Meet the US woman who makes living from snuggling at $60 per hour

London, July 13 (ANI): A woman from New York has turned hugging and cuddling, which used to be a comforting gesture of companionship between friends and lovers, into a business.

Jacqueline Samuel opened The Snuggery last month, a place where, from upwards of 60 dollars, clients can snuggle with the petite Master's student in a strictly non-sexual context.

Sessions of up to 90 minutes take place in a private room while friends and family members mill around the house offering protection from any over-enthusiastic clients.

For customers interested in Jackie's services, most of whom are men, she admits, a series of FAQs provides information about what clothing to wear and what kind of behaviour is appropriate.

Sexual arousal, reads the website, "is perfectly normal and should not make anyone feel uncomfortable," but acting on those impulses is forbidden.

"This is not about sex, and I'm really straightforward about that," the Daily Mail quoted her as saying during an interview with 9WSYR.com.

"I always liked to snuggle, it seemed pretty simple to me," she said.

But the premise behind the unusual idea is perhaps best explained by Samuel's study of cognitive science and social work at the University of Rochester.

An advocate of the notion that 'touch' is a healing activity of which most Americans are deprived, she believes that just a few minutes of cuddling can relieve stress and aggravation for up to five days.

"Research provides us with ample evidence that physical contact with others has a positive effect on our physical and mental health," she wrote on her website TheSnuggery.org.

Yet, she continues, "we're afraid of touch."

After exhaustively searching for a way to become a certified cuddler, Samuel decided to just get started.

Snuggling sessions are one-on-one and clients are advised to change into comfortable "loose fitting" clothes preferably made of "natural fibres".

According to US Metro, she said that of the types of embraces available, she has read the book, Cuddle Sutra, and would be happy to do any of the 100 variations of snuggle positions.

Promoting her service with pictures of herself in alluring poses wearing pyjamas and pretty cotton dresses, the cozy cuddler is not yet drawing enough clients however to give up her real estate day job.

"It's cuddling. Either you want it or you don't," she added. (ANI)