By Barbara Pierce
Whether you’ve done your shopping early or are still scrolling from the comfort of your couch, it’s a good feeling to figure out the perfect gifts for those on your list.
Like many of us, maybe you’re stressed about figuring out what to get everyone this Christmas. Here are some suggestions for giving your loved ones a gift that shows you really care — the gift of wellness.
Yoga classes
Yoga offers physical and mental health benefits for people of all ages. Numerous studies show that yoga helps relieve stress, benefits heart health, leads to more energy and brighter moods and helps you sleep better. Also, it improves strength, balance and flexibility, helps pain relief and eases arthritis pain.
We have many yoga studios in the Mohawk Valley, run by folks who are passionate about the many benefits of yoga. 315 Yoga has a different twist: it focuses on paddleboarding yoga during the summer. Paddleboard yoga is a practice that combines yoga poses with stand-up paddleboarding, performing yoga on a floating paddleboard in calm water.
“In the summer, we get in the water and paddle around,” said owner Mike Calogero. “In the winter we bring it all indoors to Copper City Fitness near Rome. We have an Active Recovery Yoga every Sunday morning. Recovery from whatever, working out at the gym, getting ready for the work week.”
Classes are open to all experience levels.
“I’m developing a one-time yoga that will be like a paint and sip art studio,” he added. “We do yoga, cover ourselves with paint and create art. Gift certificates can be purchased on our website, www.315yoga.com. We have class-specific gift certificates or just dollar values.”
Massage
Consider the gift of a massage, with its wide range of powerful benefits. Many offer this service in our area.
Affirmation Cards
For those on your list who could use a boost in self-esteem, affirmation cards come with a whole host of benefits. Small, attractive cards with positive statements or “affirmations” printed on them, they’re designed to help cultivate a more positive mindset and build confidence. They can be used as a tool for mindfulness, stress relief and self-care.
“We have affirmation cards for sale in our wellness section,” the clerk at Barnes & Noble in New Hartford said. “We also have calendars with daily affirmations located near the front of the store.”
Better yet, create your own affirmation cards by writing or printing positive statements on cardstock. Writing them in your own handwriting can make them even more personal and powerful.
Emergency Car Kits
For the drivers on your list, an emergency car kit is a thoughtful gift. A comprehensive kit prepares drivers for any road crisis, jumper cables, tow rope, gloves, a flashlight, a digital air compressor for accurate tire inflation, a first aid kit.
Especially for winter, a snow shovel, car snow brush and ice scraper, specifically designed to clear snow and ice from your vehicle quickly makes a great gift for anyone in the Mohawk Valley. AAA sells these kits, as well as several other stores; find details online.
Local Food
Local Foods Mohawk Valley is a year-round online farmers’ market offering a wide range of fresh local food, vegetables, meat, dairy, eggs, mushrooms, maple and honey products, for pickup and delivery. For those on your list who might have difficulty getting out to the stores, or for most anyone, it’s more convenient to shop from home, especially during winter.
“In general, I work with farmers to sell what they have,” said owner J.B. Riffle. “Right now, I’m working with a farm that sells turkeys. People have ordered their Thanksgiving turkeys and we’ll deliver them just before Thanksgiving.”
The goal of Local Foods is to connect and distribute the goods of local farmers and craftspeople to local customers to promote a healthy local economy. The organization aims to strengthen our local economy and support farmers by creating a steady market for their goods. It benefits the environment by reducing the amount of resources as goods require less packaging and refrigeration.
“We do have gift certificates; see our website for information,” Riffle said. (Localfoodsmohawkvalley.com.) “We put out a newsletter every week; it clues people into what’s going on. Join our mailing list to be notified about our special deals, recipes, classes, pop-up dinners and more.”
For better sleep
For the sleep-deprived on your list, consider noise-canceling earbuds, a white noise or sound machine, lavender pillow spray, a weighted blanket or a silk sleep mask.
To relax
For those who have a hard time taking a break, consider stress relief candles, dark chocolate, an essential oil diffuser, bubble bath.
Fitness lover
Jump rope, wireless headphones, sturdy water bottle, at-home gym equipment.