Christmas is supposed to be joyful, but it can come with its fair share of stress. Rushing here and there, thousands of to-do lists, and all the pressure that comes along with gifts and cooking etc often make this one of the most draining periods of the year, despite best intentions. We know by now about the relaxing effects exercise can have, but which workouts give you the most relief? 1️⃣ Swimming 🏊‍♀️ A low-impact exercise for all ages, water buoyancy reduces the impact on the body which allows you to relax and work out without feeling overexerted. The colour blue has also proven to have a calming effect! 2️⃣ Yoga 🧘‍♀️ This one is a no-brainer. Yoga often comes with mindfulness and deep breathing, and can have a relaxing effect on your muscles (which often tense up in times of stress). 3️⃣ Squash 🎾 Squash requires keen focus and strategy, and means you can switch off from any other responsibilities while you're playing. It’s also a sport which can be played in pairs, providing a fantastic excuse to catch up with a friend or family member. 4️⃣ Walking 🚶‍♀️ Getting out into the fresh air has proven mental wellness benefits, and research is increasingly showing that the health benefits of walking are even greater than we previously thought! 5️⃣ T'ai Chi 🥋 A form of martial art, t'ai chi promotes calmness through the use of gentle, flowing movements accompanied by deep breathing. The combination of slow, mindful breaths and movements help to improve sleep. Tap the link in bio for more information on each workout style, and to see our other stress-relief tips! 👆 Will you be doing any of these over the holidays?