StatePoint

On top of the everyday stress of life, the holiday season can be one of the most hectic times of year. Unfortunately, all this additional stress can take its toll on the body, mind and soul.

For those you love, make the holidays and beyond brighter with these gift ideas that help promote rest and relaxation, while alleviating tension, stress and anxiety.

Yoga Class

Yoga is associated with a wealth of health benefits, including stress reduction. For seasoned yogis, consider assisting loved ones with their practice. Great yoga accessories and gear, or a gift certificate to a favorite studio would be much appreciated.

For newbies, you might want to start smaller with a pass to one or two classes.

Any Time Massage

“The medical community increasingly views massage as a necessary tool for achieving optimal health, not just as an extravagance,” says Randi N. West, a licensed massage therapist. “And everyone — from desk workers to active individuals to moms who often report back pain from lifting children — can benefit from massage therapy in terms of injury prevention and improved exercise performance.”

Research suggests the benefits of massage include reduced muscle tension, stress and pain; and an increase in serotonin and dopamine.

But regular massage therapy can be expensive and time-consuming. Give a gift that keeps on giving with an at-home massage cushion that can be used daily as a self-care tool. For a stylish option that won’t get buried in the closet and forgotten, check out M Cushion, which looks like a stylish designer pillow, but actually offers four shiatsu massage nodes, soothing heat and comforting memory foam.

“I use it to relieve my body aches after a busy day providing massage services to my clients,” says West. More information can be found at mcushion.com.

Meal-Kit Service

Busy work weeks can mean scrambling around in the evening to put dinner on the table. Your gift recipients may find themselves resorting to pizza delivery more often than they like. To help take the stress out of healthy weekday dinners, consider gifting a meal-kit plan to someone you love.

This holiday season, look to healthy gifts that can help reduce stress in the lives of people you care about.