Rise and SHINE with Aluram
Shine Time: Aluram’s High Shine Line Delivers Moisture and Shine with Clean Ingredients
Sponsored by Aluram
Related: Haircuts As Self-Care
We Need a Mental Health Vacation: Strategies for Getting Away From the Stress
Nearly 8 in 10 adults (78%) say the coronavirus pandemic is a significant source of stress in their lives, while 3 in 5 (60%) say the number of issues America faces is overwhelming to them. We take a deep breath and consider two proven stress relievers: meditation and mindfulness.
by Staff
February 17, 2021
3 min to read
As we've taken steps to protect ourselves and others, physically, during this pandemic, our mental and emotional health may have suffered.
According to the American Psychological Association, and a study they conducted called Stress in AmericaTM 2020: A National Mental Health Crisis, (conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of APA), nearly 8 in 10 adults (78%) say the coronavirus pandemic is a significant source of stress in their lives, while 3 in 5 (60%) say the number of issues America faces is overwhelming to them. Gen Z adults, on average, say their stress level during the prior month is 6.1, on a scale from 1 to 10 where 1 means “little to no stress” and 10 means “a great deal of stress.” This compares with a reported average stress level among all adults of 5.0.
We look at some proven stress relievers: meditation and mindfulness.
TRIPPY
A large, 2020 observational study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that meditating was associated with a 35% lower risk of high cholesterol, a 14% lower risk of high blood pressure, a 30% lower risk of diabetes, a 24% lower risk of stroke, and a 49% lower risk of coronary artery disease.
If these benefits weren’t enough, another study (2016) from Mount Sinai, the University of California, San Francisco, and Harvard Medical School measured the “resort vacation effect” compared with the “meditation effect.”
Studying female participants over a 6-day stay at the Chopra Center for Wellbeing, half experienced a regular resort vacation there, while half also did a daily meditation program. Findings: both groups showed significant, immediate changes in genetic expression associated with stress and immune pathways – while the meditation retreat, for those who already meditated regularly, was also associated with antiviral activity. And the molecular signature of long-term meditators was distinct from the non-meditating vacationers.
Can’t vacation? Try meditation.
DEEP BREATH
Diana Hendel, PharmD, and Mark Goulston, MD, co-authored a book for healthcare heroes who are dealing with COVID-related stress called Why Cope When You Can Heal?. Their suggestions for ways to stop stress in the moment are valuable for anyone wanting to reclaim a sense of calm and control.
Grounding is a great way to reduce anxiety and arrive in the here and now. Use it anytime you feel carried away by anxious thoughts or feelings.
• Find a comfortable place to sit (or stand). If sitting, rest your hands on your legs. Feel the fabric of your clothing. Notice its color and texture.
• Next, bring your awareness to your body. Stretch your neck from side to side. Relax your shoulders. Tense and relax your calves. Stomp your feet.
• Look around and notice the sights, sounds, and scents around you for a few moments.
• Name 15-20 things you can see. For example, the floor, a light, a desk, a sink.
• As you keep looking around, remind yourself that “Right now, in this moment, I’m safe.”
Pause and take a few deep breaths. We tend to hold our breath whenever we are stressed, but this only exacerbates feelings of anxiety. Instead, use “box breathing” to calm yourself and heighten your concentration. Box breathing is the technique of taking slow, deep, full breaths.
Slowly exhale your breath through your mouth. Consciously focus on clearing all the oxygen from your lungs. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose for four slow counts. Hold your breath for four more slow counts. On the next four counts, exhale again through your mouth until your lungs are empty. Hold your breath again for a final slow count of four beats.
Originally posted on Modern Salon
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Wellness
Wellness Watch: Expert Picks & Curated Essentials
Explore this curated selection of standout brands and essential products shaping today’s growing wellness and spa industry.
Shampoo, Rinse, Repeat: Salon Clients Face a Water Cycle Crisis of Mineral Buildup on Hair
Neutralizing the damaging effects of water benefits the hair from texture to shine to color longevity, and it’s the science behind Malibu C products.
