15 Holiday Stress Tips: Stay Healthy and De-Stress

Understanding the Causes of Holiday Stress

The holidays are meant to be a joyful time, but they can also bring with them a lot of stress.

Spending money, juggling too many events, and trying to make everything perfect can leave you feeling overwhelmed.

Recognizing the specific things that stress you out—whether it’s time, finances, or family obligations—is the first step toward making the season more enjoyable.

When you know what’s causing the stress, you can take steps to address it.

Exploring Emotional Pressures Around Holiday Expectations

Many people feel the holidays should be flawless—the perfect gifts, meals, and decorations. This pressure can grow when you compare yourself to others on social media. But it’s important to remember that real joy comes from being with loved ones, not from achieving perfection.

Focus on making memories and sharing laughs instead of trying to impress others.

Recognizing Physical Signs and Symptoms of Seasonal Overwhelm

Stress doesn’t just affect your mind; it can also affect your whole body through the 6 dimensions of Deep Health.

Signs of holiday stress include feeling tired, getting headaches, tight muscles, or even getting sick more often. These symptoms are your body’s way of telling you to slow down. Pay attention to how you’re feeling and make time for rest, hydration, and relaxation to stay healthy during the season.

Embracing a Mindful Approach to Managing Holiday Stress

Mindfulness means staying focused on the present moment instead of worrying about the past or future. Practicing mindfulness can help you enjoy the little moments that make the holidays special. Write down what you’re grateful for, savor meals slowly, or take a walk outside.

Just a few minutes of deep breathing or quiet reflection each day can help you feel calmer and more centered.

Make mindfulness part of your holiday traditions and encourage your family to join you.

Tip #1: Simplifying Your Holiday Commitments

The holidays don’t have to be packed with activities and obligations.

Focus on what matters most.

• Focusing on Experiences Over Material Gifts: Instead of buying lots of presents, spend time with loved ones. Plan activities like a movie night, baking cookies, or taking a walk in the snow.

• Embracing Minimalist Decorations for a Calmer Atmosphere: Simplify your holiday decorations. Choose a few that make you happy and let go of the rest. Natural touches like pinecones or candles can make your home feel cozy and peaceful.

Tip #2: Prioritizing Self-Care Amid the Festivities

Don’t forget to care for yourself during this busy time.

• Carving Out “Me Time” for Relaxation and Quiet: Spend time each day doing something that helps you relax, like enjoying a cup of tea, reading a book, or taking a bath.

• Scheduling Short Wellness Breaks Between Social Events: If your schedule is full, take small breaks to stretch, meditate, or listen to calming music. These moments can refresh your energy.

Tip #3: Maintaining a Balanced Holiday Diet

Holiday treats are part of the fun, but balance is key.

• Savoring Holiday Treats in Moderation: Enjoy your favorite holiday snacks, but don’t overindulge. Eat slowly and appreciate each bite.

• Preparing Nutritious, Comforting Meals in Advance: Make healthy meals ahead of time, like soups or casseroles, so you have something nourishing to eat when you’re busy.

Tip #4: Staying Physically Active Despite the Hustle

Staying active can help you feel less stressed and more energized.

• Turning Winter Activities into Fun Exercise Opportunities: Sledding, ice skating, or walking outside can be great ways to stay active while enjoying the season.

• Incorporating Quick Home Workouts to Energize Your Days: If you’re short on time, try short workouts like yoga or jumping jacks to boost your mood and energy.

Tip #5: Creating a Budget and Sticking to It

Money worries can add to holiday stress, but planning ahead can help.

• Setting Clear Financial Limits to Reduce Anxiety: Decide how much you can spend and stick to your budget. Share your plans with family to manage expectations.

• Discovering Low-Cost or Free Holiday Entertainment: Look for inexpensive ways to celebrate, like watching holiday lights, making crafts, or hosting a potluck dinner.

Tip #6: Learning to Say “No” with Confidence

You don’t have to do everything people ask of you.

• Setting Boundaries and Avoiding Overcommitment: Politely decline invitations or tasks that make you feel stressed. Focus on what matters most to you.

• Putting Your Well-Being First When Accepting Invitations: Only say yes to activities that make you happy and don’t overwhelm you. Taking care of yourself benefits everyone.

Tip #7: Cultivating Mindfulness and Inner Peace

Staying calm can help you enjoy the holidays more.

• Practicing Simple Breathing Techniques for Instant Calm: Deep breathing can help you relax when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Breathe in for four counts, hold it for four counts, and breathe out for four counts.

• Using Guided Meditation Apps to Relax the Mind: Apps like Calm or Headspace can help you take a few minutes to center yourself and find peace.

Tip #8: Managing Family Dynamics with Grace

Family gatherings can sometimes be tricky, but planning can help.

• Preparing for Emotional Conversations: Think ahead about how to handle tough conversations with kindness and patience.

• Focusing on Shared Values Rather Than Disagreements: Stick to common ground to keep family time positive and enjoyable.

Tip #9: Unplugging and Finding Digital Balance

Too much screen time can make you feel disconnected.

• Reducing Screen Time During Family Gatherings: Put your devices away when you’re with family to focus on real-life connections.

• Scheduling Tech-Free Evenings for Meaningful Connections: Plan tech-free nights where you play games, share stories, or enjoy other activities together.

Tip #10: Prioritizing Sleep for Better Mood and Health

Getting enough rest is crucial for staying healthy and happy. It’s no different during the busy holiday season.

• Implementing a Consistent Bedtime Routine: Go to bed at the same time every night and wind down with relaxing activities like reading or stretching.

• Using Calming Scents and Sounds to Enhance Rest: Lavender, soft music, or white noise can make it easier to fall asleep and stay rested.

Tip #11: Creative Ways to Celebrate Traditions Without Stress

• Incorporating Non-Traditional Rituals That Bring Joy: Try something new, like having a pajama day or baking together. It doesn’t have to be fancy to be fun.

• Inviting Loved Ones to Collaborate on New Customs: Work on holiday projects or recipes together to make unique memories.

Tip #12: Transforming Holiday Chores into Enjoyable Activities

• Turning Gift Wrapping into a Relaxing Music Session: Play holiday music while wrapping gifts to make it enjoyable.

• Making Cleanup Fun with Family “Reward Systems”: Turn chores into a game and reward everyone with a fun activity, like a movie night.

Tip #13: Emphasizing Gratitude and Positive Mindsets

• Celebrating Small Wins Throughout the Season: Be proud of small achievements, like finishing your shopping early or making someone smile.

• Journaling or Sharing Thankful Moments Daily: Reflect on or share something you’re grateful for each day to stay positive.

Tip #14: Exploring Professional Help if Stress Becomes Overwhelming

Sometimes, extra support is needed, and that’s okay.

• Speaking with a Counselor or Therapist: Talking to a professional can help you manage stress and find solutions.

• Utilizing Online Support Groups for Guidance: Join groups where people share tips and encouragement for managing holiday stress.

Tip #15: Reflecting on Lessons Learned for Future Holidays

• Noting Which Traditions Uplift Your Spirits: Focus on activities that bring you joy and repeat them next year.

• Adjusting Plans Next Year for a More Relaxed Celebration: Use what you’ve learned to make next year’s holidays even better and less stressful.

Embracing a Calm, Joyful Holiday

The holidays should be a time for joy and connection.

By following these tips, you can reduce stress and enjoy the season more.

Take care of yourself and make the most of this special time with the people you love!

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About the Author: RJ Kayser is a Board-Certified Health Coach and the Founder of Flow Spa. With a mission to inspire and elevate, RJ Kayser’s work is a testament to his belief that great stories and intentional living can transform the way we connect with the world—and ourselves.

8 Deep Health Tips For Staying Healthy During The Holidays

The holiday season brings joy and celebration, but it can also bring its fair share of challenges.

Here's your Deep Health guide to staying healthy and balanced during this festive time of year.

To navigate through this magical yet demanding time of year, consider these practices to support your deep health.

1. Master Stress Management

Holiday preparations often feel chaotic. An abundance of social events, family gatherings, and endless to-do lists can create tension for us.

Try breaking your day into chunks using time-blocking.

Time-blocking becomes your invaluable ally during this particularly busy period. Establish and maintain clear boundaries between focused work periods and essential rest intervals.

Work for 25 minutes, then take a short break.

Make a list of what's truly important versus what's optional. This helps you use your energy wisely.

2. Navigate Holiday Eating

Eat slowly and enjoy every bite.

Try to eat healthy 80% of the time, saving 20% for holiday treats.

This way, you won't feel guilty or need extreme New Year's diets.

3. Keep Moving

Bad weather doesn't mean you can't exercise.

Try quick HIIT workouts indoors.

Do simple exercises while doing daily tasks - like leg lifts while washing dishes.

The goal is to keep moving, even if you need to change your usual routine.

4. Boost Your Immune System

Winter and busy schedules can weaken your immune system. Take vitamin D if you're not getting much sun. Eat fermented foods for gut health.

Choose colorful fruits and vegetables.

Explore the benefits of stress-fighting adaptogenic herbs such as ashwagandha or rhodiola.

Try adding more fermented foods to promote optimal gut health and immune function.

Drink plenty of water, especially when indoor heating makes the air dry.

5. Prioritize Mental Health

In talking to Chris, one of our psychotherapists the other day, I realized that the holidays can bring up various emotions, from joy to loneliness.

It's normal to feel both happy and sad during the holidays.

If you know this time of year can hit you hard, schedule regular check-ins with trusted friends who can provide support.

Develop the practice of accurately identifying and naming your specific emotions as they arise.

This increased emotional awareness helps you to cope with overwhelming moments throughout the season.

Talk regularly with friends or professionals who can support you.

Learn to name your feelings as they come up - this helps you handle tough moments better.

6. Practice Mindful Gift-Giving

Consider giving experiences instead of things.

Choose gifts that help people learn or create memories. Research shows that experience gifts build stronger connections than physical presents. When buying items, pick ones that match what people really care about.

7. Prevent Burnout

Know your limits with social events and stick to them.

Maintain firm boundaries where you need to during the holiday social season to protect your energy and well-being.

If you need alone time to recharge, plan for it. Introverts need to deliberately plan more recovery time between social events to recharge.

Think of your energy like a battery that needs regular charging. Make time for quiet moments away from holiday demands.

8. Embrace Self-Care

Make self-care a daily habit to support your well-being this time of year. Combine both active and restful recovery activities within your daily routine. Try relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation. Also, explore beneficial practices like massages or therapeutic float sessions. These methods help reduce stress and help your body and mind recover.

Using these simple tips can help you stay healthy and happy during the holidays. You'll be able to enjoy the season's magic while taking good care of yourself.

4 Game-Changing Stress Relief Tips You Didn’t Know You Needed To Know

Stress is an unavoidable part of life, but that doesn't mean we have to let it control us.

In our quest for peace of mind, we often overlook some of the most effective stress-relief strategies.

This blog post will explore four game-changing tips that you might not have considered before. These aren't your typical "take a deep breath" or "do some yoga" suggestions. Instead, we'll look at some unconventional wisdom that could revolutionize the way you handle stress.

From learning to let go of things beyond our control to embracing our own mortality, these tips might seem counterintuitive at first. But stick with us – you'll soon discover why these approaches can be so powerful in reducing stress and improving your overall well-being.

So, let's challenge some common assumptions and explore these four stress-relief tips you didn't know you needed to know.

Stressing about what’s out of your control

Elections, weather, and the sun going down at 4 pm. We can’t control any of these things, so we might as well not stress over them so much either.

This mental shift can be challenging, but it's incredibly liberating. Instead of expending energy on things we can't change, we can redirect that energy towards actions and decisions that are within our control. This not only reduces stress but also increases our sense of personal empowerment and effectiveness.

While these things may have an impact on us and our health, we can’t directly impact them. So focus on what you can actually control: how you vote, the clothing you wear to bundle up against the weather, getting in the sun when you can and using lights therapy lamps can also help combat the effects of shorter days. Remember, while these external factors may influence our mood and energy levels, we have the power to adapt and create positive routines that support our well-being.

Avoiding an important conversation or decision

Making tough decisions and having healthy, mature conversations are tough. That's why therapy is gaining so much recognition for its usefulness. But even without professional help, we can take small steps to address these challenges. Start by identifying one conversation or decision you've been avoiding and commit to taking a single, concrete action towards it this week.

Worrying about other people’s opinions

FOPO, or Fear of Other People's Opinions, is a significant source of stress and anxiety in our lives. It's a psychological phenomenon that can deeply impact our mental well-being and performance. When we experience FOPO, we become preoccupied with what others think of us, often at the expense of our own thoughts and feelings.

FOPO causes stress and anxiety by:

• Exhausting our mental resources through constant worry about others' perceptions

• Hindering our ability to make decisions based on our own values and judgments

• Creating a performance-based identity, where our self-worth becomes tied to how well we perform in the eyes of others

To combat FOPO and reduce the associated stress and anxiety, we can:

• Develop a strong sense of self, which Dr. Gervais describes as "the single greatest bulwark against FOPO"

• Practice turning inward when FOPO springs up, responding based on our own internal standards rather than perceived external judgments

• Recognize our inherent worth, understanding that we are valuable regardless of our performance or others' opinions

• Use journaling to explore our reactions and thoughts, helping us understand what we're defending or embracing

Thinking Your Finitude Is a Problem

Oliver Burkeman has become one of my favourite authors over the past couple of years with his massive bestseller Four Thousand Weeks and his new release, Meditations for Mortals. His concept of what he calls finitude is basically the Stoic Memento Mori - remember that you are going to die. While it sound grim, the lessons in Burkeman’s books do much to assuage this fear and the stress surrounding our mortality.

The point that stands out to me is that if we had all the time in the world to do everything, nothing would mean anything. It’s this finitude, the forcing function of time that makes everything in our lives mean something.

Contemplating this is valuable for confronting this stressor.

To recap:

4 Sources of Stress To Stop Giving a F*ck About

• Stop stressing about what’s out of your control

• Stop avoiding important conversations or decisions

• Stop worrying about other people’s opinions

• Stop thinking your finitude is a problem.

Take These Next Steps:

• Think about one thing that’s stressing you out that you know if out of your control. Write it down, then write down what you can actually control about this situation.

• What’s one decision or conversation that you’ve been putting off? Write down the next step you can take. Is there a meeting you need to schedule? What can you spend five minutes doing to prepare?

8 Powerful Protocols for Stress Relief and To Reclaim Your Inner Calm

Imagine a life free from the clutches of stress, where inner peace reigns supreme.

Brace yourself for a transformative journey as we unveil eight game-changing stress relief protocols.

These aren't your run-of-the-mill relaxation techniques; they're powerful, scientifically-backed strategies designed to reclaim your well-being.

Ready to increase your vitality and embrace a life of calm?

Let's dive in and discover how you can become the master of your stress, not its victim.

1. Daily Meditation: The Foundation of Stress Relief

Meditation stands as a fundamental pillar in the realm of effective stress management. This ancient practice, now backed by modern scientific research, offers a powerful antidote to the daily pressures of contemporary life. By dedicating a mere 10-15 minutes each day to mindfulness practice, you can embark on a transformative journey that not only significantly reduces stress levels but also cultivates a more resilient and balanced state of mind.

The beauty of meditation lies in its simplicity and accessibility. It requires no special equipment or expensive memberships, just a quiet space and a willingness to turn inward. Through regular practice, individuals often report a cascade of positive effects that extend far beyond stress reduction. These benefits include improved focus and concentration, enhanced emotional regulation, better sleep quality, and even physical health improvements such as lowered blood pressure and reduced chronic pain.

Meditation serves as a powerful tool for improving overall mental health. It can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, boost self-awareness, and foster a greater sense of inner peace and contentment. By creating a daily ritual of mindfulness, you're essentially training your brain to respond more calmly to stressors, building a mental resilience that can serve you well in all aspects of life.

• Benefits of daily meditation:

  • Reduces anxiety and depression

  • Improves focus and concentration

  • Enhances emotional regulation

  • Promotes better sleep quality

To get started, try a simple breathing meditation. Find a quiet space, sit comfortably, and focus on your breath for a few minutes each day.

2. Schedule an Hour Weekly to Recharge

In our increasingly hectic and demanding lives, it has become more crucial than ever to carve out dedicated time for self-care and relaxation. The constant barrage of responsibilities, deadlines, and digital distractions can easily overwhelm us, leading to chronic stress and burnout. By consciously scheduling an hour each week for activities that truly rejuvenate and nourish your mind, body, and spirit, you can create a powerful buffer against the pressures of daily life. This intentional act of self-care can work wonders for stress relief, providing a much-needed break from the chaos and allowing you to recharge your mental and emotional batteries.

This weekly ritual of relaxation serves as a gentle reminder that your well-being matters and deserves priority. It's not just about taking a break; it's about actively engaging in activities that bring you joy, peace, and a sense of renewal. Whether it's indulging in a leisurely bath, losing yourself in a good book, practicing gentle yoga, or pursuing a beloved hobby, this dedicated hour becomes a sanctuary of calm in the midst of life's storms. By consistently honouring this commitment to yourself, you're not only managing stress in the moment but also building resilience for future challenges.

• Ideas for your weekly recharge hour:

  • Take a relaxing bath

  • Read a book for pleasure

  • Practice yoga or gentle stretching

  • Engage in a favorite hobby

Remember, this time is for you. Treat it as a non-negotiable appointment with yourself.

3. The Quick Reset: 4 Deep Breaths

When life throws unexpected curveballs and stress levels soar, having a quick and effective reset technique at your disposal can be a game-changer. The 4 deep breaths method stands out as an elegantly simple yet remarkably powerful stress relief protocol that you can employ anywhere, at any time, without any special equipment or preparation. This versatile technique harnesses the natural calming power of controlled breathing to rapidly shift your body and mind from a state of stress to one of relative calm and clarity.

The beauty of this method lies in its accessibility and immediate impact. Whether you're facing a high-pressure situation at work, navigating a challenging personal interaction, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the demands of daily life, these four deep breaths can serve as a momentary oasis of tranquillity. By focusing your attention on your breath and engaging in this brief but intentional practice, you can effectively interrupt the stress response cycle, allowing your nervous system to recalibrate and your mind to regain its composure.

1. How to perform the 4 deep breaths reset:

   1. Inhale deeply through your nose for 4 counts

   2. Hold your breath for 4 counts

   3. Exhale slowly through your mouth for 4 counts

   4. Repeat this cycle 4 times

This quick reset can help calm your nervous system and bring you back to a state of balance in just a minute or two.

4. 4-7-8 Breathing: A Powerful Stress-Busting Technique

The 4-7-8 breathing technique, a structured and powerful approach to breathwork developed by Dr. Andrew Weil, offers a potent method for managing stress and promoting relaxation. This carefully crafted breathing pattern leverages the body's natural rhythms to induce a state of calm, making it an invaluable tool in our stress-relief arsenal. By engaging in this deliberate breathing exercise, practitioners can tap into the body's innate ability to self-regulate, effectively countering the physiological effects of stress and anxiety. The beauty of this technique lies not only in its simplicity but also in its profound impact on both the body and mind, providing significant and immediate stress relief benefits that can be felt even after just a few cycles of practice.

1. Steps for 4-7-8 breathing:

   1. Inhale quietly through your nose for 4 seconds

   2. Hold your breath for 7 seconds

   3. Exhale completely through your mouth for 8 seconds

   4. Repeat this cycle 4 times

Practice this technique twice daily for maximum stress relief benefits.

5. Taking Sabbaticals: Extended Breaks for Deep Renewal

While not universally feasible, the practice of taking occasional sabbaticals can yield profound benefits for both stress relief and personal growth. These extended breaks from routine work and responsibilities offer a unique opportunity to step back, reflect, and recharge on a deeper level than typical vacations allow. Sabbaticals provide individuals with the time and space to explore new interests, gain fresh perspectives, and engage in meaningful self-discovery. This intentional pause in one's career or daily life can lead to increased creativity, enhanced problem-solving abilities, and a renewed sense of purpose upon return. The extended nature of sabbaticals allows for a more comprehensive reset of one's mental and emotional state, potentially leading to long-lasting improvements in overall well-being and stress management.

