Here's what your body language says about your relationship

Take a look at any picture of Hollywood's most perfect couplings - whether it's Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake or Chrissy Teigen and John Legend - and you'll notice several key parallels. Sure, it's obvious that they're sickeningly in love, but it's their body language that gives us a true insight into their relationship.

Case in point: Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. Whether they're walking the red carpet together or just ambling the streets - something about the way they hold hands, lean on each other and steal the occasional smooch - makes us all issue a collective sigh. 

Yes, body language alone can speak volumes about the way you and your significant other feel about each other. That's why it's useful to look into the non-verbal cues you exhibit, as they can shed light on emotions and thoughts that you may have previously been unaware of...

1. Arm over the shoulder 

"Whether you’re sitting or walking and your partner places their arm over or around your shoulders, it’s a loving gesture," states marriage therapist, Terri Orbuch. And it makes sense, if your partner is always striving to be close to you physically, it indicates that they are invested in the emotional bond that you share. "They’re trying to be more physically close to you by drawing you into them," Orbuch adds.

2. Holding hands, or the lack thereof 

Now, if you're one of those couples who don't hold hands, don't fret. But if you do, and you notice that your partner hasn't been reaching for yours of late, it can be telling. As Orbuch says, "Touch symbolizes intimacy, emotional closeness and happiness in a relationship." So if you've had an argument, or can sense that your partner isn't pleased with you, chances are they will refrain from taking your hand.

And even the way that you hold hands can be revealing. "Most people have a radius of about a foot and a half around us that is our personal space," Orbuch says, "and if you let someone into that it indicates intimacy." If your hands are completely clasped, and you're walking close enough for your shoulders to touch, it suggests that you're closer to your significant other, than say, a couple who loosely holds hands or just links a few fingers. "When there’s a big gap between people, even if they’re holding hands, I think of them more as friends," Orbuch continued.

3. Hand behind the back

This move can be interpreted in two ways. While some believe it indicates a power struggle, others see it as more of a supportive gesture. So the person placing the hand could be demonstrating that they have "more status and power in the relationship", or alternatively "it can also be a sign of caring, comfort, and emotional closeness. You’re reaching out to that person and symbolically helping them up or into a room in a positive way.”

4. One person walking in front of the other

Orbuch points out that walking side-by-side conventionally signifies that there is a mutual feeling of respect in the relationship, and that the couple works together as a team. So if one person is pressing ahead alone, it can be representative of tension. "One person going ahead says they’re in a rush, I wish you were going faster, and you’re not as important to me as whatever I’m moving toward right now," Orbuch asserted.

Of course, this needs to be taken into context. "A lot of times men let women into a room first, or on to a line first, or in front of them if they’re walking somewhere single file, and that’s a sign of respect and caring."

Well, there you have it. It appears that actions really do speak louder than words...