Why be mindful? Mindfulness practices can help us increase our ability to regulate emotions, and decrease stress, anxiety and depression. Mindfulness can also help us focus our attention, as well as observe our thoughts and feelings without judgment. “We are always in such a rush and continuously glorify busy. Mindful moments remind you to stop and smell the roses, which is really saying stop and be present to the life you are living,” says Ivorie Jenkins, a Yoga Alliance E-RYT instructor and yoga therapist based in Los Angeles. Jenkins practices mindfulness every day. “I have a daily gratitude practice. Sometimes I write in a journal, sometimes I sit for a meditation and other times I just lay in my bed before getting up and think on three things for which I am grateful,” she shares. “These days it can be tempting to hyper focus on all that needs changing. The gratitude practice reminds me there is still good.”
As we enter the often-stressful holiday season, consider the following gifts to share with friends and family on your gift list that inspire mindful practices and support wellness.
Yoga Mat Carrier
For the yogis or wanna-be yogis on your list, the RiO yoga mat carrier is made of repurposed, eco-friendly materials. The streamlined cover features a light, clean and protective design, allowing for a safer yoga experience. Just roll with it! Whether you’re in a big city or a car, RiO is minimal, compact and adjustable. $69-$79
A Better Bottle
Feel good about gifting a MiiR Water Bottle. A certified B Corp, Climate Neutral certified brand and 1% for the Planet member, MiiR partners with some of the most respected nonprofits in the world to create sustainable giving projects supporting clean water, a healthy environment and strong communities. This year, MiiR will donate 100% of Black Friday product sales to charity: water, a nonprofit bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in need around the world. $17.95-$34.95, depending on size.
Fabulous Fruit
Fruitstand is a monthly produce subscription filled with rare, specialty produce sourced from small-scale farms around the country. For the holidays, Fruitstand is creating gift boxes with seasonal fruits, a thoughtful option for those on your list who love to discover something new, like to know where their food comes from and value fresh produce grown with minimal intervention and harvested at the peak of sweetness and nutrition. Each box arrives with intriguing stories on the farms and the people who’ve grown and harvested the food, plus recipes. Gifting a 3 Month FruitStand Membership costs $135, with 3-5 lbs. each month.
Wellness Teas
Perfect for the colder months and for relaxing and being mindful, tea is always a top gift idea. Vadham India teas offers an array of gift boxes filled with a selection of premium teas sourced straight from renowned gardens in India. And every time you purchase a Vahdam product, 1% of the revenue goes towards the education of their farmers’ children. The Vahdam GLOW Assorted Teas Gift Box is one option, with six flavors including hibiscus, masala chai, sweet cinnamon masala chai, classic English breakfast, vanilla spiced masala chai and turmeric spiced. $39.99, with many more options to choose from.
Happy Feet
Our feet do a lot for us. So, treat them to some heat therapy with Pure Enrichment’s PureRelief Deluxe Foot Warmer. Made with super-soft micro-mink plush on the outside and a cozy, furry sherpa lining on the inside, it’s a relaxing way to treat tired feet after a long day. It’s also ideal for warming up cold feet year-round with four heat settings that range in temperature from 110°F on the warm setting up to 140°F on high. $49.99
Let There Be Light
As darker days set in during the colder months, light therapy can help thaw winter blues that may spark anxiety, fatigue, depression or insomnia. The Verilux Happy Light Alba provides a daily dose of indoor “sunshine,” which can help brighten your mood and restore your energy. The compact therapy lamp affords UV-free light, with four brightness levels and three HappyHue color temperature options to customize your light therapy. $49.99
A Better Back
When your back feels good, you feel good. The Backbridge helps strengthen your upper and lower back, and gently aligns the spine. It comes with five stackable levels made of a sturdy foam, which you can progress through as you gain flexibility, improve posture and build spine health. It takes no more than four minutes a day. $89.99
A Favorite Pillow
Body pillows have numerous wellness benefits: they can help relieve joint pressure, promote proper spinal alignment for side and stomach sleepers, improve blood circulation and improve overall sleep quality. Avocado Green’s Organic Body Pillow is made with a customizable amount of natural GOLS organic-certified (upcycled) latex rubber and GOTS organic certified kapok tree fiber, and generously stuffed inside a GOTS organic-certified cotton quilted cover that cleans easily and is soft to the touch. $149/small, $199/large