• Benefits of sabbaticals:

  • Complete mental and physical reset

  • Opportunity for self-reflection and personal development

  • Enhanced creativity and problem-solving skills

  • Improved work-life balance

Even if a full sabbatical isn't possible, consider taking extended weekends or "staycations" for mini-sabbaticals.

6. No Work Weekends: Reclaiming Your Personal Time

In our hyper-connected digital age, the boundaries between work and personal life have become increasingly blurred, making it all too easy for professional responsibilities to encroach upon our precious weekend time. This constant connectivity can lead to heightened stress levels, diminished work-life balance, and eventual burnout. Recognizing this challenge, implementing a strict "no work weekends" policy emerges as a powerful and essential stress relief protocol. By consciously setting aside dedicated time for rest, relaxation, and personal pursuits, individuals can create a much-needed buffer against the relentless demands of the modern workplace.

This intentional separation between work and personal time not only allows for physical and mental recuperation but also fosters a healthier relationship with one's career. It provides an opportunity to engage in activities that bring joy, nurture relationships, and promote overall well-being. By consistently honoring this boundary, you're likely to return to work on Monday feeling refreshed, reinvigorated, and more productive, ultimately benefiting both your personal life and professional performance.

• Tips for maintaining work-free weekends:

  • Set clear boundaries with colleagues and clients

  • Turn off work-related notifications

  • Plan enjoyable activities for your weekends

  • Practice saying "no" to work-related requests during your off time

By protecting your personal time, you'll return to work more refreshed and productive.

7. Done for the Day Time: Creating a Clear Work-Life Boundary

Establishing a clear "done for the day" time is a powerful strategy for managing work-related stress and enhancing your overall quality of life. By implementing a consistent end-of-work routine, you create a distinct boundary between your professional and personal life, allowing for better mental separation and relaxation. This practice not only helps in reducing the constant pressure of work-related thoughts during off-hours but also promotes a healthier work-life balance, leading to improved well-being and increased job satisfaction. Even better, having a set "done for the day" time can boost productivity during work hours, as it encourages more focused and efficient task completion within a defined timeframe.

• Steps to implement a "done for the day" routine:

  • Set a specific time to end your workday

  • Create a shutdown ritual (e.g., tidying your workspace, reviewing tomorrow's tasks)

  • Physically leave your workspace if possible

  • Engage in a relaxing activity to transition into personal time

This practice helps create a mental shift from work mode to relaxation mode, reducing stress and improving work-life balance.

8. Pull Instead of Push Work: A Stress-Reducing Productivity Approach

The concept of "pull" work, as opposed to "push" work, represents a paradigm shift in how we approach tasks and manage our workload. This innovative approach to productivity can significantly reduce stress levels while simultaneously enhancing overall job performance and satisfaction. By adopting a pull work methodology, individuals can create a more balanced and sustainable work environment, leading to improved mental well-being and increased efficiency in task completion. This strategy empowers employees to take greater control over their workflow, allowing them to focus on high-priority tasks and minimize the overwhelming feeling often associated with traditional "push" work systems.

• Key principles of pull work:

  • Focus on one task at a time

  • Complete current tasks before taking on new ones

  • Limit work in progress

  • Prioritize based on importance and urgency

By switching to a pull work approach, you can reduce the overwhelming feeling of having too much to do, leading to less stress and more accomplishment.

Your Path to Stress Relief

Incorporating these eight stress relief protocols into your life can lead to significant improvements in your overall well-being. Remember, stress relief is a journey, not a destination. Be patient with yourself as you implement these techniques, and don't hesitate to seek professional help if you're struggling with chronic stress.

At Flow Spa, we're committed to supporting your journey towards a stress-free life. Consider complementing these protocols with our stress-relief services, such as float therapy or massage, for an even more comprehensive approach to stress management.

Start your stress relief journey today, and discover the peace and balance you deserve.

Exploring The Secrets of Centenarians: How to Live to 100 and Beyond

Longevity used to be something we didn't really think or talk much about. People lived as long as they were destined to. Genetics and luck were often credited or blamed for the duration and quality of one's life.

But today, we understand that there are ways to promote longevity that aren't as far-fetched as cryogenically freezing ourselves, hoping for a magical elixir upon awakening.

In the Netflix documentary series "How To Live To 100," we explore these 'Blue Zones'—regions around the world where a significantly higher percentage of people live to be centenarians. While many Blue Zones are found in tranquil and natural landscapes, such as the islands of the Mediterranean, others exist in densely populated cities.

So, Blue Zones encompass more than just our environment. Let's delve into the patterns we can adopt to live longer and with vitality.

Balance - Physical and Holistic

Balance isn't just about moderation and finding the middle path in life's choices. It also pertains to our physical stability. Health span, the quality of life you lead during those years, is as crucial as lifespan. No one desires to reach 100 if they spend their last decades bedridden.

A significant predictor of longevity and health span is balance. While falls in youth might be minor inconveniences, they can lead to severe health complications in older age. In Blue Zones, physical balance is integral to daily life—whether it's squatting to garden in Okinawa or riding horses to enjoy nature.

Move Naturally

Movement typically declines as we age. However, the active lifestyles of centenarians suggest the importance of consistent movement. Many Blue Zones are situated in areas conducive to walking or cycling, and residents often engage in communal activities like dancing or gardening.

Choosing a living environment that encourages natural movement can be beneficial. An ideal location should foster community activity, reducing health stressors and promoting well-being.

Eat Wisely

Michael Pollan aptly advises, "eat food, not too much. Mostly plants." Caloric restriction is common in Blue Zones, not due to intentional deprivation, but because of a preference for fresh, seasonal vegetables. With many people globally adopting diets rich in highly processed, high-calorie foods, the Blue Zones stand out with their nutrient-rich, balanced diets. They also incorporate complete proteins, ensuring muscle strength and overall health.

Connect

Social connections are a hallmark of Blue Zones. In our increasingly busy lives, we often sideline our social connections in favor of work, leading to a burgeoning loneliness epidemic. Social isolation not only affects mental health but also shortens lifespan.

Relationships and the impact we have on others will be the memories we cherish. Instead of focusing on materialistic pursuits, prioritize spending time with loved ones. Whether it's swimming around an island or joining a sports league, find ways to foster connections.

What's Your Outlook?

In Japan, there's a concept called 'Ikigai,' which translates to one's purpose or reason for living. Having a purpose, especially post-retirement, can be pivotal. Engaging in light, meaningful work can lead to longer, happier lives. It's about dedicating time to what truly matters, often just a few hours in the morning, leaving the rest of the day for leisure and family.

In essence, the secrets of the Blue Zones aren't about a scientific fountain of youth. They emphasize natural movement, nutrition, community connections, and a purposeful mental outlook.

So, what steps will you take to embrace the lessons from the Blue Zones in your life?

What Would Life Be Like If You Were Unstressable?

Every day when we wake up, whether we are ready to or not, the world is going to challenge us in unexpected ways.

The school calls because your kid is skipping class.

Your partner isn’t making a change to help out more and you’ve had enough of it.

Your boss wants you to complete a report on a subject you know nothing about. And expects it done YESTERDAY.

We don’t have to dig very deep in the memory banks to think about pandemics and global instability shuttering our doors and keeping everyone closed away and isolated.

A cold sweat forms just thinking about it. We’ve been put through the wringer these last couple of years when tensions were already high enough.

There’s another way through for us though.

Imagine waking up tomorrow feeling UNSTRESSABLE.

This chaos isn’t going anywhere. That’s a fact of life.

But you are in the driver’s seat of how stress affects you.

And if you don’t feel that way yet, you are about to.

Becoming Unstressable is your path to freedom from stress ruling over your life.

It’s a program based on you leading the way because everyone has a different stress story to tell.

Over the next 6 weeks, we will be exploring stress management and recovery that is aligned with suiting your needs and unique stressors specifically.

We all recognize the feeling of dread when something is wrong, the pit in our stomach when life just becomes too stressful and all we want to do is hide under the blankets and never get out of bed.

But the first step forward begins with your desire to change. And as the realization has awakened within you, you can take action to put together a plan that will completely re-wire your experience of stress.

Together we will be exploring the many ways that stress pops up in your life and learning how to manage these different stressors more effectively.

You will take the ideas about your starting point and explore where you want to get to and what your Unstressable life looks like.

And through the work we do in the course and the plan you build along the way, you will have a roadmap by the end of the 6 weeks for how to work through anything that stands in your way and threatens to leave you feeling overwhelmed and burnt out. For Life.

Ready to take that first step?

Click the button to learn more about Unstressable today.

5 Holistic Ways To Beat Fall Flu Season

It’s coming, as it always does.

With kids back to school and people indoors more, the fall cold season is almost upon us.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could not get sick this fall?

That’s what we’re here for today. Strategies that we can think about and take action on now so that we won’t get sick in a couple of weeks.

Start preventative care early

How often do we try to cram down extra Vitamin D capsules and slam green tea and echinacea when we feel a cold already coming on?

Vitamin D can help to cut down on sickness time but works even better if you start with a better vitamin D range in the first place.

Make sure that you’re getting in good doses of vitamin D through sun exposure before the summer wraps up, or supplementing with Vitamin D if you aren’t able to. Take 2,000 IUs per day as a maintenance dose and if you do feel a cold coming on, bump it up to 5,000-10,000 IUs for a couple of days until you see your systems subside.

Also, take advantage of the fresh summer produce and get in your daily dose of veggies. Aim for 800 g of raw produce or about 6 cups. This looks like 6 fistfuls of vegetables each day. Now be honest, are you hitting that every day? If not, a greens supplement like Genuine Health’s greens+ will keep you healthy.

Boost Your Physical Resilience

Colds primarily affect us when our physical health gets compromised when our immune system is working overdrive to fight off those foreign invaders of fall cold and flu bugs. This combined with the stressors of the busyness at work and school as the season changes from school break vacation mode runs us over until illness sets in. Physical resilience gets built by adding healthy doses of physical stress to your system while everything else is under control.

Do a hard workout once or twice a week, experience a cold tub or hot sauna session, or combine them together for contrast therapy. Pushing ourselves in this way when we can properly recover from it makes us stronger to handle other types of physical stressors like colds that push our immune system to the limit.

Minimum dose:

The minimum dose for effectively using the cold plunge is 11 minutes per week and an hour per week in the heat of the sauna.

