Mama Bears Place Offers Two Solutions Using Teddy Bear Hugs

Oct. 26, 2011 - PRLog -- As Donna Luke sat in a local Albuquerque hospital during a visit with one of her friends, she did something that left a lasting impression. She offered to a perfect stranger, the gift of a teddy bear to hug. The stranger peacefully hugged that teddy bear all day for two days. This small act of kindness may have changed a stranger’s life; and it all started with a teddy bear hug.

Donna Luke, known as the mama of teddy bear hugs, realized after that and so many other similar experiences, her company’s purpose is definitely making a difference.

The mission of MamaBearsPlace (http://www.mamabearsplace.com) is to give people a way to feel happy, cared about, and encouraged by giving and receiving one of MamaBearsPlace teddy bears.

According to Maureen Lyon, PhD, clinical health psychologist and associate research professor in pediatrics at George Washington University,* it is important to “give and receive four hugs a day.” Why? Research shows that hugging makes you live longer. Human beings need touch. It “soothes and calms us,” Lyon said. “It brings down that reactive arousal system that can get activated when we feel threatened in any way and especially in stressful situations.” And hugs don’t have to be just of the human type.

Teddy bear hugs offer two solutions, among many. They provide a way for the recipient of the teddy bear to have a therapeutic experience – during the time spent hugging the bear. That experience actually lasts for quite some time after the hug. For some that impact of the hug lasts moments, for others it’s a lifetime.

The second solution – is that when one bear is purchased to a specific recipient, a second bear goes to a child in the hospital – anywhere in the country. In other words, when you give to one – you are actually giving to two people who will benefit from a teddy bear hug.

According to Luke, “It is so cool to know that my bears impact so many lives on so many levels. It brings me joy to see that others are experiencing that same joy many times over.” Luke started the online company after retiring from her full time job in Albuquerque, NM.

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* Resource: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2011/04/25/10-tips-...

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MamaBearsPlace.com is an online business that offers opportunities to experience the hug of a teddy bear and express that hug as a donation. To reach Donna Luke for comments or an interview, please call Darren L Johnson at 505-340-3711. Visit http://www.MamaBearsPlace.com.