BENEFITS OF HUGS
PROTECTION
The nurturing touch of a hug builds trust and a sense of safety. This helps with open and honest communication.
UPLIFTING
Hugs can instantly boost oxytocin levels, which heal feelings of loneliness, isolation, and anger.
INCREASED HAPPINESS
Holding a hug for an extended time lifts one’s serotonin levels, elevating mood and creating happiness.
IMMUNITY
Hugs strengthen the immune system. The gentle pressure on the sternum and the emotional charge this creates activates the Solar Plexus Chakra. This stimulates the thymus gland, which regulates and balances the body’s production of white blood cells, which keep you healthy and disease free.
SELF-ESTEEM BOOST
Hugging boosts self-esteem. From the time we’re born our family’s touch shows us that we’re loved and special. The associations of self-worth and tactile sensations from our early years are still imbedded in our nervous system as adults. The cuddles we received from our Mom and Dad while growing up remain imprinted at a cellular level, and hugs remind us at a somatic level of that. Hugs, therefore, connect us to our ability to self love.
RELAXATION
Hugging relaxes muscles. Hugs release tension in the body. Hugs can take away pain; they soothe aches by increasing circulation into the soft tissues.
PARASYMPATHETIC BALANCE
Hugs balance out the nervous system. The galvanic skin response of someone receiving and giving a hug shows a change in skin conductance. The effect in moisture and electricity in the skin suggests a more balanced state in the nervous system – parasympathetic.
LOVE FLOWS
Hugs teach us how to give and receive. There is equal value in receiving and being receptive to warmth, as to giving and sharing. Hugs educate us how love flows both ways.
MEDITATIVE
Hugs are so much like meditation and laughter. They teach us to let go and be present in the moment. They encourage us to flow with the energy of life. Hugs get you out of your circular thinking patterns and connect you with your heart and your feelings and your breath.
ENERGY EXCHANGE
The energy exchange between the people hugging is an investment in the relationship. It encourages empathy and understanding. And, it’s synergistic, which means the whole is more than the sum of its parts: 1 1 = 3 or more! This synergy is more likely to result in win-win outcomes.
Huggzilla Ethos
The camp was founded in 2015 and we could not be more excited every year to return Home to host our beautiful Playa citizens with our giant cuddle puddle, full bar, workshops, lectures, music, meditation, yoga and a whole lotta LOVE! Get ready to expand your heart and mind while dancing in the dust together, cuddle or jump on trampolines with our teddy bears, learning a new thing or two from our workshops and lectures and gifting beautiful playa souls with our hugs and music! For 2019 we are expanding our amazing Bear Lounge, adding a full bar, a Bear Dive Game and improving our sound stage. If we generate enough funds we will also bring our super amazing Sound/Art Car. Spontaneous musical jam sessions will occur throughout the week amongst our numerous campmates musicians. Interactive participation amongst the passerby is highly encouraged as we offer an assortment of percussion equipment that people can grab and create music with.
Come jump in the sea of teddy bears and cuddle until you fall asleep! If we catch you asleep at 8am you will be awoken by a surprise yoga class! This cuddle puddle is the largest ever at Burning Man.
Designed to foster expression, connection, and release of the natural "Love Hormone," oxytocin. Join us for some amazing Playa deep house beats from 6pm-midnight as well as the sunrise where we are also going to serve coffee.
Shaded public lounge area with couches, beds, life-size teddy bears, and other comfortable lounge accessories for fellow burners to escape the elements and rest their feet. Latin music, full bar, morning coffee, fun games and a giant BEAR DIVE! Join our amazing workshops and lectures!
The HUGGZILLA MV made it to the Playa in 2018 but was not drivable. We still have a lot of work ahead of us and hopefully we are going to generate enough funds to get it finished and ready for 2019.
HUGGZILLA TEAM
IVAN MARTINETTI
SCOTT MAYNARD
Kate Roskova
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HUGGZILLA DJs & PERFORMERS
If you would like to be one of the performers on our SOUND CAR or LOUNGE please fill out the application below PERFORMER APPLICATION
