5 Benefits Of Spooning & Why You Should Do It More, From Relationship Experts

Spooning is easily one of the most well-known cuddling positions, and for good reason. Doubling as a sex position, it has so many benefits—for both your health and your relationship. Here's everything you need to know about spooning, from variations to benefits and more.

As the name suggests, the position resembles the way spoons look when stacked, with their curves fitting together.

One of the biggest benefits of spooning is the feeling of closeness it fosters between partners. As licensed therapist De-Andrea Blaylock-Solar, MSW, LCSW-S, CST, tells mbg, it enhances intimacy, and not just sexual intimacy. "When people are thinking of intimacy, they immediately think of sexual intimacy, but there's so many other types, and spooning can increase or enhance the emotional intimacy that we feel with someone," she explains.

Depending on whether you're the big spoon or little spoon, this sleep position can foster feelings of vulnerability, safety, or protection. "With your partner lying behind you, holding you, you get the feeling of being supported and cradled," certified sexologist Gigi Engle previously explained to mbg, adding, "It's romantic because it gives you a feeling of unity and comfort."

Along with being good for your relationship, spooning (and cuddling or physical touch in general) releases feel-good hormones in your brain like oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin, according to Blaylock-Solar. "Also dopamine and serotonin are released in your brain when you are in close embrace with someone, and that's what increases that feeling of closeness," she notes.

Speaking of those feel-good hormones, there are added health benefits of spooning thanks to all that oxytocin. As functional medicine practitioner William Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C., previously wrote for mbg, cuddling increases oxytocin, which boosts your T-regulatory cells—and those cells are essential for keeping your immune system balanced and strong1.

Along with giving your immune system a hand, Cole also explains that research has shown2 oxytocin is actually able to help people dealing with pain, feelings of anxiousness3, and even suboptimal digestion. This is because oxytocin boosts T-regulatory cells, which have anti-inflammatory actions, he explains.

When we're in a safe and loving relationship, we have the opportunity to operate outside of those cultural constructs, Blaylock-Solar says. So while everyone may have their preference of being the big or little spoon, who doesn't want to be held sometimes?

As Blaylock-Solar explains, "I think any position where one person is the holder and the other person is being held counts, and understand that for different body types, sizes, or abilities, you just have to figure out what works best for you."

In addition to that, you can optimize the experience with things like pillows or wedges to help find the right angle. Blaylock-Solar adds that this is also a great position for using toys for different types of stimulation.

Whether you're spooning to cuddle or spooning to have sex, this position can be incredibly intimate, release feel-good hormones, and even support your holistic health. So, if it's been a while since you did some spooning, consider it added to your to-do list.