Physical intimacy is a form of connection shown through physical contact. For romantic partners, physical intimacy might include kissing and holding hands in public and sexual [intimacy](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/intimacy-in-a-relationship) in the bedroom. This type of intimacy can also occur between people in familial and plutonic relationships. Hugging, snuggling, and sitting next to another person are ways to practice physical intimacy. Along with physical contact, [intellectual intimacy](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/intellectual-intimacy) and [emotional intimacy](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/emotional-intimacy) are all critical in establishing long-lasting, close relationships.
Physical intimacy involves building closeness through physical contact. People can show physical intimacy to loved ones beyond romantic partners. Being intimate might involve hugging good friends, sitting near one another during a movie, or even [cuddling](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cuddling) when napping.

Sexual desire is a form of physical intimacy involving closeness and vulnerability between romantic or sexual partners. Sometimes, couples experience sexual desire that can blossom into physical intimacy or vice versa. Physical intimacy can mean sexual activity, but intimacy is richer than sex alone. Generally speaking, your [libido](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/libido) can fade over time, but physical intimacy can be more permanent, and partners can practice it with less effort. Hand-holding, tickling, and cuddling are all simple ways to practice this kind of intimacy.
Being intimate can lead to several physical and mental health benefits:

- __Physical intimacy boosts endorphins__. Physical contact with a romantic partner releases feel-good hormones and [endorphins](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/endorphins-explained) that raise your spirits. Tickling can stimulate laughter and feelings of happiness.
- __Physical intimacy builds trust__. Communicating with a partner about how they like to behave in public and at home can help you better understand their preferences, and acting on them can satisfy your partner and [build trust](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-build-trust) over time.
- __Physical intimacy reduces stress__. Sleeping next to another person can cause deeper breathing and greater relaxation. Sex, in particular, decreases cortisol levels and [reduces stress](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/stress-management-tips-from-jon-kabat-zinn).
- __Physical intimacy supports emotional closeness__. Physical contact can be a stepping stone for couples striving to get closer to one another. 
New partners and married couples benefit from physical affection. Consider the following ways to foster physical intimacy with your partner:

1. __Have deep conversations__. [Emotional vulnerability](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/emotional-vulnerability) leads to physical touch. Engaging in emotional conversations with your partner can invite physicality and bring you closer. Emotional closeness is foundational for [healthy relationships](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-stay-in-love).
2. __Experiment with forms of touch__. You may cuddle while napping, tickle while playing at home, hold hands while out on a date, kiss hello and goodbye, and even maintain intense eye contact while speaking to one another. Talk to your partner about their preferences and how they like to show and receive affection.
3. __Separate physical intimacy from your sex life__. Not all physical affection has to act as sexual [foreplay](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/foreplay-guide). You can also change your patterns of behaviors that lead to sex. 
4. __Spend quality time together__. Focus on affectionate touches, and carve out time to spend with your partner for date nights out or quiet nights at home.
Developing relational intelligence and improving <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication","linkCopy":"communication","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>communication</a> are essential to boost the quality of your personal and professional relationships. Discover Esther Perel’s approach to [resolving conflict](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-resolve-conflict), [having difficult conversations](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-have-difficult-conversations), and building trust when you sign up for a [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/).
Physical touch is a form of intimacy essential to building emotional connections and supporting your mental health and overall well-being. Learn ways to foster physical intimacy with your partner.

Physical touch is a form of intimacy essential to building emotional connections and supporting your mental health and overall well-being. Learn ways to foster physical intimacy with your partner.

Physical Intimacy: How to Increase Physical Intimacy

Physical intimacy is a form of connection shown through physical contact. For romantic partners, physical intimacy might include kissing and holding hands in public and sexual <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/intimacy-in-a-relationship' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/intimacy-in-a-relationship","linkCopy":"intimacy","category":null}'>intimacy</a> in the bedroom. This type of intimacy can also occur between people in familial and plutonic relationships. Hugging, snuggling, and sitting next to another person are ways to practice physical intimacy. Along with physical contact, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/intellectual-intimacy' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/intellectual-intimacy","linkCopy":"intellectual intimacy","category":null}'>intellectual intimacy</a> and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/emotional-intimacy' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/emotional-intimacy","linkCopy":"emotional intimacy","category":null}'>emotional intimacy</a> are all critical in establishing long-lasting, close relationships.

