November 2026

Hello, and welcome to this month's article! Happy Holidays! The holiday season is getting underway; are you ready?

This month’s issue shares some of the many benefits that massage therapy offers you during this potentially stressful time of year, and some helpful tips to reduce your stress load during the holidays.

Possibly the best thing about the holidays is getting to focus on the important things in your life—the special relationships you share with close friends and family. Nothing feeds your heart and soul like these connections, so celebrate your special times together!

The most important thing in life is human affection. Without it one cannot achieve genuine happiness.
— Dalai Lama

Nothing is more rewarding than contributing to your health and happiness; thank you for your continued trust.

If you’re still searching for that perfect gift for any of your special people, be sure to consider a massage gift certificate—a gift of health and relaxation.

Remember you can make all your days better by making massage a high priority.

Have a wonderful holiday season; see you soon!

How Massage Therapy Helps Reduce Stress During the Holidays

Massage therapy counteracts holiday stress by shifting the body out of its anxious “fight-or-flight” response and into a deep, restorative state. Packed schedules, financial pressures, and endless to-do lists trigger physical tension and a surge of stress hormones.

Therapeutic bodywork acts as a physical and neurological circuit breaker during the chaotic winter months through several key mechanisms:

Calming the Nervous System— When holiday demands overstimulate your nervous system, your body floods with cortisol and adrenaline. Massage therapy lowers these harmful stress hormones while simultaneously triggering the release of endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine. This biochemical shift transitions you into a parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) state, providing immediate emotional regulation and a renewed sense of inner calm.

Easing Holiday-Induced Physical Strain— The seasonal rush introduces unique physical stressors—like standing for hours cooking, carrying heavy packages, driving long distances, or shivering in the cold. Massage warms soft tissues, releases painful knots, and significantly improves local circulation. This flushes out metabolic waste, delivers fresh oxygen to depleted muscles, and targets common problem areas like tight shoulders, stiff necks, and lower back aches.

Restoring Quality Sleep and Immunity— Disrupted routines, travel, and late-night holiday gatherings frequently result in poor sleep, which directly weakens your immune system. By systematically lowering physical tension and silencing mental chatter, a massage promotes much deeper, more restorative sleep cycles. This recovery period is vital for keeping your immune defenses strong during cold and flu season.

Mindful Tips to De-Stress This Holiday Season

Not feeling particularly cheery this time of year? You’re not alone. Many find that the holidays bring as much stress as they do joy. But there are ways to ease through the season. To help make the most of your festivities, Neda Gould, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and director of the Johns Hopkins Mindfulness Program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, shares some mindful tips.

What is mindfulness? “Mindfulness is bringing your attention to the present moment with an element of nonjudgment and acceptance. It is noticing when we get caught up in thoughts about the past or the future, and returning our attention to the present—the only reality,” explains Gould. ...

Gould shares ways to make your holidays brighter:

Accept Imperfection— Can good be good enough? “As we gear up for the holidays, we often set the bar impossibly high for ourselves and then feel upset when our celebrations don’t live up to expectations,” says Gould.

Before you start preparing, acknowledge that things may not go exactly as planned. “It’s OK if it’s not perfect. Imperfection is healthy and normal. For some of us, it might just take a little practice,” reminds Gould.

Don’t Lose Sight of What Really Counts— With long lines and nasty traffic, the holidays can get hectic. When overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle, ask yourself:

Where does this fit in the grand scheme of things? If you’re frustrated by the long grocery line you’re standing in, remember that it is just a long grocery line—nothing more. Don’t let it spoil your afternoon.

Can I use this moment of frustration as an opportunity to reflect? While the cashier rings up the customers ahead of you, take inventory of the good things that have happened today or the things you are grateful for.

Even if this moment seems stressful, can I find a way to make it pleasant? Connect with someone else in line with a compliment or kind gesture, or notice what’s around you with fresh eyes and an open mind.

Respond with Kindness— You can’t change how others act during the stresses of the holiday season, but you can change how you respond to situations:

“Whenever I encounter a difficult person, I tell myself, ‘this person is suffering, and that’s why they’re acting this way.’ It softens my frustration, helps me be more compassionate and reminds me that it’s not personal,” says Gould.

Keep in mind that the holidays are especially difficult for those who are alone. See if you can extend an act of kindness to those you know are without family and friends during this time of year.

If things do get tense with someone, take a few deep breaths. “Those few breaths can shift things and give you new perspective,” says Gould. ...

Source: hopkinsmedicine.org

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.
— Robert Louis Stevenson