The Spirit of the Holidays

… is awesome! The pervading sense of kindness, hopefulness and cheerfulness makes this one of my favorite times of the year. But it also can be a time of intense stress trying to get everything done and meeting everyone’s expectations.

To keep yourself physically and mentally healthy during this time of year try to take time out for yourself. Take that ½ hour or hour and practice yoga or meditation. Or how about a bubble bath with candles and soft music? Or perhaps an active meditation like walking or running in nature without thinking (harder than you might imagine).

I am blessed to have a chocolate Labrador named Willie who “needs” a walk every day. I have hundreds of acres of undeveloped land across the street from me and my daily mile or two with her is one of my special times. It’s hard to stay stressed while watching the cavorting of a group of crows or the soaring of a red tail hawk or just listening to the conversations of mockingbirds, blue jays or mountain quail. My coyotes frequently watch me to ease their boredom and once in a while I’m treated to a glimpse of a mule deer that has strayed from the top of the mountain. If I can keep my mind from thinking, I always come back refreshed and ready to tackle the next thing on my list.

Remember, stress does add extra free radicals to your body’s load, so make sure you take your anti-oxidant supplements and of course, to keep your skin looking it’s healthy best use an anti-oxidant crème: derma e®’s Age-Defying Night Crème with Pycnogenol® and Astaxanthin is my favorite and the essential lavender oil it contains is also relaxing.

I hope that the holidays are a very special time for you and your family and that the New Year is a kind and generous one.

Warm wishes and yours in health,
Dr. Linda Miles, L. Ac., D.O.M.