Sponsored by Malibu Wellness
The Invisible Hazard in Every Nail Salon and How to Fight It
From acrylic monomers to airborne bio-dust, the air inside a nail salon carries risks most professionals never see coming. Aerovex Systems reveals the source-capture and room-purification strategies that are setting a new standard for salon safety.
Sponsored by Aerovex Systems
Stylists “Relish” the Opportunity to Prioritize Guests’ Scalp Health
Good hair starts at the scalp. But most salons aren’t offering services or products that address scalp health. Relish, a new product line from the founders of Signature Formulations, has everything salons need to deliver an effective head spa service and offer guests a robust at-home scalp care line.
Resolutions Rarely Work: Try a 'Life Switch'
A new book by Joel Steele shows that the most powerful change people can make is to think differently if they want different results. The author believes in the 'Life Switch' so fervently that he's willing to donate $1 million from book sales when he sells his millionth copy.
Harness the Power of Cytogen Masque: How Regenerative Science Is Transforming Salon Skin Treatments
In an era where clients demand visible results with minimal recovery time, salons and spas are redefining what professional skincare means.
Botox Still Tops the World’s Most-Searched Aesthetic Treatments as “Natural but Enhanced” Trend Surges
New global search data from beauty and wellness booking platform Fresha reveals that Botox remains the world’s most in-demand aesthetic treatment in 2025—but regenerative “tweakments” like polynucleotide injections, thread lifts and IV drips are seeing explosive growth across key markets.
New Book Challenges America's Mental Health Paradigm by Exploring 'Spiritual Emergency'
As rates of anxiety, depression, and substance use continue to climb across the U.S., conversations around mental health are more urgent than ever—yet one crucial perspective remains missing. In her captivating new book, Aymie Daniels introduces the little-known concept of “Spiritual Emergency” and opens a timely conversation about how America understands (and often mislabels) extreme psychological states.
A Blueprint for Living with Purpose in a World that Often Makes No Sense
Author and Lifestyle Coach Mark Reinisch's new book challenges the outdated 'work ethic' model, which values success over health, happiness, and the soul. His antidote: wellness ethic lifestyle design--a bold, practical approach to building a life that works for you, on your terms.
by Stacey Soble
Is It Hot Enough for You?
Water is a vital part of almost every process in the human body. Our Wellness Blogger Mary Wilson shows you why staying hydrated is so important and offers helpful guidelines on how to do it.
Bringing Affordable Wellness to Gen Z Consumers
Located in downtown Denver, Sway Wellness Spa integrates the latest technology into services, offers accessible memberships, and brings a community setting to younger generations who yearn for a wellness experience that is not like their mothers'.
by Stacey Soble
Spa Day, Safe Day: Stop Fungal Infections in Their Tracks
As a spa or salon professional, your clients expect more than just beauty—they expect safety, hygiene, and peace of mind. Fungal infections like Athlete’s Foot and Nail Fungus are more common than you think, especially in environments where tools and footbaths are reused without proper sanitation. This blog covers how to stop these issues before they start, using proven infection prevention strategies for salons and spas.
Energy Healing 101
As the kids head back to school and the seasons shift, it might be time to clear your energy. Our Wellness Blogger Mary Wilson talks about why it's important and illustrates some of the different methods involved.
Healthy Summer Eating: 7 Success Hacks and 7 Meal Prep Tips
Do summer barbeques and sweet treats to beat the heat have you relaxing your healthy eating goals? Here comes our Wellness Blogger Mary Wilson to the rescue with some success hacks and meal prep tips that take advantage of the season's bounty.
A Simplified Approach to Wellness Using the 80/20 Rule
A new book, The Wellness Ethic, shares a game-changing method for thriving in life.
Meditation for Beginners
This month, our Wellness Blogger Mary Wilson answers a number of questions about meditation and helps you get started.