Style Magazine December 2020

| health & wellness |
1
WORK IT OUT
“Stress starts in the mind; however, we
feel it everywhere,” Smith says. “Yoga is a
practice that helps connect mind, body, and
spirit. When we go into active and passive
yoga poses to feel sensation in the body with
conscious breath, we’re able to quiet the
busy, loud, anxious mind and relieve stress.
As we close out an especially stressful year, I
recommend practicing yin or gentle yoga to
help ground your nervous system and calm
your mind. The combination of stillness and
slow, mindful breathing helps relieve physical,
mental, and emotional tension.”
Amitis Pourarian, owner of THE STUDIO
Martial Arts & Fitness, says exercise is a huge
stress reducer, as it provides a break from
having to deal with issues and an outlet for
stress. “What’s more, there are endorphins
released in the brain as a by-product of exercise,
which uplift our mood and our sense of wellbeing,”
she shares.
2
MAKE A BUDGET
“Make a budget and stay within it,”
Arnold recommends. “No one enjoys giving or
can relish the holiday season when they know
they’ve overspent and will have to face it come
January. The gift of giving is not about a dollar
amount; it’s the intention and energy behind
what we give.” Homemade presents never
go out of style. Who wouldn’t be grateful to
open a framed family picture, recipe book
filled with time-tested dishes, or a calendar of
birthdays with photos?
3
GIVE BACK
“Take time for yourself during the
holidays to break off and do things that
ground you and bring you joy,” Pourarian says.
“Creating space to be of service to others who
are less fortunate is a great stress reliever.”
Turn to page 22 for a list of ways you can be of
service this season.
4
CHOOSE AN INTENTION
“Take some quiet time to choose a word
or sentence for the holiday experience you
want and let it drive your commitment to a
stress-free holiday,” suggests Jenifer Novak
Landers, a professional certified coach at
Fully Expressed Potential. “For example, my
word is ‘resilience.’ I visualize myself in ease
and joy, being fully present to the magic of
every single holiday moment. When things get
messy or off track, (because they WILL!) I can
return to my word, resilience, and remember
to allow myself to practice it, rather than
pushing on my stress or fear, which only
makes it worse.”
5
JUST BREATHE
“When we’re stressed, our breath tends
to be shallow, erratic, and in the chest. This
actually causes the body to release more
stressor hormones, ultimately causing us to
be more stressed,” Arnold says. “No matter
where you are, try this. Close your eyes, sit up
tall, relax your shoulders, take a deep breath
in through your nose and sigh it out your
mouth, emptying your lungs completely. Now,
bring awareness to the belly, begin to sip the
air in through your nose to a count of five,
pause the breath, then exhale through the
nose slowly to a count of five.”
6
REFRAME & RESET
“Being aware of what thoughts or stories
you’re telling yourself about the holidays
will give you the option to choose a different
thought—or to at least think yourself into
a neutral place,” Novak Landers says. “You
can shift how you feel by choosing thoughts
that are more positive. In your mind, change
an anxious story into a relaxed one. When
the feeling of stress creeps in, ask yourself:
‘What do I need right now to feel loving about
myself?’ Or, ‘How can I be loving to ME right
now?’ And then do it. You’ll notice a big shift in
your energy. For example, old thought: I won’t
have time or energy for everything I want to
do. New thought: Even though my time is short,
I’m excited to be fully present with all I can do.
This is also a great opportunity to schedule
follow up time with people in 2021.” As you
navigate the extra stresses of COVID-19 during
the holidays, remember this. “Even though
the negativity of surrounding the pandemic
completely changes this year's holiday season,
choose to look for love in the smallest, simplest
things, especially within yourself. Love is
something you can focus on.”
7
TAKE TIME FOR YOU
“It can be 10 minutes in the morning, 10
minutes at night, or both! Better yet, make it
30 minutes,” Arnold says. “What you do during
this time is your choice, so long as it helps
you to feel at ease, calm, and grounded. Maybe
you go for a run, jump on your yoga mat, or
sip a cup of coffee outside and just be. The
important thing is that you take the time to
nourish and recharge yourself. Then, you’ll
have the energy and stamina to be present for
family, friends, and all the hustle and bustle of
the season.”
Top photo ©deagreez - stock.adobe.com. Middle photo © Suchada Toemkraisri - stock.adobe.com. Bottom photo ©Halfpoint - stock.adobe.com.
32 stylemg.com | DECEMBER 2020 | /stylemg /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemags