Start the new year right!

Renew your commitment to good health.

Now that the new year has begun, you may be making resolutions or enjoying the memories of good times at the holidays. No matter what, remember to take good care of yourself during the short days and colder weather of winter. Honor the moods of winter. Starting with the bustle of the holidays, many people find it hard to stick to their wellness routine. First of all, consider that it makes sense that we humans slow down in the winter. So if you feel the need, honor the inner nudge to restore your resources, fight off a cold or just stay home for a weekend with a good book.

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Laughter is Healthy

It can be fun to have a good laugh. Laughing with  friends connects us socially, distracts from stresses and gives us a physical release. Did you know that laughing can also lower your blood pressure, increase vascular flow, and boost the immune system?  It also gives the body a great internal workout and exercises the facial muscles. Laughter releases endorphins in the brain. These “happy” chemicals are our bodies’ natural pain killers.  Just like how runners feel indestructible after a run this “rush” helps with pain without any adverse side effects. So read the comics, go see a funny movie or get together with friends to giggle. And if you don’t feel like chuckling or even cracking a smile, ‘Fake it until you make it.’ Fake laughter has the same healthy benefits  and might even lead to some genuine merriment.

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Affirming Yourself Calm

With the holidays approaching, for many of us this is a stressful time of year. Our to-do lists are longer than ever and our “free time” seems to be filled up with tasks, errands and chores. We are stressed, overworked and overwhelmed. How to cope? Calm yourself with affirmations. They are the things we say and think. What we tell ourselves can encourage growth and healing or be destructive and fuel our anxiety.

Instead of thinking “I have too much to do,” say to yourself with feeling, “I accomplish everything that matters.” Replace “I’ll always be anxious” with “I am at peace.” To effectively reprogram your self-talk, say the positive affirmation three times aloud rather than reading it silently to yourself. Remember you can do this! Your can affirm yourself to a calmer holiday season!

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Change Your Attitude

Attitudes and beliefs can affect your health and how you feel about your life. Waking up and simply thinking “This is going to be a fantastic day” can help you deal with daily stresses in a positive way rather than groaning and thinking “Ugh, I hate this morning. I just know something is going to go wrong.” If you are not naturally a positive thinker it can take some practice, but it is well worth the effort because of the stress relief you can get from just thinking yourself calm and happy.

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Spend Time Outside

Commit to spending some time each outside each week. There is something about nature that calms and heals us. Gazing up at the moon in the night sky, taking a walk on the beach at sunset or just sitting amongst the flowers can be awe inspiring and deeply grounding. Pay attention and notice the small details you see, hear, feel and smell. The shape of a cloud, the distinct scent of a flower or the sound of the waves crashing on the sand. Really be present in the moment.

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Tight Hamstrings

Tight hamstrings? You definitely know if they are tight if you go to touch your toes…and can’t quite get there! It’s important to keep these muscles nice and loose so that you prevent back injury and general fatigue. To stretch these back of the thigh muscles effectively: while you are lying in bed or on the floor, take an elastic stretching band or a belt and wrap it around the bottom of your foot.

Hold on to both ends of the belt (one in each hand) and slowly lift your leg straight in the air. You are trying to get your leg as straight as possible.

Stretch and hold about 30 seconds. Now, bend your knee and pull your knee towards your armpit. Release and relax the leg. Switch legs and repeat on the other side. This is a great stretch for first thing in the morning and at night before bed. To help remind yourself, keep the belt next to your bed to use every day.

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Dealing with lower back pain

Low back pain is a pain in the butt –literally! A lot of the soreness in the low back comes from tight muscles in the butt or glutes. A quick technique to help at home is to take a tennis ball or two and lie on the floor with your butt over the ball(s). You can also do this standing up against a wall. Roll around on the tennis ball to give yourself a deep tissue massage. Treat yourself right because everyone needs to be kneaded.

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Relief From Headaches – The Rolled Towel Technique

When you have a headache…take a bath towel and fold it in half twice. Then, roll it up tight (like a sushi roll).

Put the towel under your neck and lay on the floor over it for about 10-15 minutes.

The soft compression loosens those tight neck muscles and can relieve a painful tension headache.  You can also try this technique laying on a couch or bed.  You’ll probably find, however, that the floor works the best.

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips