Good Health Matters
Festive Wellness
This time of year brings the joy of time spent together, but it can also be an organisational headache and give you chore overload. Take time to look after yourself with our guide to avoiding stress and keeping well this season. Plus, take part in our Festive Fitness Challenge to supercharge your fitness over the Christmas period and start 2026 in the best of health!
Enjoy reading!
Seasonal Stress – Don’t Let It Go To Your Shoulders!
It might the season of goodwill, but do you find it’s more chores than cheerfulness? More stress than celebration? More exhaustion than exhilaration?
The pressure of putting together the perfect Christmas can trigger stress as much as work deadlines or caring burdens.
And that stress can initiate the stress-tension loop – a physiological process connecting mind and body through the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis. This evolutionary reflex floods your system with adrenaline and cortisol when your mind perceives a threat (even if it’s only the threat of miscooking the turkey!)
These stress hormones increase muscle tension at a cellular level. This primes your system for short bursts of action, but longer-term exposure causes a reduction in blood flow and a build-up of waste metabolites such as lactates, and it promotes inflammation. This is why your neck, shoulders and back can feel tight and knotty when you’re stressed.
The muscle pain that arises from this chronic tightness acts as a stressor, telling the brain that something’s wrong. In turn, the brain prolongs tension to guard the area. And what’s more, stress changes our neurology, heightening pain perception. In this way, you can end up in a self-perpetuating feedback loop of stress, pain, more stress, and greater pain.
Happily, massage is a great way to interrupt this cycle. It has been shown to reduce inflammation in muscle tissue, ease restrictions and fascial ‘knots’, restoring normal elasticity and promoting blood flow.
In addition, massage imbues the receiver with a sense of wellbeing, comfort and ease. It reduces cortisol levels and boosts feel-good hormones such as serotonin and dopamine, as well as activity in the calming parasympathetic nervous system.
Massage, then, is a science-backed intervention that eases pain, lowers stress and soothes the soul. Whether it’s sports, Swedish, Holistic Rebalancing or Indian Head Massage, indulge yourself (or someone else) this winter and let the stress melt away.
Want to spoil someone with massage this Christmas? Get in touch – we have vouchers available. We can email them, or you can pick them up at reception.
Six Winter Health Boosts
If, like many of us, you’re struggling to drag yourself out of bed in the dark winter mornings, and you’re compensating for your sluggishness by eating the contents of your choc-laden advent calendar for breakfast, it’s time for a fresh winter re-set!
Take a look at our easy and fun winter health tips to give your mind and body a seasonal boost.
- Sip a winter warmer
It’s hard to drink cold water when it’s chilly! Make hydration a cosy ritual by keeping a thermos of warm herbal tea (like ginger, peppermint or hibiscus) or hot water infused with lemon and a cinnamon stick. It feels like a treat but keeps you hydrated and supports your immune system.
Try this: For every alcoholic or caffeinated drink you have, balance it with a winter warmer water/tea to help prevent dehydration and hangovers.
- Settle into hibernation mode
Embrace the longer, darker nights by treating sleep like a luxurious seasonal gift to yourself. Create a soothing bedtime ritual: take a warm bath, read an enjoyable book or try a guided sleep meditation, and aim for a consistent bedtime.
Try this: Put your phone away at least one hour before you want to sleep to allow your brain to wind down properly.
- Mindful munching
Instead of viewing rich festive foods as “good” or “bad,” practice mindful eating. Slow down, savour the flavours, and truly enjoy your favourite treats in moderation.
To keep energy high, try to fill half your plate with an abundance of colourful vegetables at every meal. Go for seasonal delights such as red cabbage, kale, beetroots, carrots, squash and chicory. Add a handful of nuts or seeds to your veg or salads for extra healthy fats.
Try this: Before heading out to a drinks party, eat a healthy snack such as a handful of nuts or a lean turkey sandwich. That way, you’ll avoid filling up on canapés when you arrive.
- Schedule ‘bliss breaks’
Christmas time can be overwhelming. Schedule in “bliss breaks” – short 15-minute windows just for you. This could be anything from listening to your favourite music, stretching or practising a short yoga flow, or doing a simple 5-minute deep-breathing exercise.
Try this: Delegate tasks if you can! “Perfect is the enemy of good” when it comes to festive planning. Set realistic expectations for yourself.
- Go on a winter wonderland walk
Combat the winter blues (Seasonal Affective Disorder) by getting natural light. Bundle up in layers of warm clothing and make a habit of taking a brisk walk after a big meal, or even just around the block when the sun is up. Getting a dose of light is great for your mood and Vitamin D levels!
Try this: Invite family or friends to join you – everybody can benefit!
- Kitchen disco
Instead of skipping your workout on a cold day, put on your favourite Christmas tunes (or any high-energy playlist), and have a 10-minute solo dance party. Dancing is a fantastic cardio workout and a guaranteed mood lifter that releases feel-good endorphins.
Try this: Plus, see our ‘Twelve Days of Fitness’ challenge below to keep moving through the festive season!
Good Health Centre News
The GHC team came together on December 12th to celebrate the season and enjoy some much-needed downtime! It was a wonderful occasion full of festive cheer.
With best wishes from us to you and yours for a happy, peaceful and restful Christmas time.
The Wellness Edit
‘Tis the season for indulgence, but if you want to kickstart your new year fitness, we have the answer! Try our ‘Twelve Days of Fitness’ challenge and head into 2026 in your best shape yet!
Each day, do the exercise for that day followed by every day you’ve done before. By the end, you should be doing all twelve exercises.
| Day | Exercise | Focus area | Cumulative reps by day 12 |
| 1 | 1-minute plank hold | Core strength | 12 minutes |
| 2 | 2 wall sits (30 seconds each) | Quad endurance | 11 minutes |
| 3 | 3 Russian twists (per side) | Core obliques | 60 twists |
| 4 | 4 sets heel raises x5 | Calf muscles | 135 heel raises |
| 5 | 5 high knees (per side) | Cardio, legs & core | 40 per side |
| 6 | 6 squats | Legs & glutes | 42 squats |
| 7 | 7 push ups | Chest, shoulders, core | 42 push ups |
| 8 | 8 jumping jacks | Full body cardio | 40 jumping jacks |
| 9 | 9 lunges (each side) | Legs & glutes | 36 lunges |
| 10 | 10 bicep curls (each side) | Arms | 30 bicep curls (each side) |
| 11 | 11 reverse crunches | Core strength | 22 crunches |
| 12 | 12 shoulder presses | Shoulders | 12 shoulder presses |
We’re open as normal over the Christmas period, except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Our adjusted opening hours are listed below.
| MONDAY 22nd | 8am to 7pm |
| TUESDAY 23rd | 8am to 9pm |
| WEDNESDAY 24th | 8am to 7pm |
| CHRISTMAS DAY | CLOSED |
| FRIDAY 26th | CLOSED |
| SATURDAY 27th | 9am to 4pm |
| SUNDAY 28th | CLOSED |
| MONDAY 29th | 8am to 7pm |
| TUESDAY 30th | 8am to 9pm |
| WEDNESDAY 31st | 8am to 7pm |
| THURSDAY 1st | CLOSED |
| FRIDAY 2nd | 8am to 7pm |
| SATURDAY 3rd | 9am to 4pm |
| SUNDAY 4th | CLOSED |
Don’t forget, we here to support you through the Christmas break. Book online, or give us a call if you have an urgent need. We’ll do all we can to accommodate you.