What Is Physical Intimacy?

Physical intimacy involves building closeness through physical contact. People can show physical intimacy to loved ones beyond romantic partners. Being intimate might involve hugging good friends, sitting near one another during a movie, or even <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cuddling' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cuddling","linkCopy":"cuddling","category":null}'>cuddling</a> when napping.Sexual desire is a form of physical intimacy involving closeness and vulnerability between romantic or sexual partners. Sometimes, couples experience sexual desire that can blossom into physical intimacy or vice versa. Physical intimacy can mean sexual activity, but intimacy is richer than sex alone. Generally speaking, your <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/libido' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/libido","linkCopy":"libido","category":null}'>libido</a> can fade over time, but physical intimacy can be more permanent, and partners can practice it with less effort. Hand-holding, tickling, and cuddling are all simple ways to practice this kind of intimacy.

Physical Intimacy vs. Sexual Intimacy

Being intimate can lead to several physical and mental health benefits:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Physical intimacy boosts endorphins. Physical contact with a romantic partner releases feel-good hormones and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/endorphins-explained' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/endorphins-explained","linkCopy":"endorphins","category":null}'>endorphins</a> that raise your spirits. Tickling can stimulate laughter and feelings of happiness. </li><li class="">Physical intimacy builds trust. Communicating with a partner about how they like to behave in public and at home can help you better understand their preferences, and acting on them can satisfy your partner and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-build-trust' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-build-trust","linkCopy":"build trust","category":null}'>build trust</a> over time. </li><li class="">Physical intimacy reduces stress. Sleeping next to another person can cause deeper breathing and greater relaxation. Sex, in particular, decreases cortisol levels and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/stress-management-tips-from-jon-kabat-zinn' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/stress-management-tips-from-jon-kabat-zinn","linkCopy":"reduces stress","category":null}'>reduces stress</a>. </li><li class="">Physical intimacy supports emotional closeness. Physical contact can be a stepping stone for couples striving to get closer to one another. </li></ul>

Why Is Physical Intimacy Important?

New partners and married couples benefit from physical affection. Consider the following ways to foster physical intimacy with your partner:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Have deep conversations. <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/emotional-vulnerability' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/emotional-vulnerability","linkCopy":"Emotional vulnerability","category":null}'>Emotional vulnerability</a> leads to physical touch. Engaging in emotional conversations with your partner can invite physicality and bring you closer. Emotional closeness is foundational for <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-stay-in-love' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-stay-in-love","linkCopy":"healthy relationships","category":null}'>healthy relationships</a>. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Experiment with forms of touch. You may cuddle while napping, tickle while playing at home, hold hands while out on a date, kiss hello and goodbye, and even maintain intense eye contact while speaking to one another. Talk to your partner about their preferences and how they like to show and receive affection. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Separate physical intimacy from your sex life. Not all physical affection has to act as sexual <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/foreplay-guide' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/foreplay-guide","linkCopy":"foreplay","category":null}'>foreplay</a>. You can also change your patterns of behaviors that lead to sex. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Spend quality time together. Focus on affectionate touches, and carve out time to spend with your partner for date nights out or quiet nights at home. </li></ol>

How to Increase Physical Intimacy in a Relationship

Developing relational intelligence and improving <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication","linkCopy":"communication","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>communication</a> are essential to boost the quality of your personal and professional relationships. Discover Esther Perel’s approach to <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-resolve-conflict' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-resolve-conflict","linkCopy":"resolving conflict","category":null}'>resolving conflict</a>, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-have-difficult-conversations' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-have-difficult-conversations","linkCopy":"having difficult conversations","category":null}'>having difficult conversations</a>, and building trust when you sign up for a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a>.

Revitalize Your Relationships

Physical touch is a form of intimacy essential to building emotional connections and supporting your mental health and overall well-being. Learn ways to foster physical intimacy with your partner.

Physical touch is a form of intimacy essential to building emotional connections and supporting your mental health and overall well-being. Learn ways to foster physical intimacy with your partner.


A man and woman on a mountain facing each other as they embrace and the man kisses her forehead