A hard workout can push you in as little as a couple of minutes if you’re doing a Tabata interval. To really boost your resilience with workouts, 30 minutes to an hour is more likely going to be most beneficial to work on now.

Eat Fermented Foods

Eat Fermented Foods: Incorporating fermented foods into your diet can have numerous health benefits, including boosting your immune system. Fermented foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut, and kombucha are rich in probiotics, which promote a healthy gut microbiome. A balanced gut microbiome is closely linked to a strong immune system. By consuming fermented foods regularly, you can support your body's defense against pathogens and reduce the risk of falling sick during the fall season. Whether you choose to add a spoonful of sauerkraut to your salad or enjoy a glass of kombucha with your meals, every bit of fermented food contributes to enhancing your overall well-being.

Minimum Dose: Even a small amount of fermented foods added to your diet can make a difference. If you're not a fan of fermented foods, you can consider taking a daily probiotic supplement as an alternative. These supplements provide a concentrated dose of beneficial bacteria that can support your immune system. Incorporating fermented foods or probiotic supplements into your daily routine can help strengthen your body's natural defenses and keep you healthy throughout the fall season.

Practice Breathwork

Breath work has become a popular way to increase resilience and physical health thanks to people like Wim Hof who have shown the power that breathing can have. Breath work may just be a fancy way to talk about breathing but the distinction is important because we typically breathe shallow and high into the chest, causing a higher state of stress and limiting the ability to relax.

Breathwork can be an effective practice for reducing stress and improving physical health. It involves specific breathing patterns that can help induce a state of relaxation and calmness. By focusing on deep, intentional breaths, you can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for promoting relaxation and reducing stress. One popular breathwork technique is the Wim Hof Method, which involves taking deep breaths followed by a full exhale. This practice can help regulate your breathing, reduce stress levels, and improve your overall well-being. Incorporating breathwork into your daily routine, even for just a few minutes, can have a positive impact on your physical and mental health.

To practice breathwork, you can start by finding a quiet and comfortable space. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, inhaling deeply through your nose and exhaling fully through your mouth. Then, try the physiological sigh protocol by breathing in fully, sipping in a little bit more air, and exhaling slowly. Repeat this for at least one minute, focusing on the rhythm and depth of your breaths. You can also explore other breathwork techniques and find the ones that work best for you. Remember, even a short session of breathwork can be beneficial, so don't hesitate to incorporate this practice into your daily routine to reduce stress and improve your overall well-being.

Minimum Dose: 1 minute. That’s right. Do four breaths right now following Andrew Huberman’s physiological sigh protocol of breathing in fully, sipping in a little bit more air, and then fully exhaling slowly.

Forest Bathing

The Japanese term shinrin-yoku meaning forest bathing originated when researchers began to notice the negative effects that being cooped up 24/7 in densely populated cities like Tokyo was having on the mood and well-being of people.

Being in nature, bathing yourself in the surroundings and taking it all in has such a pronounced effect on improving mood and reducing stress that it’s become an accepted remedy for ailments. Because getting into nature is beneficial for reducing physical and mental stress, it’s also great for keeping your immune system healthy. Be sure to get lots of time in nature now that the weather is still great but also consider the minimum dose throughout the winter months too.

Minimum Dose: 20 minutes, 3 times per week.

This is enough to make a difference when we’re stuck inside more, spreading germs with friends, family, and coworkers.

Remember, these strategies are not foolproof but can help reduce the risk of getting sick. If you experience any concerning symptoms or have specific health concerns, it's always advisable to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice and guidance.

Stay healthy and enjoy the fall season!

Glow, Detox, and Relax: Your Summer Guide to Infrared Sauna

As the summer sun blazes, we all look forward to the joys that this season brings — barbecues, beach trips, and long, lazy afternoons.

But with all the fun, summer can also bring challenges like overindulgence, skin issues, and the struggle to maintain our health and fitness goals.

At Flow Spa, we have a secret weapon to help you navigate these challenges and truly savour your summer: our infrared sauna.

Here are 8 ways to get more out of the summer season with sauna.

Enhanced Detoxification

Picture this: you've just spent a weekend enjoying a family barbecue, complete with all the fixings. You've indulged a little more than you intended, and you're feeling it. Enter the infrared sauna at Flow Spa. As you sit back and let the gentle heat envelop you, your body begins a process of deep detoxification. The infrared heat penetrates your skin, reaching into fat cells and releasing stored toxins. You emerge from the session feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to dive back into your summer activities with renewed energy.

Glowing Skin

Imagine you're preparing for a day at the beach. You want your skin to look its best, but the summer sun and sweat have other plans, leading to clogged pores and potential breakouts. Regular sessions in our infrared sauna can be your secret weapon for radiant skin. The increased sweating helps clear out your pores, leading to improved skin health and a natural glow that rivals the summer sun.

Weight Management

It's a common summer scene: you're working towards your body goals, but the temptation of summer treats and the relaxation of vacation can make it challenging. Our infrared sauna can support your efforts. As you relax in the heat, your body is hard at work, increasing your metabolic rate and burning calories. It's a passive way to supplement your active routines, helping you stay on track with your summer body goals.

Relaxation and Stress Relief

Summer is a time of fun, but it can also be a time of chaos with vacations, kids out of school, and a whirlwind of activities. Amidst this, the infrared sauna at Flow Spa stands as a peaceful oasis. As you step into the sauna and the door closes behind you, the outside world fades away. The gentle heat soothes your muscles, the quiet calms your mind, and for a few precious moments, you're on a mini-vacation from your summer vacation.

Muscle and Joint Relief

You've just returned from a vigorous hike, your muscles are sore, and your joints are aching. An infrared sauna session can be the perfect remedy. The deep-penetrating heat soothes your sore muscles and joints, promoting faster recovery and helping you stay active throughout the summer.

Improved Sleep

Despite the long summer days, a good night's sleep is still essential. After a relaxing session in our infrared sauna, you'll find that sleep comes more easily. The heat from the sauna helps to relax your body, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep, even when the sun rises early.

Heat Acclimation

If you're planning a summer full of outdoor activities or a vacation to a hotter climate, regular sessions in our infrared sauna can help your body acclimate to the heat. It's like a training program for your body, helping you stay comfortable and enjoy your summer activities to the fullest.

Boosted Immune System

Summer is a time for fun, not for being sidelined by a cold. Regular infrared sauna use can help boost your immune system, keeping you healthy and ready to seize every summer day.

Remember, at Flow Spa, we always emphasize the importance of staying hydrated, especially when using the sauna in the summer months. Always drink plenty of water before and after your sauna session to maintain optimal hydration levels. This will help you get the most out of your sauna session and keep you feeling great all summer long.

So, as you continue to enjoy the most of this summer, consider making the infrared sauna at Flow Spa a part of your routine. It's more than just a way to beat the heat — it's a tool to enhance your summer, helping you look and feel your best while you make the most of every sun-soaked moment.

Wishing you a radiant summer,

The Flow Spa Team

Making the Most of Your Summer: Our Top Tips from Flow Spa

Summer is here, and it's the perfect time to embrace the warmth, the longer days, and the endless opportunities for relaxation and rejuvenation.

At Flow Spa, we believe that summer is not just a season, but a state of mind.

It's a time to slow down, to reconnect with nature, and to take care of our bodies and minds.

Here are some tips on how to make the most of this beautiful season, including how our unique services, like float therapy, can enhance your summer experience.

1. Embrace Outdoor Activities

Summer is the best time to enjoy the great outdoors. Whether it's going for a hike, taking a bike ride, or simply enjoying a picnic in the park, make sure to soak up the sun (with proper sun protection, of course!). These activities not only provide a great workout but also help to reduce stress and improve mood.

2. Stay Hydrated

With the rising temperatures, it's crucial to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, and don't forget to replenish your electrolytes if you're engaging in physical activities. Eating fruits and vegetables with high water content, like watermelon and cucumbers, can also help keep you hydrated.

3. Practice Mindfulness

Summer is a great time to start or deepen a mindfulness practice. Take a few minutes each day to meditate or simply sit quietly, focusing on your breath. This can help reduce stress and improve mental clarity.

4. Protect Your Skin

Summer means more time spent outdoors, and while the sunshine can feel great, it's important to protect your skin. Always apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 before heading outside, even on cloudy days. Don't forget to reapply every two hours and after swimming or sweating. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses can provide additional protection. Remember, taking care of your skin is an essential part of overall wellness.

5. Get Plenty of Rest

While it's tempting to fill every summer day with activities, it's essential to balance this with adequate rest. Good sleep is crucial for recovery and maintaining a healthy immune system.

6. Experience Float Therapy

We're big advocates of float therapy, especially during the summer months. Floating in a sensory deprivation tank is like hitting the reset button on your body and mind. The buoyancy of the saltwater allows your body to float effortlessly, relieving physical tension and promoting deep relaxation. It's an excellent way to recover from the physical activities of summer, treat chronic pain, and reduce stress.

At Flow Spa, we're here to help you make the most of your summer. Whether you're looking to relax with a massage, detoxify in our infrared sauna, or experience the profound relaxation of float therapy, we're here to support your wellness journey.

Remember, summer is a season of abundance and growth.

So, take this time to nurture yourself, try new experiences, and find your flow.

Wishing you a summer full of relaxation and rejuvenation!

The Flow Spa Team

What's The Best Form Of Cryotherapy?

Does the idea of cold water get you shivering from the thought alone?

Despite the challenge and initial shock, many people are still braving the cold for the benefits that it provides, including reducing inflammation, improving mood and mental health, and even supporting weight loss.

But as you dive into the research on the different forms of cold exposure, also known as cryotherapy, you’ll find that there’s more than one way to face your fears.

You can turn your shower to cold and step under those icy droplets, plunge your whole body into an ice bath, or enter a cryotherapy chamber that drops the air temperature with liquid nitrogen.

What’s the best way to brave the cold?

Here are a few findings from research as well as experiences from our Flow Spa clients on what they prefer.

Rain Down On Me

Many people will start on their cold water journey by taking cold showers. It’s accessible and realistic for most of us to do, at least part of the year.

