Cuddle Party at Yoga Study Center in Yokohama

gather by 12:50 at Yoga Study Center (Yokohama) Saturday 16 September 2023

cuddle party seated circle

What is a Cuddle Party?

A Cuddle Party is a non-sexual social event where participants practice communication and optionally explore platonic touch. Attendees practice setting clear boundaries, communicating their desires, and respecting each others' limits in a safe space.

Cuddle Parties provide an opportunity for nurturing, platonic touch and intimacy, which supports well-being and balanced emotions.

While sexual activity is prohibited at Cuddle Parties, some light touching like hugs, caresses, and snuggling is allowed between consenting attendees.

cuddle party hands cuddle party spooning

Images credit: https://cuddleparty.com/

At a Cuddle Party, physical contact is optional. The primary goals of a Cuddle Party are to practice exploring consent and communication with others.

RSVP on Peatix

https://cuddle-party-tokyo-16-september-2023.peatix.com/

What do we do at a Cuddle Party?

We do two main things at Cuddle Parties:

  1. Practice consent.
    A key part of Cuddle Parties is learning how to communicate your desires and how to respect others' requests.
  2. Consensual platonic touch.
    Optionally experience and appreciate caring touch from other like-minded people.

We’ll start with an Welcome Circle to get us settled. We’ll then go through the rules of Cuddle Party in a mini communication workshop, allowing participants to practice inner awareness and clear expression of boundaries.

After the communication workshop, we’ll have 2 or more hours of Self-Directed Connection

This is a time for you to ask for what you want, say yes and no to
requests and invitations, cuddle according to your desires and comfort
(or just talk if you prefer), connect with fascinating people,
"cuddle mingle," and, ultimately, relax into the flow of an unusually
playful and respectful social environment.

Some participants cuddle in groups, others one-on-one,
while some like to talk and not cuddle for a time, or not at all.
Cuddling can mean feet against feet, full-body hugs, head-rubs,
spooning — it is, indeed, up to you.
And, configurations and positions shift significantly
throughout the event, thanks in part to Rule 6:
You are encouraged to change your mind.

from: https://cuddleparty.com/what-is-a-cuddle-party/

We’ll finish with a closing circle to reflect on our experience.

Why?

Clear communication allows more harmonious relationships, regardless of the context.

Nurturing and consensual touch supports a healthy life, strong nervous system, and balanced emotions.

cuddle party circle

Testimonials

It was a great event. Thank you so much.
Hope more and more people will join the event.
For us Japanese, we don't communicate that much by hugging,
but I think people need it. Hugging helps people a lot to be feeling safe.
It was a great workshop.

ー Lily
Rob, you are fantastic.
There really should be more events like this,
which have great potential to heal this broken world.
Our society would be so much better if we learned
this type of communication at school instead of things
like algebra and geometry that most of us never use and
forget as soon as the course is over.

ー Andy Boerger
Rob definitely created a safe space for strangers
coming together at a Cuddle Party to connect with
one another in a warm, confident, fun, playful and
loving way. He was able to demonstrate very quickly
how to use curiousity to explore play and touch in
an intimate yet platonic setting.
I had such a fun time, it was beyond my expectation
of what a Cuddle Party is in my mind. I felt I received
a lot of healing from receiving and giving affection
and touch. It was fun to connect with the other
participants as well.
I highly recommend this experience to anyone
who is looking for connection, willing to allow
their inner child to play and express and receive
love through the power of touch.
I definitely will be coming back again!

ー Jess X Goh

When

Saturday 16 September 2023

Please arrive between 12:30 and 12:50 so we can be settled and start our Welcome Circle at 13:00.

Where

  • 5 minutes walk from Minatomirai Line Nihon-Odori Station
  • 6 minutes walk from JR Kannai Station

Cost

  • 5555 yen for 1 person

Buy tickets on Peatix

Fine print

Must be 18+ to attend. This is a sober event - please do not attend under the influence.

CANCELLATION: Please let me know if you cannot come. Tickets are nonrefundable, but credit for future events will be provided for cancellations up until the day of the event.

COVID considerations

We will not require any special COVID-19 precautions for this event. Vaccines and masks are optional. Of course, if you’re feeling ill, please stay home. Otherwise, welcome.

About me, “Barefoot” Rob Nugen

I have a passion for connecting with the world around me, especially walking barefoot. This helps me to stay grounded, and appreciate the beauty of the present moment. I’m leading Cuddle Party events to help welcome us back into connection after an isolating pandemic.

I have been running a men’s peer counseling group in Tokyo since 2015, and conducting in-person workshops in both Tokyo and Kanagawa since 2018.

Rob is amazing. He is a perfect facilitator in every way.
He is caring, kind, self-effacing, honest. Ten out of ten.

ー Andy Boerger