Clip from newspaper.
heres a clippy i read in the paper today:
CUDDLE PARTIES OFF INTIMACY WITHOUT SEX
From the people who brought you botox fetes and yoga for dogs, now there's the cuddle party.
At its most basic, this imported New York trend caters to adults who want the intimacy of sex without actually having sex.
"A cuddle party is an event for adults to come together to practise welcomed touch and affectionate play and not have it be sexualized," explains Reid Mihalko, the Manhattan masseuse and sex educator behind the concept. "Our instinct since we've been kids is to just pile up on top of each other. But somewhere along the way as adults, that became not OK."
To keep cuddle parties from becoming orgies, a code of conduct is enforced. Pyjamas must be worn -- nothing risque' --no liquor is allowed, participants must ask permission before touiching each other, and a "cuddle lifeguard" and "cuddle caddy" are designated to monitor behaviour.
"The big safety measure in how we handle the sexual energy is by talking to people about it. If everybody gets on the same page and agrees that it doesn't have to be sexual, you can get a lot of work done. It's the whole barn-raising mentality."
Since Mihalko hosted his first official cuddle party three months ago, at least a dozen have been held across the U.S. and Canada. In the next two weeks alone, parties are scheduled in the Birgin Islands, Hawaii and California.
"It's kind of weird to go into a room full of strangers and semi-strangers and say, 'I need someone to hold me,'" Mihalko concedes. "But at the same time, (touch) is what brings us together as human beings."
Adult cuddle gatherings have been going on for decades. It's not unusual to see "cuddle puddles" of intertwined bodies at yoga retreats or at raves. And at large cultural events such as the week-long communal Burning Man event, domes and pools are set up specifically to facilitate group cuddling.
Sue McGarvie, noted Canadian sex therapist, says cuddle parties are a fantastic idea, in theory. Although human touch and interaction are vital to people's wellbeing, she's concerned about the effectiveness of a cuddle party's policing. "Canadians may be too polite for this," she muses. "There's going to be a lot of guys who don't get the cues to stop touching."
PARTY RULES:
-Pyjamas stay on the whole time
-No Sex
-Ask for permission to kiss or nuzzle anyone
-If you're a yes, say yes, If you're a no, say no
-If you're a maybe, say NO
-You are encouraged to change your mind from a yes to a no, no to a yes anytime you want.
-No dry humping
-Communicate, communicate, communicate.
-If you're in a relationship, communcate and set your boundaries before you go
-Get your cuddle life guard on duty or cuddle caddy if there's a concern, problem or question.
-Cyring and giggling are both welcomed and encouraged
-Outside of your personal relationships, it's nobody's business who you cuddle, so please be respectful of other people's privacy when sharing with the outside world about cuddle parties
-Arrive on time
-Be hygienically savvy
-Clean up after yourself
-Always say thank you and practice good cuddle manners
haha, amusing shite in newspapers. doubt you'd find me at one of those parties unless i'm stoned. i'm not one for letting people touch me, let alone strangers. gotta love the reference to Burning man though....
CUDDLE PARTIES OFF INTIMACY WITHOUT SEX
From the people who brought you botox fetes and yoga for dogs, now there's the cuddle party.
At its most basic, this imported New York trend caters to adults who want the intimacy of sex without actually having sex.
"A cuddle party is an event for adults to come together to practise welcomed touch and affectionate play and not have it be sexualized," explains Reid Mihalko, the Manhattan masseuse and sex educator behind the concept. "Our instinct since we've been kids is to just pile up on top of each other. But somewhere along the way as adults, that became not OK."
To keep cuddle parties from becoming orgies, a code of conduct is enforced. Pyjamas must be worn -- nothing risque' --no liquor is allowed, participants must ask permission before touiching each other, and a "cuddle lifeguard" and "cuddle caddy" are designated to monitor behaviour.
"The big safety measure in how we handle the sexual energy is by talking to people about it. If everybody gets on the same page and agrees that it doesn't have to be sexual, you can get a lot of work done. It's the whole barn-raising mentality."
Since Mihalko hosted his first official cuddle party three months ago, at least a dozen have been held across the U.S. and Canada. In the next two weeks alone, parties are scheduled in the Birgin Islands, Hawaii and California.
"It's kind of weird to go into a room full of strangers and semi-strangers and say, 'I need someone to hold me,'" Mihalko concedes. "But at the same time, (touch) is what brings us together as human beings."
Adult cuddle gatherings have been going on for decades. It's not unusual to see "cuddle puddles" of intertwined bodies at yoga retreats or at raves. And at large cultural events such as the week-long communal Burning Man event, domes and pools are set up specifically to facilitate group cuddling.
Sue McGarvie, noted Canadian sex therapist, says cuddle parties are a fantastic idea, in theory. Although human touch and interaction are vital to people's wellbeing, she's concerned about the effectiveness of a cuddle party's policing. "Canadians may be too polite for this," she muses. "There's going to be a lot of guys who don't get the cues to stop touching."
PARTY RULES:
-Pyjamas stay on the whole time
-No Sex
-Ask for permission to kiss or nuzzle anyone
-If you're a yes, say yes, If you're a no, say no
-If you're a maybe, say NO
-You are encouraged to change your mind from a yes to a no, no to a yes anytime you want.
-No dry humping
-Communicate, communicate, communicate.
-If you're in a relationship, communcate and set your boundaries before you go
-Get your cuddle life guard on duty or cuddle caddy if there's a concern, problem or question.
-Cyring and giggling are both welcomed and encouraged
-Outside of your personal relationships, it's nobody's business who you cuddle, so please be respectful of other people's privacy when sharing with the outside world about cuddle parties
-Arrive on time
-Be hygienically savvy
-Clean up after yourself
-Always say thank you and practice good cuddle manners
haha, amusing shite in newspapers. doubt you'd find me at one of those parties unless i'm stoned. i'm not one for letting people touch me, let alone strangers. gotta love the reference to Burning man though....