Online communities for cold water afficionados often kickoff new recruits with one month cold shower challenge. Mentally this is very challenging because you have to force yourself to turn that tap to cold and stay under the icy needle points of water as they land on you. This in and of itself is a great and powerful usage of cold water. It helps to build self-confidence and comfort in facing other challenges in your life.

But taking a cold shower isn’t likely going to work as well for the other benefits of cold water immersion as you’re not getting the whole body anti-inflammatory effect of submerging yourself up to the shoulders. So it doesn’t seem as effective for improving recovery.

Depending on where you live, cold showers are also only available for about half the year because as the water supply temperature warms up in the spring and summer, the water coming out of the tap can be above 60 F and no longer very effective for deliberate cold exposure.

Do You Get 10X The Results with a Cryotherapy Chamber?

Cryotherapy chambers are marketed as being more effective than cold water immersion but are they really?

At more than 10 times the cost of a cold water immersion set up, it isn’t feasible even upon first glance to think that a cryochamber could be that much better. And research leans far in favour of cold water immersion being superior. Over 90% of the studies done on the effects of cryotherapy have looked at cold water at the mechanism for cold exposure.

Anecdotally, from our clients who have tried both cryotherapy chambers as well as ice baths, they have found the cold water to feel much more challenging, which increases the mental toughness boost from the experience, but also have felt better from their recovery from training after the cold water.

So what makes cold water that much better?

Cold Water Immersion

All of the options we’ve discussed are cold, so what’s the biggest difference that has cold water immersion reigning supreme?

It’s likely due to the better conduction of heat away from the body when immersed in cold water. The shower doesn’t cut it because you can’t get your whole body covered in cold water enough and while the air in the cryochambers gets much colder, our body creates a warm air vapour barrier against the cold air that mitigates the effect.

So having heat drawn from our body all in one encompassing effect in the cold water helps to create that anti-inflammatory effect and the challenge is much higher mentally than the other options because our body sends out the signal that we must get out. This is what creates the spike in dopamine and norepinephrine in cold water that promotes a boost in mood and mental health as well.

But because it is so cold and challenging, it can be hard to get started in doing full cold plunges, which is why there’s one more level that’s our own secret weapon to the best and most beneficial cryo experience.

Our Pick of Plunge - Contrast Both Hot and Cold Tubs

Contrast thearpy involves alternating between extremes in heat and cold. With our setup, we like to use the infrared sauna to relax into the experience and spend some time warming up before entering into the extremes. Then alternating between hot tub and cold tub will allow you to brave the cold without as much of a problem since you can immediately transfer back into the hot tub when you need to. This allows you to spend more total time in the cold than you would otherwise, extending the benefits of the anti-inflammatory effect.

The contrast also acts like an additional pump for circulation to enhance blood flow and recovery by dilating the blood vessels in the heat and constricting in the cold.

It provides the right amount of challenge for the mental toughness benefits of the cold plunge while also generating a massive boost in feel good hormones because you accomplished something tough and pushed your body through the extremes.

Book a session for yourself or challenge a friend to come in and feel the difference with you!

What Are The Benefits of Infrared Sauna?

Using an infrared sauna has many benefits, including improved circulation, reduced stress, and a deeper, more restful sleep. When the weather is cold and you want to stay cozy and warm, there’s nothing better than relaxing with the penetrating heat of an infrared sauna. And there are a lot more benefits that come from using the sauna that you might not know about.

Improving Circulation

Using an infrared sauna can be incredibly beneficial for your health and well-being! Its ability to increase circulation helps reduce pain, inflammation, and fatigue and improves overall skin health by delivering oxygen and nutrients to the skin cells. On top of this, regular infrared sauna use can help clear toxins from the body and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines for a glowing complexion. Plus, infrared heat can help to boost your immune system - keeping you feeling strong and healthy.

Reduces Stress

Using an infrared sauna can provide numerous benefits and help reduce stress and anxiety levels. This is because infrared saunas can increase dopamine levels in the body, which is the chemical associated with mood regulation.

In addition to this, infrared saunas can help the body to stimulate endorphins, which are the hormones responsible for the feeling of happiness and well-being.

Regular use of an infrared sauna can also promote relaxation of the muscles and joints, helping to reduce tension and stress in the body Incorporating an infrared sauna into a regular wellness routine can have a positive impact on physical and mental health.

Sleep Quality

Using an infrared sauna can help improve the quality of sleep by providing a gentle, relaxing heat. The sauna's warmth helps relax tight muscles, reduce tension and stress, and can even help relieve common aches and pains. By promoting the body to relax, an infrared sauna can bring a deeper, more restful sleep, allowing the body to restore and rejuvenate itself. One of the factors that signal our bodies to fall asleep fast is a drop in body temperature which can be enhanced by relaxing in a sauna in the evening to trigger deeper sleep. With regular use, an infrared sauna can help improve the quality of sleep and help provide a more restful night's sleep.

Experience The Benefits For Yourself

Using an infrared sauna has many benefits, such as improved circulation, reduced stress, and a deeper, more restful sleep. At Flow Spa, we offer sessions for individuals and 2-person sauna sessions, as well as packages for anyone looking to make sauna a regular part of their wellness routine.

You can find out more about the options we have available here:

Managing Holiday Stress To Enjoy More This Season

Making the holidays less stressful

The holiday season is upon us once more and with it comes much holiday cheer but also many challenges.

I want to help make life as stress-free as possible so that you can rise to the challenge of those experiences that you actually want to be able to have.

Managing stress successfully is all about recognizing your own situation but there are a few considerations that'll help us all with the stress that tends to come at us around the holidays.

Watch this as a video here, or continue reading below.

Make a basic plan for the holidays

I know everyone doesn’t love being a planner and having everything in their life mapped out but a little preparation can go a long way when entering a more stressful season.

Financial Stress

Look at your gift list and space those purchases out over the next four weeks if that helps you to experience less financial strain. By planning ahead and spacing gifts out over multiple paycheques it won’t put as much pressure on you.

I go so far as automatically scheduling a savings account to drip deposits throughout the whole year so I really don’t have to think about it by the time Christmas comes around. I just look at what I have saved and create a budget for all the gifts I’m wanting to give.

Social Stress

Plan your social engagements for the holidays if you are more introverted and find that all of the interaction drains you.

While attending holiday parties may not be as negotiable, you can look ahead to incorporate more me time or recovery time in there to balance it out. Take care of yourself as well with a little more me time and attention to your deep health. With that being said, this time of year is extra special for getting together with friends and family so look at the upside of those get-togethers and cherish them.

It seems like those gatherings are becoming less frequent. And we can all use them, especially after the last few years of experiencing more social isolation.

Planning To Get More From Your Vacation

If you have a vacation coming up, taking time to plan it out for yourself or with whoever you’re travelling with can enhance the experience that you have.

Humans are funny and often don’t even take the time to appreciate the rewards of our hard efforts.

When you are sitting on the beach basking in the sun and listening to the ocean waves and you catch yourself thinking about the next thing instead of appreciating where you are at here and now, it's a part of human nature.

The lesson we can take from this is to actively plan your vacation, think about it, and talk about it so that you also get the positive feelings of something to look forward to as you make that last push at work before the holidays.

Avoid Burning Out At Work

This is a stressful time of year at work for most of us too, and to enjoy this holiday season beating burnout is important.

Join me on this free lunchtime webinar hosted by the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce on how to beat burnout in the workplace.

Does Athletic Taping Work For Recovery?

The world of sports is something amusing. Different athletes from around the world get paid millions of dollars to play competitively, and in order to do that they must prevent themselves from getting injured. From LeBron James to Lionel Messi, these athletes train and do whatever it takes to improve their performance and body.

Unfortunately, some things in life are inevitable, whether it be bruises, burns or even major injuries like dislocations or fractures, everyone at some point in their lives has gotten injured or has at least felt some type of pain before. Sports competitors usually try to prevent injuries from occurring or from getting worse by applying athletic taping. NBA players, soccer stars or volleyball athletes tend to use these special types of taping to improve their workout, rehabilitate and avoid injuries.

What is Athletic Taping:

Athletic taping is the process of applying tape directly to the skin in order to decrease swelling and pain by helping increase the amount of blood flow to the injured area.

Kinesio-type tape (KT) adjusts to the skin and accommodates movements. As you can see, there are different kinds of taping, people can use, it really just depends on what they prefer. We have all seen athletes on the court, field or pool wearing stripes of coloured tape that are not even wrapped around the limbs or muscles like an elastic support bandage.

Instead, it is a long tape is applied to the skin and sticks on, so what type of athletic taping do athletes use?

As we are talking about athletes, the taping that would be best for them is Kinesio-type taping. Physical therapists use it to treat pain from sports injuries and boost athletic performance, among other things. Sports and Medical Orthopaedists Dominic King, DO explain how KT tape is different than the others, by saying “It’s different than your standard athletic tape, which is used to immobilize a joint. Elastic therapeutic taping has the benefit of being stretchy. When you apply it to a joint, it helps to act almost like a rubber band, supporting muscles and tendons, and taking a little stress off the joints. It also can help relieve swelling in certain areas”. Most notably basketball star James Harden, who is known as a great scorer and known for staying healthy. He is always seen regularly with a sporting KT tape on his right shoulder, and even though he is not injured, he is taking the right measure to make sure that his muscles and joints are behaving the way they should.

Houston Rockets’ Head Athletic Trainer Jason Biles commented “I’ve been in the NBA now eight years, and I’ve been using it probably seven or eight years, right when I came in. I like the KT Tape specifically because it promotes a sort of natural healing response, helping with swelling reduction, encouraging optimal movement and proper movement, and the appropriate alignment of the joints. It gives the athlete great feedback of where their body is in space — we want them to be aware of if they’re in a vulnerable position, or if they’re in the proper position they can move optimally from… So, it’s the tape that we use for those things and also just to sort of encourage the movement that we would like. So, if a joint tends to want to, say, become maligned, then we can apply some tape to encourage the proper movement to achieve what the athlete needs on the court”.

James Harden uses it mostly as injury prevention and having the tape placed on his shoulders says it has helped him mentally as well “Whenever I’m sore, whether it’s my knee or my shoulder, putting the KT Tape on gets the blood flowing and circulating around my body… I’m able to go out there and play free, not really thinking about injuries. It just gives me that confidence. It gives me the confidence to go out there and not worry about getting injured. If you’re playing free and you’re confident, great things are going to happen on the court”.

