| health & wellness |
Better Not Pout
BY KOURTNEY JASON
30
stylemg.com
| DECEMBER 2020 |
T
/stylemg /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemags
Photo ©elnariz - stock.adobe.com.
7 Tips for a StressFree Season
hanksgiving is over, and Christmas is right around the corner. While it’s a joyful time of year, it’s also stressful, as we try to make time for family and friends, find the perfect present, and be present in each moment. We turned to local experts to explain why the holidays can feel overwhelming, as well as share tips on how to manage stress during the most wonderful time of the year. Gretta Smith, yoga teacher and owner of Ohana Moon Yoga, says the holidays tend to be a stressful time because we defy the natural rhythms of nature. “Winter is a season of hibernation with fewer hours of sunlight and more hours of night, which should be devoted to more sleep,” she says. “People fight these primal instincts with caffeine and overstimulation, including overeating, overspending, and overexerting. A lack of sleep plus overstimulation equals stress.” A lot of the pressures we feel around the holidays stem from our own internal expectations. “We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to do it all,” says Joy Arnold, a 500 E-RYT yoga teacher, reiki master, and holistic health coach. “We need to let go of the image we have in our heads of what the ‘perfect’ holiday is and what we ‘should’ be doing during this time. Instead, we need to allow ourselves to be in the moment and enjoy the true meaning of the holidays: spending time with those you love and appreciating all we have.” Here are seven suggestions on ways to minimize holiday stress and put the focus back on feeling grateful and enjoying each moment.
