‘Tis the season to be... stressed. It should be the season to be jolly, but stress seems to be part of December… every year. And every year we promise ourselves to “do better”.

Well, it is not that easy so I figured a few tips to help you along would be the healthiest notes I could write for this month.

1. Dress warmly. Wear layers. Cover your neck. No this is not like I am your mother. But if you are cold you lift your shoulders and tense up your body alas the stress of the season then has a place to get stuck.

2. Keep your sinuses clear. It affects our mucous membranes to be the warm dry “dead” air of most buildings heated with central air and it is therefore harder for the body to resist the lurking cold. Get an air-humidifier, stay hydrated, and omit mucus forming foods: dairy, sugar, and white flour products.

3. Take a breather. Do like the smokers but omit the cigarette. Take a few minutes with you just standing there breathing. With nothing to do, nowhere to go. Inhales deeply. Feel the air going in through your nose, all the way down into your belly, continue to your feet, filling the entire body with oxygen, and then exhale slowly through your mouth, feeling the air all the way out of your body… you can visualize that the stress goes out with the breath… like smoke leaving your body.

4. Stretch a couple of times a day. Make some salutations to the Sun. Even if you cannot see it – it is there. Above the clouds so you just have to reach a bit further to touch it. Inhale as you reach for the sun, exhale as you bring the sunshine (arms) down to you. Smiling while you do this helps too. Especially the inner smile.

5. To balance your body during all the meals you will be facing. First – don’t fret it. If you do you are setting yourself up to from the beginning to “get in trouble”. Allow yourself the joy of the season. Enjoying and indulging are two different words. They may seem as if they are connected but they do not have to be. Make sure you add extra green vegetable as part of the meal and stick with a normal serving size of protein (about 6oz.).

6. Stay energized. Take a walk, get your exercise, do some yoga, get a massage. Basically treat yourself with loving care and your body with some movement. Don’t get stuck in the rut of the season.

7. Hydrate. Make sure you drink enough water in between your meals. Don’t leave yourself dehydrated, for several reasons. The dry air we live in will dehydrate you. The foods of this season are often more heavy on meat choices. Comfort foods tend to include baked goods and sugar. Dehydration often shows up as hunger, sugar cravings, tiredness, lack of clarity, anxiety and stress. Oh – add to it that the toxicity of your body needs help getting flushed out.

8. Some Holiday Healers: Bach Flower Remedies can support you through it… do still practice self-responsibility by practicing self-care as mentioned above.

• Rescue Remedy: great for taking the edge off the season. You can also give this to the household pets that might need some balancing as well.
• Elm: when overwhelmed by responsibilities. Helps you restore ability to prioritize.
• Beech: when in-laws drive you crazy. Helps you increase your tolerance.
• Honeysuckle: eases nostalgia. Helps you appreciate the present.
• Olive: when you are exhausted and stressed out. Helps you rejuvenate body and mind

And lastly: Be in tune with your PATH FOR LIFE during the Holiday Season.

Stick to your daily nourishment and good food choices to help you stay balanced through the season. Call me if you need support or ideas. Here are 3 nourishing tips.

• Warm soups (non-dairy is your best choice).
• Hot tea (green tea helps boost your metabolism and ginger tea boost the immune system).
• Get some really dark chocolate, melt it and cover some dates with it instead of candy.

As for your body: Come visit us at the PATH FOR LIFE CENTER

• Get a massage – your body, mind, and soul will thank you for it
• Do some yoga – we’ll teach you personalized yoga.
• Rub your feet – or have someone else do it. We now also offer reflexology.

Share the Gift of Health – we offer gift-certificates with some nourishing programs for you and your loved ones.

Give a health booster gift of three wellness sessions for $350. You will save $100, which is our holiday gift to you. The health booster includes your choice between the following:

• three sessions of Functional Nutrition Counseling

                                      or

• three sessions of Integrative Massage Therapy

                                      or

• one session of Functional Nutrition Counseling,
  one session of Integrative Massage Therapy and
  one session of Personalized Yoga, Reiki or Reflexology.

Gift Certificates are available for any of the above sessions individually.

Have a great December and a wonderful New Year if we don’t speak beforehand.

PATH FOR LIFE is a holistic health center supporting people in change.

We offer functional nutrition counseling and integrative mind/body therapies. We act as a resource, support, and inspiration for our clients in bridging the gap between old habits and a new approach to self-care. We teach how to support health and well-being by making simple changes in eating patterns, lifestyle awareness, body-mind perception, and self-nourishment habits.