Hugging for Autism

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I came across this yoga instructor who is really gung-ho for autism awareness, but to bring awareness, she's asking for people to send in pictures of hugs. She's calling it Hugasana. She seems to be suffering from the typical NT syndrome ( http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Neur ... l_syndrome ) when communicating with this aspie yoga instructor who is offended (?) by this tactic of "love and hugs".
What do you think of this "hugs for autism" thing? https://www.facebook.com/Yoga4mums/post ... 9448863563

Not sure why you think this Yogi sufferes from "NT Syndrome." ??

Also, who is offended by this? The Yoga instructor promoting "love and hugs," is offended by her own campaign? Your writing is confusing. I'm not sure what you're trying to say. Please clarify.

As for what I think of this "hugs for autism," thing, well, I think it's auesome. Why not? Nothing wrong with love & hugs and a whole lot right with it. In fact, scientific studies have proven that Charlotte Diamond was only 1/2 way there with her 4 hugs a day song, as it's been proven that the ideal number of hugs per day for human contact, stress relief, happiness etc and so forth is 8 hugs per day. True story - I'm not making this up.

I've never been against hugs, but have certainly been a lot more shy about them & PDA in general throughout my life until I met an Aspie who's become one of my closest friends who happens to be about the huggiest person in the world. He greets people with hugs like others might with a handshake or a hello. Well, not everyone, but many - friends, family, regular customers at work etc. I've since become a LOT more comfortable with hugs.. and apparently I'm pretty good at it, too, as he once told me "you give the best hugs," which coming from the huggiest person I know is a serious compliment. I've since become a lot more open to hugging relatives w/o feeling awkward about it - I suppose due to my increased comfort with it, as well as confidence that my hugs are well received and not awkward etc thanks to the feedback of my friend. I hugged my aunt a few months ago in the hospital while my gramma was dying, and her immediate response was, "that felt really good." Pretty cool.

There's no real correlation of hugs to Autism, unless you want to get into the details of some people being completely averse to them and others being extremely open due to various interpretations of social norms - ie either not knowing that pda is inappropriate for the situation, OR not caring that that there are unwritten social rules against something so natural and good feeling and just doing it anyways. Regardless, no matter what cause you're promoting, I don't really see a problem with doing it with hugs & love - it's all positive feel good stuff, so why knock it?

And actually, come to think of it, since so many of us DO have problems with PDA or sensory issues with hugging or anxiety/confidence issues and so on and so forth (or the opposite and we really like to hug others) - it's kind of a really good concept to attach to an Autism awareness campaign, IMO, as we discuss it right here it's bringing those things to our awareness and perhaps there will be many people who learn from it and become more comfortable with hugs, love & affection by realizing the potential benefits of working on those aspects of themselves.

I actually like a good hug every now and again. :O)

Good intentioned although most aspies hate being hugged. I hate being hugged by people unless there a significant other.

I'm sorry, I'm not very good at being clear. Something I get yelled at a lot for >,<

The Aspie is offended by the hugging campaign and by the way the yogi approached her, basically asking to study her because an aspie yogi seems to be like some sort of alien to her. I'm sure the NT yogi has good intentions and I do like that she is bringing awareness to autism, it just struck me as funny and awkward that she would pick hugging, as it is usually stigmatized as a bad thing for those on the spectrum. Obviously not everyone has the same issues with being touched, but it was still weird.

The aspie is part of a private group I'm in and she shared the messages, and the NT yogi just came off as being a little sanctimonious and well, typical NT mindset as is described in the neurotypical syndrome page. I am fairly certain she means well, but these other aspies are upset by her choice in wording and subject. I have since contacted her to see if I can clear things up with her (I hate conflict, especially when I think it's all a huge miscommunication, and therefore have this unavoidable urger to "fix" it. Plus I'm always so curious about everyone's points of views, hence this random posting).

As for me, I dislike physical contact. It's not too bad with my husband or kids, but when I get overloaded I cannot have them touch me. It feels horrible and can make me physically ill. It's especially bad if a stranger does it, most especially if I'm not expecting it. If I am expecting it, I can brace myself so it isn't as bad, but I would prefer not to have physical contact. I don't know if the benefits are there if it causes such distress. I have lived for 28 years with this and have not been able to "fix" it.

It's not just one example, either.

I know several other Aspies that are quite huggy people, from little kids right on up to adults. It seems especially common among gay Aspies that I know, now that I think of it.

Although some of them have gone through periods where they're very averse to any touch/contact, so that can still happen to them sometimes, too, depending on life & stress levels etc.

Sometimes we need to communicate before there are misunderstandings.

Yes, I wish I could remember that before my mouth runs off ahead of my brain, lol

I can't even say how much I hate being hugged, or touched.