Additionally, this method can help keep muscles or bones in a certain position in order to prevent an injury from occurring. For this to happen, athletes must put the athletic taping near the joints like the ankles, wrists, and hands for added support due to the elasticity of the athletic tape. It naturally returns to its original position, which alleviates some of the athlete’s muscle strain, which is one of the benefits of the tape; however, Dr. King explains that people report feeling a little more comfortable with the tape, and it seems as if it gives them some added support, and with backed up research, it also shows that people experience short-term benefit from using the tape. “For the short term it actually can help with some joints that might be painful, for a couple of hours or maybe for a day; but it doesn’t really have that type of long-term relief, where this is going to be the only thing, you’re going to need in order to take away all of your joint pain,” he says” Dr. King explains, as research indicates that Kinesio tape may help alleviate pain for individuals who suffer from persistent musculoskeletal pain, it is in no way superior to other treatments. In addition, he asserts that there is no scientific evidence that Kinesio tape can lessen disability among people who suffer from chronic pain.

Some other short-term benefits that KT taping provides are that it helps with stabilizing ankles, supporting knees, solidifying shoulders, opening elbows, supporting weak or injured muscles, improving muscle contraction, and preventing overuse.

Finally, King goes on to mention that the tape should only be used as part of a program that also includes physical therapy to treat muscle soreness as a last resort, nor are there any long-term benefits from Kinesio taping.  

Why is Athletic Taping Important?

Taping makes life easier for athletes as it can be effective for rehabilitation. Even though athletic tape can help prevent injuries brought on by exercise, accidents do still happen as it is expected to happen. Athletic tape might be the solution you need when they do. When limiting the range of motion for particular joints and muscles with conventional athletic tape, the body may heal more quickly than if the movement were unrestricted. It can also be used as a splint for sprained joints, which expedites the healing process. Traditional athletic tape can help reduce swelling by compressing the muscle, which can reduce pain and prevent further injury.

The reasons for using elastic therapeutic tape are the same but in different ways. Athletic tape reduces swelling and reduces pain by helping to increase blood flow to the injured area. The elasticity of the athletic tape can also provide the affected muscles with support. It naturally returns to its initial position, alleviating some of the athlete's muscle strain. The tape can help protect the previously injured area from re-injury and reduce pain when the athlete is well enough to resume their sport or activity.

Additionally, the athletic tape can assist in correcting any form of issues caused by injury or other conditions. A trainer can do a runner's analysis to apply the tape in the best position for their injury, which will help them fix their form and stop them from hurting themselves again. Again, Athletic Taping is more beneficial short-term than long term and shouldn’t be depended on without addressing injuries.

How can athletic taping help you?

Whether you’re a competitive athlete or just want to stay healthy, KT taping can help you to reduce injuries and feel your best.

And we offer sports taping at Flow Spa.

Flow Spa is the premier float therapy and sports recovery centre in Peterborough, Ontario.

Our centre focuses on helping people deal with stress and pain so that they can recover and feel better.

We ensure that we make our customer’s experience better than any other float centres. As a team, we provide the customer’s needs and wants and deliver phenomenal services.

Our mission is to provide the ultimate relaxing and rejuvenating experience to help you ease your stress and pain.

Flow Spa has the best tools and treatment options available: float therapy, massage therapy, reflexology, reiki, infrared saunas, cold plunges, contrast therapy, Normatec compression therapy, and health coaching.

KT Taping can be included as part of your massage therapy session. Book your appointment online and mention you want taping done or give us a call at 705-230-8575.

Practicing Self-Compassion Is Hard

Why is it that people are fundamentally better at being compassionate and caring towards others than they are towards themselves?

What is it about self-compassion that makes most of us not very good at practicing it?

In this article we will dive into:

• The underlying scripts from society - how we’ve learned to value other people’s opinions and compare ourselves.

• There’s a misconception that self-compassion means complacency. We find meaning in progress because we are hard-wired that way

• Self-compassion feels soft and vulnerable and most people avoid that.

Self-compassion is an important part of having a growth mindset and learning how to develop into your best self. But most people suck at practicing it. Why is it that we push ourselves relentlessly or tell ourselves that we could have done better with our efforts?

When was the last time that you actually let yourself feel a sense of accomplishment at something you did? And I’m not talking about a 5-second pause before starting up the next project on your list.

The skill of self-compassion is made up of three elements:

• Self-kindness

• Common humanity

• Mindfulness

Self-kindness is about being generous and decent to yourself.

Common humanity is recognizing that you are a part of a greater whole of humanity. You’re not isolated in your suffering and problems.

Mindfulness is also a part of self-compassion as you need to work on being non-judgemental and consciously aware of what you’re doing, thinking, feeling, and experiencing.

This is a hard skill to develop in yourself. There’s a lot going against you that makes practicing self-compassion so hard.

But self-compassion will positively change your life and so you owe it to yourself to put in the effort to rewrite some of these invisible scripts that you tell yourself about self-compassion so that you can go further while also being appreciative of where you are at now.

Underlying scripts from society

How we’ve learned to value other peoples’ opinions and compare ourselves.

Fear of other people’s opinions or FOPO holds us back from being self-compassionate. When you’re hurting and need a day off from the gym, you find yourself watching Navy SEALS on Instagram waking up before the sun to run 100 miles and you think about how if they can do that, you shouldn’t be taking a day off.

Or when your eyes are bugging out of your head from working at a computer all day but you think about that entrepreneur online who appears to be hustling hard 24/7 and so you just keep on working through the exhaustion and digging a deeper hole for yourself.

Comparison, undoubtedly, is the thief of joy.

These underlying scripts tell us that we will be judged and criticized for doing what we feel in our hearts we need at the moment to recharge or just take care of ourselves.

We only get the picture of what people want to share of their life online though and this is why is can be such a harmful image when it seems like all go and taking no days off.

Self-compassion and complacency.

The misconception about self-compassion means complacency.

We find meaning in progress because we are hard-wired that way. Our brains are constantly seeking out the next step on our journey.

Recognizing that we are driven by dopamine is an important part of having more self-compassion. By knowing this, we can identify when we are feeling unease at sitting still or seemingly not making enough progress. And once we can recognize this, we can accept and embrace that progress looks different for everyone and sometimes the best progress comes from taking a break to recover and recharge. Or that it means pivoting to something new when what we’ve been attempting is no longer working for us.

Self-compassion feels soft and vulnerable.

Most people want to avoid vulnerability at all costs. They keep their secrets held close and don’t open up about anything to anyone.

While there are many thought leaders expressing themselves out in the world and sharing the importance of vulnerability, this is still not the default for most of us.

Have you ever been on a car ride with someone where the silence was deafening? You know that something is up with them but they’d rather stare out the window with lips held tight instead of having a conversation. You can sense it because our ability to read a situation goes far beyond just language.

One of the reasons we like to follow people like Brene Brown and Russell Brand and all those influencers online who have expressed a part of their story to the world is that it’s brave and we have a strong desire to feel the same way.

Being self-compassionate does not mean you are soft although it often means opening yourself up, at least to yourself, so that you can correctly understand what and how you are feeling.

Only through practice will you come to understand how to express yourself.

So then, with the three elements that makeup self-compassion, self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness, think about what you can do to work a little of these into your day.

4 Ways To Keep Your Immune System Healthy This Fall

The concerns around COVID-19 are not done yet and the fall flu season is upon us.

Now is the time to make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep your immune system healthy so that you don’t get sick.

Think about these 4 Ss when it comes to helping your immune system: Sleep, Stress, Shock, and Support.

Read on to learn more about each strategy and how it’ll help you.

Sleep

Sleep is like the Batman of recovery: the hero you don’t want, but the hero that you need.

It’s unrivalled in its importance in promoting recovery, including keeping your immune system healthy, keeping your brain sharp, and your body functioning well.

Sleep is also challenging to try to tackle because we all have preconceived notions of how good or bad our sleep is and why we just have to accept it as it is. Trying to deal with it as a “bad sleeper” is not a good time, as everything else in your life gets affected.

But I'm not suggesting that you try to completely overhaul your sleep routine with what the latest health guru is saying you need to do every hour of the day to prepare yourself for sleep. There are things that can help, but what helps the most is to start with what you're comfortable doing. If that means just maintaining what you're already doing, that's great.

If you have a change in mind that you want to make and you think it'll help your sleep, try that out and notice how it helps your sleep and how rested you feel. Notice the difference it makes and if it doesn’t seem to be doing much, try to add on something else you feel ready to do.

Stress - Manage It Your Best

We all experience stress in many different ways. Stress is as unique to our life as our fingerprint. Managing stress well becomes not just a practice in following a few steps from a template but to understand and explore your own stressors.

By recognizing our own triggers and reactions to stress, we can better come to respect our need for balance and when it's most essential for us. Whether due to life transitions or unexpected events in your life, we can’t go off of a pre-made plan for managing stress better, unless we’ve thought about it ourselves and created it or shaped it to fit our own needs.

So stress management becomes as much about the give and take as a Jiu-Jitsu match. React to everything you experience so that you can keep pushing toward your ultimate goal of getting everything managed as best as you can.

This is exactly what we do in my stress management success course where I teach you how to apply the steps of making changes in your life and creating an action plan for becoming unstressable.

The next cohort for the course is starting soon and you can join the waitlist here: www.flowacademy.ca/stress

Shock

Use deliberate heat or cold exposure to give your immune system a boost.

Sitting in a sauna feels really good but on top of that, it carries with it some powerful health benefits, including being able to strengthen your immune system and reduce the stress hormone cortisol.

When our bodies are exposed to extreme heat or cold, we are giving it a healthy, acute dose of stress. This triggers many of the systems in our body to be stimulated, including our immune system which builds up under this process.

The same happens to us with cold exposure, like doing a cold plunge. This can be harder for people to want to initiate but it certainly feels invigorating after you’ve done it. And the cold creates a great anti-inflammatory effect to reduce pain and promote healing while also turning up the dial on our immune system.

Research suggests that the best practice for this is doing 3-4 sessions per week for a total of 57 minutes of heat exposure above 80 degrees Celsius and 11 minutes total of cold exposure below 10 degrees Celsius. These numbers may be optimal, but certainly, any amount of shock, even one session per week, is going to make a difference that will help you to stay healthier.

