I've also observed this human connection, often between strangers, whilst sitting in the sauna at the gym I go to. There’s often supportive conversations going on and I've noticed what a positive experience it can be to connect with people I don't yet know. At the tail end of a nasty virus recently I was sitting in the steam room, and the steam was causing me to clear my throat. A conversation then ensued with a man that was also struggling to shift the dreaded '100 day cough' and we proceeded to have a lovely chat with mutual understanding and support for each other in dealing with this irritating persistent cough. I felt much better afterwards, no doubt benefitting from both the steam inhalation and the human connection too.

Sometimes these conversations happen with a cashier at a supermarket or with a person sitting next to us on an aircraft, but sadly in our modern lives these conversations seem to happen less often, especially as people are regularly engaged with their mobile phones. This is one of the reasons I love the opportunity to sit in a sauna or steam room because, generally speaking, technology is left outside and so we instinctively begin to connect with the people around us. I love lake swimming partly for this reason too and often have a lovely chat with people I don't know as we swim in the beautiful lake early on Sunday mornings!

Dr Chatterjee hosted a fantastic conversation on his podcast 'Feel better live more' with Vivek Murthy where they discuss the huge health benefits of social connection which include mood, mental health, sleep and obesity and you can find the podcast on your app - it's episode 114 back in May 2020. 

Futhermore, an interesting article online explains that social connection is important for our health and wellbeing. The authors note that social support and feeling connected can have a positive impact on various aspects of both our physical and mental health.

The Connection Prescription: Using the Power of Social Interactions and the Deep Desire for Connectedness to Empower Health and Wellness, written by Jessica Martino, Jennifer Pegg, and  Elizabeth Pegg Frates, MD states that

  'Incorporating social support and connections is critical for overall health and for healthy habits to be sustainable'.

They suggest human connection could be considered as a vital human nutrient much like the way we consider vitamins and minerals. You can read the full article here

In her book, 'The gifts of imperfection', Brene Brown. describes human connection as 'the energy between two people when they feel seen, heard and valued'. If you’re looking for chance to connect with a warm and welcoming community of like-minded people in either a Pilates, Breathwork, or mindfulness group, please email to enquire about availability. Check out all the details on my timetable here, and email to book your place. If you sign-up to my Newsletters you'll receive a voucher for a free Pilates class too! Click the button below to receive your free voucher.