Dos and don'ts

Etiquette
- Always respect another person's space.
- Ask permission when you need or want to share a hug [unless you're already on such intimate terms with the huggee that you've established that hugging is acceptable w/out permission].
- There is a difference between a warm, friendly hug and a passionate embrace - please hug accordingly.
- A hug is a gentle embrace - not the Heimlich.

Techniques
Some huggers pat while hugging. Others simply hold and embrace. Gently rub the back of your huggee and they'll be back for more! [Unless this is a first hug, in which case gently rubbing can be misconstrued as creepy space-invading!]

Me-Hug
A great way to start the day and whenever you need or want a hug. Warm-up your hugging muscles with a real good stretch by wrapping your arms around yourself!

Hand-Hug (aka the Reserved Hugger's Hug)
This is the most common and frequently shared hug... a simple handshake.

Side-to-side Hug (aka the Buddy Hug)
Huggers stand or sit next to one another, embracing around the waist or shoulders.

A-frame Hug
Huggers stand about a foot and a half a part, bend at the waist.... only the shoulders touch as you embrace! [May also include a kiss on one or both cheeks. This is the most common, and acceptable, form of hugging in social settings.]

Back-to-front Hug
Gently wrap your arms around huggee's waist and embrace. Always let your huggee know you are behind them. [A very sweet way to let your lover know he/she is special. Especially when the hugger's head is gently laid upon the huggee's back.]

Cheek-to-cheek Hug
This hug requires no arms. Simply face your huggee and press your cheeks together. Face the same way for the Kodak Moment Hug. [Oftentimes accompanied by a hand placed on the opposite cheek of the hugging cheek. This one takes place often among family or close-friends gatherings.]

Custom-tailored Hug
To insure a high-quality hug, whenever a taller hugger hugs a smaller huggee. The taller hugger should bend at the knees to come eye level with the huggee and embrace. [Unless it's a hug between two lovers; in which case, the shorter of the two often finds it a great comfort to rest the head on the taller person's chest.]

Bear Hug
This is a full body hug. Hugger and huggee are toe-to-toe and belly-to-belly. [If you can slip a piece of paper in bertween the huggers or see any glimpse of light, it isn't being done properly!]


Addition:

Man Hug
It starts with the ritual grasping of the right hands. The two men then pull each other in with a loud, "AAAAYYYY" or "WASSUP?!" Only the shoulders and chest touch, with the still-clasped hands bound together between the chests, thereby creating the all-important buffer zone. The hug is punctuated by copious back slapping while the two are still in an embrace. The hug is concluded with much nervous shifting, laughter and louder than normal banter.
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