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Navigating the Holiday Season with Holistic Health

Tuesday, December 20, 2016, 12:15 PM

The holiday season is great way to take a step back from work and everyday life, to enjoy spending time with family and friends. But, as we all know, the holidays aren't always bliss and happiness. They can bring some unsolicited stress.

For some, the holidays can bring on feelings like the Grinch had as he was looking down at Whoville on Christmas Eve.

Here's the good news: Through applying these little holistic health tips, you can ward off the stress from unwelcome guests and overcooked food, and have a tension-free holiday season.

Self-Stress Relief Techniques

If Your Feet are Killing You

The holiday season is packed with parties to attend, cooking to be done, and house decorating. This all has an affect on your feet, and you may not be wearing the best footwear.

To release some of this stress take a tennis ball and roll your feet overtop of it.

Here's how to do it

Use a tennis ball to massage aching soles

  1. Sit down and step on the ball with a bare or socked foot and roll back and forth from heel to toe with a pressure that you are comfortable with.
  2. Work out tender and painful knots by rolling in small circles.

Have a headache? Try a Head Massage

Stress headaches can appear without any notice during the holidays. When nothing seems to be going your way this month, take a minute to give yourself a quick head massage that can ease that stress.

Give yourself a head massage for tension headaches

Here's how to do it

Draw circles with your fingertips at your temples, increasing the size and pressure to what you are comfortable with as you move toward your scalp.

Stretch it Out with Yoga

This may feel like a difficult task, but taking some time to perform yoga poses will have a massive affect on your mood and ability to deal with the demanding holiday season.

There are multiple yoga poses that will help you reduce stress. Here are three yoga poses that don't require much time or space.

I.  Mountain Pose

Steady your breathing and improve posture with Mountain PoseThis pose will steady your breathing and improve posture ensuring you return to your routine with a genuine smile on your face.

Here's how to do it

  1. Ground down through the four corners of your feet.
  2. Grow taller with your breath. You should feel your chest rising and falling with each with breath.
  3. Keep your palms open to receive positive energy and calmness.

II.  Standing Forward Fold

The standing forward fold is an instantly calming pose that is known to reduce stress and fatigue. Holding this pose will promote blood flow and can energize the body, which will provide that extra boost you need for that never ending holiday party.

Calm yourself with a Standing Forward Fold

Here's how to do it

  1. Begin in mountain pose with your hands on your hips.
  2. Exhale as you bend forward at the hips, lengthening the front of your torso.
  3. If possible, with your knees straight, bring your palms or fingertips to the floor slightly in front of or beside your feet, or bring your palms to the backs of your ankles. If this isn't possible, cross your forearms and hold your elbows.

III.  Warrior I

Who doesn't want to be a warrior? This may be the most empowering pose, and during this time of year it is nice to gain some inner strength to become unbreakable!

Empower yourself with Warrior 1

Here's how to do it

  1. Exhale as you step your feet wide apart from mountain pose.
  2. Turn you front foot so your toes are facing directly forward. Then pivot your back foot to a 45-degree angle.
  3. Press your weight through your left heel. Then, exhale as you bend your front facing knee over your front ankle. Your shin should be perpendicular to the floor. Lift through the arches of your feet, while rooting down through your ankles.
  4. Reach up strongly through your arms. Broaden across your belly, lengthen the sides of your waist, and lift through your chest.

 

Taking 20 minutes to yourself can bring you to a place of calm that will guarantee you are strong enough to take on the holiday season, much like the Grinch when he saved Christmas for the people of Whoville.

Although these are quick fixes and can help immensely, nothing beats the real thing. If you are able, booking time with a holistic practitioner is always the best thing to do when you are stressed, in pain, or in need of a break.

There are many other holistic health treatments you can apply during the holiday season.

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