Support

Support yourself and your immune system. During cold and flu season, it’s important to turn to our friends and family for support when it’s needed as a way to feel a strong sense of connection that will help to keep stress levels down. It’s also often needed when we do feel the sniffles coming on and need to be proactive to not get sick any further by letting others lend a hand where we need it.

Furthermore, you can support your immune system and your health through supplements. While these aren’t the first step in good nutrition, there are some nutrients that are important for the immune system that become harder to access through our diet as the colder weather approaches, most notably, colourful fruits and veggies and vitamin D. Supplementing with a greens powder can help to cover a lot of micronutrients that we need to stay healthy and keep our immune system strong, and getting vitamin D through supplementation are virtually essential for Canadians once the summer is over and we’re getting less direct sunlight. This one is extremely important for our immune system so I highly recommend it.

Look to supplement with a scoop of a high-quality greens powder, like Genuine Health’s greens+ every day and 2,000 IUs of Vitamin D3.

What to do next:

• Look at what you can do to support your sleep and write down a few ideas of what you’re willing to try.

• Book in for a sauna or cold plunge to start deliberate exposure to the extremes that will stimulate your immune system.

• Join the waitlist for SMS to go further with your stress management plan to become unstressable.

5 Ways To Reduce Stress Right Now

You don't even have to be great at meditating in order to reduce your stress right now.

You don't have to be a great meditator to live stress free. Put these five practices into place regularly to beat burnout and feel like your best self again.

Physiological sigh

This is as close to a hack as you will find for immediately reducing stress through activation of the parasympathetic nervous system.

Think about if you’ve ever caught yourself sobbing and felt like you couldn’t catch your breath. Or if you’re a steely-eyed stoic who’s never made a face, you’ve probably seen someone in a state of hyperventilation. Breathing is very rapid but shallow. And when we’re helping someone through this situation, we get them to breathe into a paper bag or breathe through pursed lips, helping to slow down their breathing.

The physiological sigh immediately activates a state of calmness in our body. You breathe in fully and then try to sip some extra air into your lungs with a second inhale before fully exhaling. Your exhale will naturally be longer but you can also consciously think to exhale slowly. Repeating this for about a minute is all it takes to start to shift your body out of a reactionary stress response and into a more calm state.

This is so powerful because it can be done anytime, anyplace to help you to slow down and regain traction. You don’t have to plop yourself onto a cushion and get situated in a lotus position with eyes closed to reduce stress.

Get outside for a walk

87.4% of excuses for getting outside for a walk are made up. And while that statistic is also made up, we really can in most circumstances organize our day and plan our time to spend even a few minutes outdoors moving at a relaxed pace. The movement alone can be great for promoting a calmer state of mind and reducing stress, but so can being in nature and getting some sun when possible.

Getting outside in nature for a walk checks off all these boxes at once but any one of them can suffice to help you to reduce stress, assuming you’re not allergic to the sun.

Research suggests that positive health benefits from nature exposure can come from just 15 minutes a week, but I’d challenge you to make the time to hit that goal most days if you’re tying to build a stress-busting routine.

Pet a dog (or a cat)

Our bond with our animals is so powerful that it can even reduce stress.

Therapy dogs and seeing them in the hospital wards serve a purpose in delivering joy.

Petting a dog or a cat creates a calm connection that helps us to detach a bit from whatever is overwhelming us to fill us with their unconditional love (so long as you’ve kept up with your belly rub quota).

This action might be a little less practical for some of us due to fears, or allergies, or just not having pets around, but it’s still a really quick way to reduce stress and feel better, so make use of it if and when you can.

Go to sleep or take a nap

Sleep is our recovery superstar and if you’re reaching your limits, the best thing you can do might just be to close your eyes and get to sleep.

Do some restorative exercise

Movement can be medicine, especially if your work is not very active or you spend much of your day seated. You might not always be up for a hard workout, but stretching, yoga, or any type of activity that gets the body in motion is great and can be meditative for those who aren’t very good at the whole sitting still thing.

Now, are you ready for the real secret? Pick just one of these things and try it out. If you’re already feeling stressed out, trying to check off more boxes isn’t going to help. Whatever sounds like something you’d like to do and can make work, do it consistently and see if it is helping you.

Have fun, get curious, and Find Your Flow

Is What We Know About Sleep True?

Is what we know about sleep true?

On average, we spend about a third of our life asleep. It’s a necessary function, and it impacts our physical and mental health. We know that a good night’s sleep makes us all feel good in the morning, but it can also help your digestive system, immune system, and even your heart.

But are we getting the sleep that we want and need?

There are so many things that prevent us from sleeping for as long as we should, and as deeply as we should. Many of us are guilty of spending hours on our phones before bed  - mindlessly scrolling through social media, stimulates the brain, making it harder to fall asleep. The brain can’t just turn off like a switch, it needs to unwind and our habits are basically only winding it up.

But poor sleep can also be caused by other lifestyle choices, such as caffeine or sugar before bed, that keep your mind and body awake. Other times it can be a lack of exercise - for some people, having an unusually sedentary day means you have excess energy that can’t just go away when you need to sleep.

The good news is that if you are struggling with sleep, there are ways that you can help yourself!

Empowerment is the key to changing your sleep patterns. Some people have very serious, legitimate health conditions that can negatively impact their sleep - in these cases it is very important to seek medical support. But for others, there are tools you can use to change your own life.

One of the first places to start is your knowledge base. There is so much information floating around about sleeping and good sleeping habits. It can be hard to know what is true, and what is actually negatively impacting your rest.

So let’s help you to find the facts, so you can start to make some healthy changes.

Our sleeping habits can’t be changed: True or false?

FALSE

Some people think that because a sleeping habit or pattern has been going on for so long, it can’t be changed. If they have always slept for only a few hours at a time, or they always take a long time to fall asleep, they can’t do anything to change it.

The good news is, that you CAN change your sleeping habits.

As with any habit, it will take time to see changes, but perseverance is key. Start by creating a healthy routine for yourself, then commit to sticking to it. Some good ideas you can incorporate:

• Give yourself a set bedtime, so your body naturally begins to get sleepy around the same time each night.

• Make sure that you put aside all your devices. A screen should not be the last thing you see at night, as this can stimulate your brain into waking back up. Try and put those away relatively early in your routine, giving yourself time to really focus on what you are doing.

• If you find yourself very stressed and anxious while you are trying to fall asleep, try and incorporate some relaxing physical and/or mental activities into your night routine. This might be five minutes of light yoga or stretching or some meditation. Whatever works for you!

My phone is keeping me awake: True or false?

TRUE

Whether it’s your phone or tablet, technology is designed to keep you focused and alert - the exact opposite of what you want when you are trying to sleep!

As much as you can, you need to reduce the number of devices in your bedroom and the time you spend on them when trying to get ready for bed. Most of us use our phone as an alarm so turning it off isn’t always a good idea, but you should put it on Do Not Disturb. Notifications are designed to draw your attention, but in reality, they can wait.

And if you find you can’t avoid checking your phone, investing in an alarm clock to get your phone out of the bedroom can be one of the best things you do for your sleep.

If you are someone who loves to check social media right before bed, consider swapping the action for an alternative, like reading a book. Even though you need to focus, reading still helps to slow you down, because the pace at which you receive information is drastically reduced compared to your phone. If you really can’t leave social media alone, at least consider limiting the time you spend on it, so don’t accidentally scroll for hours.

Sleeping medications are addictive and therefore can be dangerous: True or false?

TRUE

It is true that some medications designed to help you sleep, like ones that are prescribed by a doctor, are addictive. They are still useful and they can help people, but only when they are taken correctly. You should never use any form of prescribed medication for someone else, and you should only take them for as long as you have been prescribed them.

If you have been prescribed sleeping pills or tablets by a doctor, make sure that you take them according to the instructions, and always seek help if you find yourself struggling with side effects.

All sleeping medications are bad: True or false? FALSE

Prescribed sleeping medications are designed to help you sleep and when they are used correctly, they are safe. The danger is when you use them differently from the instructions, e.g. taking too many at once, or taking them longer than recommended.

The good news is that you can also find over-the-counter sleeping supports that are safer for more people to use and still offer the same great support. A great option is Deep Sleep by Genuine Health. This is a natural supplement that utilizes natural ingredients that work together to promote better sleep health:

• Reishi mushroom extract - This has been used for centuries to help cure a range of ailments. It can help to stimulate your adrenal gland, which in turn increases the amount of cortisol in the body. Cortisol reduces stress and can increase feelings of relaxation, helping you get to sleep faster and stay asleep for longer. Deep Sleep can also help you to enter deeper sleep cycles, which promote brain rejuvenation and can improve physical health over the long term.

• GABA - is a natural amino acid found in the brain. Supplements safely increase the Gaba levels in the body, making them more functional, by reducing the neurotransmitter actions that are leading to stress and anxiety. This results in a more relaxed and peaceful feeling.

• Melatonin. This is found in a lot of sleep supplements, and it helps to regulate the internal circadian rhythm of the body, so you sleep as your body is intended to.

• L-Theanine - Found in tea, L-theanine is another calming compound that helps to get our body out of a stressed state and into more deep relaxation.

• Magnesium - Magnesium is an important mineral for many of the functions in our body and can help to relax the muscles and promote better sleep.

Even more good news: Deep Sleep is safe to be used by anyone. It is soy, gluten, dairy, and egg-free so even people with dietary requirements can take it and experience its success.

I’m having trouble sleeping, so I’m a bad sleeper: True or false? FALSE

Many people think they are bad sleepers when in reality they probably aren’t! There are a number of reasons why you might wake up still feeling tired, or not as relaxed as you want to be. In reality, this might not actually be a sleep problem!

People who think they are bad sleepers may internalize this belief, which can result in a lot of stress and anxiety. You may focus on your sleep problems, but not the other things in life that may be impacting your sleep. Are you very busy at work at the moment? Are you only sleeping five hours a night because you are trying to juggle work and children and a million other responsibilities?

Our sleeping behaviours can sometimes be a reflection of other behaviours or habits in our lives and it’s important to recognize that everything is connected. Always be kind to yourself - health is a constant journey and as long as you’re working on it, you are moving in the right direction.

