that feel-good chemical that when it's released, we feel bonded to those around us. There's also a decrease in cortisol, the stress hormone that pumps through our bodies when we feel stressed or overwhelmed," Albers said.
Remember touch is essential and there is no substitution for a great big hug! As author and family therapist Virginia Satir once said, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth”.
Lean forward and put your two arms around your crush, pressing the person you are hugging warmly toward you. If you are taller, the shorter person's arms should be around your neck, and you should embrace them around the waist. Keep them in that position for no more than a couple seconds, and let go as soon as they do.
Make quick, casual contact.
Lean in, bending from your waist. The idea here is not full-body contact, which is a much more intimate and personal hug. Wrap one arm around her arm and place your hand in-between her shoulder blades. Wrap your other arm around her and place your hand below your first hand.
#10 The side-by-side hug.
She will wrap her arms around your waist or an arm around your arm. This means she likes you or she's comfortable around you. In fact, so much that she wants to stay close to you wherever you guys go.
A tight bear hug or a hug with back pats is usually friendly and platonic. If their arms are around your waist or they're hugging you from behind, the hug is romantic. A quick distant hug or a sideways hug is mostly just polite and impersonal.
Keep your touches light and short so she doesn't get uncomfortable. If you two have been having a fun conversation so far, feel free to gently touch her on the hand or on the forearm. Don't go any higher than that, and definitely don't try to grab her waist or anywhere on her torso.
If you're two feet shorter, unless you're comfortable being picked up, don't try to come in arms over. Accept it, come in arms under. Same the other way, if you're seven feet tall, unless you know the other person is okay being picked up, you're gonna be arms over. If you're taller, you have some choices to make.
Give her a light and casual touch.
Brush your arm up against hers, place your hand on the small of her back, or just pass her a pen or a notebook and let your hands linger near each other's.
Psychologists in London claim they have cracked the code on the ideal embrace, saying hugs should last between five and 10 seconds. According to researchers at Goldsmiths university, longer hugs were found to provide an immediate pleasure boost compared to shorter ones (lasting just one second).
Let's use the framework for what's been reported related to the hugging rules at NBC. Here's the new NBC guidance on hugging: "If you wish to hug a colleague, you have to do a quick hug, then an immediate release, and step away to avoid body contact."
Being hugged uplifts our mood. If you are feeling isolated or are going through a rough time, a hug releases endorphins. Endorphins are the body's natural pain relievers. These neurotransmitters increase our feelings of pleasure.