The holidays are in full swing. Between shopping, wrapping, hosting parties, attending parties, visiting Santa, making snowmen, cooking, AND baking; you just might be at your boiling point!
And it’s not just annoying or painful. Too much stress can be dangerous. Stress contributes to high-blood pressure, heart disease, poor habits and a lowered immunity.
Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Here are the top 5 ways to reduce your stress level throughout the holidays here at the Club.
1. Friday Night Family Swim
Bring your kiddos to our pool any Friday night from 6-8pm and they can swim, splash, and just go water-crazy. It’s a great way for you to relax while they have fun. They will be exhausted when you go home, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll get the rest of the night to yourself while the children are nestled all snug in their beds. Ah, peace and quiet.
2. Take a Yoga Class
Yoga reduces stress and tension. When your shoulder or neck starts to hurt, it’s more than likely due to worry and pressure that has built up inside you. One of the ancient yogis’ most profound insights was the link between breathing patterns and state of mind. In yoga, the goal is to slow down the breath, primarily by breathing through your nose. We currently have nine yoga classes per week at various levels. Check out our website for our full schedule.
3. Get a Massage
When we are stressed we tend to tense up the muscles in our body; our shoulders, neck, and jaw are the biggest culprits. Massage can help relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles and helps release endorphins . 
Even better, through December 31, 2011, if you purchase any combination of spa services of $60 or more, you’ll receive a voucher for up to $20 towards your next spa service. How cool is that?
4. Kick it Out in Mixed Martial Arts
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), a full-body contact sport that provides a great way to hit and kick my aggression out! And hey, certified personal trainer Rick Guzaski doesn’t mind. He runs weekly MMA sessions, so contact him at rick.guzaski@midtown.com to see when you can kick him next!
5. Pedal Through a Cycle Class
Sure, any form of exercise is a stress reliever but cycling in particular can be better than some others. The repetitive action of pedaling involved in cycling can help your brain release outside stresses in the same way that mediating on a phrase or a word is used in classical mediation.
By focusing on your pedal stoke you can block out other worries and stresses of the day, giving your brain a break from your daily problems. And with the upbeat music and encouragement from our instructors, it gives you all the more reason to try out a class.
Let the relaxation begin. What’s your favorite way to reduce stress during the holidays?
