Defeat Stress
Shrug Off Holiday Blues
Aligning those chakras can do wonders for seasonal stress.
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By Theresa Juva
Holiday cheer can quickly turn to holiday chaos and the rush to wrap gifts, roast the ham and make travel arrangements can make the happiest season of all into the most hellish.
According to a survey by the American Psychological Association, money woes and the demand to spend more in the month of December top the list of holiday stress for Americans. More than half – 61 percent – of Americans said lack of money was the leading cause of stress followed by the pressures of gift-giving, lack of time and credit card debt.
The study also noted that Americans are aware of how holiday stress negatively affects them, and one in five are concerned that the season’s anxiety will take a toll on their physical health. People often turn to food and alcohol to cope, with 22 percent and 14 percent of those surveyed using either to handle holiday pressure. But 45 percent seek healthier outlets such as religious services and yoga.
Rachelle Alkalay of the Tree of Life Yoga and Wellness Center in Forest Hills said incorporating yoga into an everyday routine helps people cope with the added stress of the holidays—and extra calories.
“The day after Thanksgiving, we get a whole bunch of people who feel they’ve overdone it,” she said.
She said the yoga students learn breathing techniques and stretches that keep their bodies limber and their minds calm, especially when the responsibilities of cooking, cleaning and shopping begin to accumulate
“It’s a refuge for them,” she said.
The center offers single classes for $20 or $15 for seniors and students and multiple-class packages ranging from $60 to $120. See www.treeoflifeyoga.net or call 718-544-5997
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