MADISON, Wis. — Snuggling with a special someone can be therapeutic, but how about with a total stranger? At a business?
“The Snuggle House” in Madison, Wisconsin offers snuggles — with employees.
“It sounds crazy, because it’s two strangers that don’t know each other. In our culture, that doesn’t happen – and that’s what I don’t like,” manager Hannah Rode told WISC-TV. She added that “even just a hug can release the oxytocin in your body and your brain, which has powerful effects to reduce stress.”
The managers insist that snuggling is not sexual or romantic. ”Like, the lines could become messy, and if they become too messy, we would just end that client relationship, client-snuggler relationship,” commented Rode.
The Snuggle House has a staff of professional snugglers, including one man. The managers also plan on setting up a Snuggle Fund to help veterans. Rode said people who’ve dealt with traumatic situations, such as deployment or losing a loved one, may benefit the most from the cuddling.
Rode also said she’s aware that people might be skeptical of the idea. ”I’m totally ready for people to be against it or not understand, and I’m okay with it.”
