Hugging services are so popular that clients line up (9 photos)

Two years ago, Aleksandra Kasperek opened an unusual business in Katowice, Poland. Ania Od Przytulania is the only professional cuddle salon in the Silesia region. The service has a regular client base, with Aleksandra most often conducting sessions with people aged 40 to 60.





“I didn’t expect so many people to want it,” Aleksandra says. “It’s sad that so many people are lonely. Due to the high demand, you have to book an appointment several days in advance.”

The business owner, a qualified physical therapist and massage therapist, emphasizes that her services are strictly platonic.



Each session begins with an introduction. After introducing herself, Alexandra asks about the client’s health. She asks if they have a sore throat, runny nose, or fever. She also asks if they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The client is then given the opportunity to read the “hug rules.” It is clearly stated that any behavior that “violates sexual boundaries” will result in the session being terminated immediately.

After taking a shower, the client changes into the robe provided to him.





“Before I start hugging, I ask the client why he came to me and how I can help him,” the woman explained.



The cuddle room is decorated in a "truly royal style," according to the website. It is equipped with a hydromassage shower and a luxurious bathtub. The cuddles themselves take place on "fluffy, fragrant pillows and blankets with calm music." The fireplace burns throughout the session, and the client is offered sweets and drinks, including a glass of champagne.



"Some clients are people who have experienced trauma and are afraid of emotional and sometimes sexual intimacy. They are looking for help, understanding and support. Women who have experienced physical violence from their partners come to me," the hugger explains.

"Thanks to therapy, they begin to associate touch not with physical pain, but with something pleasant and calming. Worries and anxieties disappear, and life becomes beautiful and safe again."



Alexandra's motto is: "When you're sad, when you're down, hug me."

An hour-long session costs 149 PLN.



Kasperek said one client was "very scared" of the procedure at first. She offered him a half-hour introductory visit.

"We drank coffee and played a board game. Later, he played me his favorite songs, and I held his hand tenderly the whole time."



She added: "It turned out that he was sexually abused as a teenager."

Now the client comes to Alexandra once a month and feels comfortable. And the hugger is happy when she sees the results of her work.