Deep Sleep is available at Flow Spa - Pick it up in-store today!

What Is Compassion Fatigue?

Emotional labour is one of the most challenging jobs that we do as humans. Not because of the physical toll it can take, which can also be the case, but because it can be never-ending. And when you are a giver, you'll drain yourself completely and then some until you are completely burned out and start to lose your spark.

That's compassion fatigue.

A state that's become much more common in the last several years, so it's important to know what can cause compassion fatigue and how to prevent it so that you can continue to be your best self and not reach that point of burnout.

Compassion fatigue is a form of burnout that comes to caregivers. While we often assume that it’s a result of giving too much, it’s not that we’ve selflessly given too much of ourselves so much as it’s from feeling the ongoing suffering of others and assuming that our efforts are not enough.

The other big factor with compassion fatigue and burnout from being a giver is the style in which you give. Seeing the results of your efforts is one way to combat burnout, which is why certain fields like teaching and medicine lead to higher rates of burnout.

When the turnaround of the humans you’re giving care to is very rapid in which case you don’t get feedback or see the results of whether the support you’ve given helped or not, compassion fatigue can start to kick in.

Give More, But Respect Your Boundaries

Counterintuitively you can give more of yourself without burning out, but you must respect your boundaries.  When it comes to giving of yourself, it’s important to respect your boundaries and know your limits.

Selflessly giving all of yourself is not the answer.

You will burn out from following this style of giving.

Even people who give a lot of their extra time to volunteering or other giving work can find that they can manage if they chunk it all together instead of scattering it through the week. By dedicating a large block of time to giving work, you again see the returns from your efforts in the others that you’ve helped and this makes a big difference in your motivation to keep giving and not develop compassion fatigue.

By having some set blocks of time for giving outside of work, or even sticking to the confines of your work hours in your job that requires a lot of emotional labour, you’ll be better able to find time to recover and recharge which is the next point.

Have weekly recovery time

You have to create balance and let yourself recharge and recover too. In performing caregiving, your body is in need of recovery time. Even if you aren't burning out because you've been able to give selflessly, to perform your very best, you need rest and recovery.

If you can't afford the cost or time of doing anything else, sleep is and always will be the recovery superstar, so even making changes to improve sleep by just a little bit can make a difference. And if you are able to make time to get outside for a walk in nature or go to your favourite spa for a float or massage, you'll be positively contributing to the rest and recovery that'll keep you strong for the others you care for.

Know your limits

And also in terms of respecting boundaries and making time for recovery, you have to know your limits.

At the end of the day, Emotional labour is highly rewarding but also very draining. It involves a lot of social connections that you might feel the need to detach from if you're naturally more introverted or you've just been giving all of yourself for a long time.

Think about your personality type, as well as what type of giver you are and what you're doing for recovery time, as we talked about, and see what opportunities you can find for making changes.

By becoming more self-aware of how we are doing and the types of patterns we tend to fall into that lead to burnout, we can start to shift towards being more resilient and avoiding any crashes in the first place.

If you found this info helpful, share is with another selfless caregiver you know that could use this reminder.

What Stress Management Techniques Are Most Effective?

Our ancestors lived in a world much different from our own. A world where behind every bush a predator could be waiting for them. The slightest snap of a branch could mean trouble. To fight or to flee was instinctual and prepared us for moments like this.

It sounds stressful thinking about it but these incidences happened acutely and typically didn’t pervade every waking minute.

What happens when our ancient threat detection system gets immersed in the world we face today?

Escape versus Approach Techniques

When it comes to managing stress, we all have our own default methods that we lean into. But there are definitely some techniques that are more effective than others.

Knowing not only what types of stress affect you the most, but also how you should manage your stress is what’s going to help you to feel the best and recover better.

So let’s talk about understanding your deep health assessment and where stress is affecting you the most.

We’ll also touch on forms of escape versus approach techniques for stress management and what the best long-term solutions are for dealing with what’s bothering you.

Understand Your Deep Health and Stress Assessment

Sometimes we have a really great grasp on what’s causing the most stress in our lives but it can often come as a surprise or not be exactly what you think it is.

When you develop an awareness of the different dimensions of your health, that is your Deep Health and the stress that is intertwined with each of those dimensions, you’re better able to pinpoint your sources of stress in any given timeframe.

To do this, you want either look at the wheel with the six Deep Health components and rank or draw out how stressful each aspect of your health is right now.

Alternatively, if you need further guidance and understanding, you can fill out the Deep Health Assessment and Questionnaire which will ask you a series of questions about each dimension and give you an overall score. The areas you score lowest in correlate with which dimensions are currently most stressful to you. I will include a link down below to do the deep health assessment for yourself.

Now that you have some answers to what direction your stress is coming from mostly, you can start to strategize ways to better manage that stress.

There are lots of great ways to manage stress and recover so that you feel better but all solutions are not created equal and will depend on your sources of stress. Sometimes a hard workout at the gym is just what you need to reduce mental and emotional stress but if you‘re already dealing with a lot of physical and environmental stress, the additional strain on your body and crowded and loud gym may not help you to adequately recharge.

Should You Run, Or Stand and Fight?

When most of us face stressors in our lives, just like our cave-dwelling ancestors,  we turn to one of two solutions to cope with them. We choose to escape from them in ways that allow us to avoid what we’re dealing with, or we can approach and work on handling it directly.

Usually, avoidant techniques feel like the easy short-term solution and sometimes they can be constructive if it allows us to step back and get a better perspective or find a place of safety to start from before we deal with whatever we’re facing.

Ultimately though, the more that we practice and use approach solutions, the stronger our resilience to stress and ability to manage it will be.

Approach and Avoidance Techniques for Stress Management

So how do you practice these approach solutions to your stress? If this isn’t your default method of stress management and you do tend to avoid anything that feels threatening, it will be helpful to start slowly and with anything that’s not too intimidating for you. If mental stress is affecting you because you’ve been putting off having a conversation with your boss about something important that needs to change, this might be much harder if you’re not used to approaching and handling your stressors directly. Maybe in this case, depending on the timeline, you could start by approaching that mental stress through a meditation technique, to get control of your thoughts and even practice visualization of the crucial conversation you need to have. That way you can build up more resilience before tackling those bigger stressors.

We can do this for every type of stress that we face. There are approach and avoidance techniques in every dimension of deep health.

And if you’re trying to do a complete reboot on your system because stress seems to be coming from every direction, you should try floating.

Float therapy is one of my favourite recovery methods and is uniquely effective at reducing stress because how it can help us to recharge in all aspects of our deep health. The quiet and dark comfort of float tanks eliminates environmental and physical stress while also allowing us to go deeply within to approach and work on our mental, emotional, and existential stressors. And the solitude of the float tank is also the perfect reset for social stress. So if you haven’t tried floating before or it’s been a while since your last float and you’re feeling stress build up again, I can’t recommend floating enough.

Find Your Flow

Want Better Time Together? Start By Spending Time Alone

“Pardon? Can you say that again – I was distracted.”

How often do you hear those words come out in conversation because something on the other person’s phone caught their attention? I’m willing to bet it’s far more often than you’d like. To the point that sometimes you wish you could just snap that stupid phone in half and stomp it into a million pieces.

Now that we got that out of our system, let’s move on.

Distraction Isn’t All Our Fault

In a lot of ways, it’s less a sign of personal failure and more an indication of the digital world we are consumed by that is distracting. And while some may argue that this is no fault of the technology, it seems apparent that there’s a lot of intention behind these devices and social media platforms being designed to grab our attention and keep it for as long as possible.

But this constant assault on our attention stresses us cognitively and being in an on-demand state of distraction all the time leads us to greater overall stress and anxiety to our society as a whole. And it’s no surprise that many of us have started to fight back against being plugged in all the time as we’ve seen an increase in the popularity of meditation, mindfulness, and practices that disengage us completely like floating.

Floating Helps Us Connect Deeper

Floating lets us escape from all of the external distractions for a time, allowing the mind and body time to relax and reset.

Stepping back out into the world after a float brings more colour to the world. Senses are literally heightened, including our more emotional ones like feeling connection and empathy with the people around us. This is often mostly directed towards close friends or loved ones who notice these changes the most, but we’ve heard plenty of stories about small acts of kindness towards total strangers post-float.

When you take time to take care of yourself, you develop the resilience that allows you to take care of and love others more too. It’s just like the emotional and mental health version of putting on your oxygen mask first before helping others. And floating is a great example of one way to nurture your deep health to recover better and manage stress with benefits that extend beyond your time spent in the tank.

And while it’s a practice of spending time completely alone in the float tank, the practice of floating can help with forming deeper connections with others. Friends will often come in together so that they can relax and hang out together afterwards while feeling lighter and more relaxed. Many couples also find that floating is the perfect way to start off a romantic weekend together or just a casual date night. Taking the time to process the thoughts swirling through your head and letting go of deep stress from the many aspects of your life is the perfect way to free yourself up to be more to be present for the things and people that are right in front of you.

There is an openness and joy to being able to flow in the present moment. Connections just seem to click into place. When something goes wrong, it’s easier to shrug it off and laugh it away. And when fully immersed like this, those normal distractions we all face go unnoticed. Plus, if you’re having lunch or dinner post-float, food really does taste amazing by being in this effortless state.

Benefits Backed By Science

All of these effects and experiences are more than just a collection of anecdotes - research on float therapy consistently shows reduced stress and anxiety, and increased feelings of serenity and well-being. There’s also evidence of increased creativity after floating which may be part of why spending time with others after a float can be so much more enjoyable. There is also some newly emerging research showing improvements in attention and quality of life for those diagnosed with ADHD.

Our brains are wired to be on alert for threats in our environment. It’s what has kept us alive and got to where we are today but with everything that goes on around us now - from the constant noise and bright lights to screens everywhere and busy cities - most of us can’t avoid being on edge. And being mentally overloaded all the time, there’s no wonder that it can be hard to focus on the person right across the table from you and what they’re saying.

So in whatever you accomplish, it’s important to practice the ability to tune out the distractions from the world around you, as well as the ever-present mental chatter. Floating is the ideal tool and way to recover from this and you’ll find that those distractions clear away as your focus and attention resurface, whether you come in to float on your own, with friends, or with a romantic partner.