5 Tips for Relaxing and Decompressing This Holiday Season
Let me help you relax and decompress during the stressful yet fun holiday season.
1. Meditation
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Breeeaattthhheeee innnnn…annnnd exhaaaale. The purpose of meditation is to make our mind calm and peaceful. If our mind is peaceful, we will be free from worries and mental discomfort, and so we will experience true happiness; but if our mind is not peaceful, we will find it very difficult to be happy, even if we are living in the very best conditions. If we train in meditation, our mind will gradually become more and more peaceful, and we will experience a purer and purer form of happiness. Eventually, we will be able to stay happy all the time, even in the most difficult circumstances.
2. Exercise
nYes, that dreaded word. No one can find the time, and even if you can it is tough to stay on the bandwagon! The physical benefits of exercise – improving physical condition and fighting disease – have long been established, and physicians always encourage staying physically active. Exercise is also considered vital for maintaining mental fitness, and it can reduce stress. Personally I have noticed a HUGE difference in mood when I keep exercise in my daily routine. Studies show that it is very effective at reducing fatigue, improving alertness and concentration, and at enhancing overall cognitive function. This can be especially helpful when stress has depleted your energy or ability to concentrate. Scientists have found that regular participation in aerobic exercise has been shown to decrease overall levels of tension, elevate and stabilize mood, improve sleep, and improve self-esteem. Even five minutes of aerobic exercise can stimulate anti-anxiety effects.
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3. Sauna
nLet’s face it…the more stressed you are, the more cortisol your body produces. Cortisol is a “fight or flight” hormone made in the adrenal glands that raises heart rate and blood pressure, and leads to the deposit of excess calories in the midsection. Scientific evidence shows that infrared sauna therapy helps the body maintain healthy levels of cortisol. While cortisol levels stay the same or rise slightly during a sauna therapy session, they drop immediately afterward. In fact, our Sunlighten saunas have been clinically shown to reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure with regular use. So step into one of our saunas and let us help you melt that stress away!
4. Do something that makes YOU happy
nSure enough…you can take your own stress away by doing something that you love. Whether it is taking a walk, listening to your favorite songs over and over, journaling, singing your favorite song as loud as you can and dancing around like no one is watching, praying, or something that I like to do is color with my children. Yep, coloring really does clear the mind and has a meditative feeling once you lose yourself with staying inside those lines. The meditative coloring state can soon vanish when your toddler decides to pour their juice all over your page. But hey, you got a few minutes of bliss in, right?
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5. Massage Therapy
nLast but NOT least…what would be better to pamper yourself after enduring hours of conversation and thousands of family photos than to get an hour of uninterrupted tranquility and body relaxation? Massage is proven to lower your heart rate and blood pressure, relax your muscles, and increase the production of endorphins, your body’s natural “feel good” chemical. Our MedSpa offers four skill-certified massage therapists who are more than willing to help you find your “peace”.
“Massage is a luxury you can’t afford to miss.” ~Anonymous
I hope your holidays are blessed with an abundance of love, laughter and good health!
