No matter what climate we live in, the holidays have a way of stressing us out. Fortunately, there's an easy solution. An hour spent on a cushioned massage table relaxing at your favorite spa can recharge and reinvigorate your body and your spirit while lifting your mood. The soft music, dim lights, and soothing touch of your aesthetician along with the scents of aromatherapy and the glow of soft candles are great for putting your expectations for the holidays in perspective. And while you’re visiting your favorite spa, you can finish your holiday shopping by purchasing gift certificates or spa products for the favorite people on your list.
Holiday Stress
Within the span of a few short weeks that seem to take us unprepared every December, we’re expected to buy an wrap an assortment of presents, bake tempting meals and deserts (without gaining weight), trim a Christmas tree, decorate the house, attend a string of holiday productions and parties, host several intimate gatherings, mail greeting cards, and manage to stick to a budget. All this while getting on with our usual routine that already has us struggling with credit card debt and too little sleep. The holidays, as glorious as they are, can take their toll on our health if we don’t stop to take care of ourselves and consider what’s really important.
It’s unreasonable to expect perfection when dealing with our holiday chores. As hard as we try we’ll never please everyone let alone ourselves. Where we can expect perfection is with our attitude and that’s where spa therapies shine. While relaxing on the massage table, daydream about the joy of the season, the building of new memories with those you love and enjoying a meal together. The décor and the presents will never satisfy everyone and they may not be perfect. But if we keep our stress at bay and focus on our good health and our commitment to a healthy lifestyle, we can let go and relax.
Health and Beauty
It’s hard to fully appreciate the holidays if we’re worn out and look like it. Taking time for a soul-soothing mud bath, a luxurious pedicure or an invigorating body wrap are great ways to relax aching muscles, joints and swollen feet. When we feel better about the way we look and feel, we can accomplish more and are less likely to get annoyed by the holiday woes caused by crowded stores, failed internet connections, and other petty annoyances that we can usually take in stride.
Spa therapies have a remarkable way of diminishing the urgency and stress that we put upon ourselves to do it all. Instead of baking too many cookies this year, buy a dozen beautiful bakery treats on your way home from the spa and indulge in the moment.
Elaine Moore - I'm a retired medical technologist and medical writer with more than 30 years experience working in hospital laboratories. Currently, I ...
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