What's that, you ask?  Well, Hudson Valley BRAWL  (Broads Regional Arm Wrestling League) is equal parts charity, sport, and theater: a league of phenomenal, fashionable, female arm wrestlers who fight it out - with each other and with willing patrons - on stage.  Audience members "bet" on their favorite fighters, raising funds - nearly $10,000 in the past two years - for various local organizations who provide services for women and girls.  New Paltz Community Acupuncture is proud to be an ongoing sponsor of many BRAWL events.

The BRAWL BALL is the League's holiday party, a glam dance gala in the same cheeky spirit as the wrestling matches, but featuring gowns instead of grappling.  The 2nd annual Hudson Valley BRAWL BALL will be happening on Friday, December 3rd, 8pm, at the Bridgewater Bar & Grill on Abeel Street in Kingston.  $5 cover charge.  Costumes encouraged!

New Paltz Community Acupuncture is helping out Family of New Paltz by operating as a collection site for donations of needed items for the Domestic Violence Womens' Shelter. 

The Women's Shelter is a vital community resource; it has been profoundly affected by ongoing budget cuts to state-funded human service agencies.  In the spirit of the holiday season, please consider donating to this essential organization - giving one small gift can make a huge difference to women and children in need.  Click here or stop by the clinic for a list of suggested donation items.  The clinic will be accepting donations until the end of the Gift Drive: December 13th.

The holidays are a lot of fun: spending time with friends and family; exchanging gifts; having parties; going to parties; traveling.  This season is filled with love and warmth.  It can also be filled with a lot of stress: battling crowds; last-minute shopping; dealing with friends and family; planning; worrying about expenses; traveling. It can be very easy for us to forget to take care of ourselves during this busy time. 

In the last newsletter, we talked about how stress taxes the immune system, making us susceptible to colds and flu.  This is particularly true this time of year, when both the cold weather and the stresses of the season can combine to wear us down. I encourage you to make some time to take care of yourself while you are enjoying this season.  Here are some simple things that you can do to calm your nervous system and to recharge:

Take a walk.  Whether you go up to the mountains, hit the rail trail, or just to for a stroll around your neighborhood, walking is a great way to get some fresh air into your lungs and to clear your mind.  You can take some alone time, or bring along a calming companion.  Long hikes are great, but a walk doesn't have to be a big production to have the desired effect. Even just a few minutes of being outside, listening to the sound of your feet on the ground, hearing the breeze in the trees, noticing the light, and taking in the air can be calming and rejuvenating.  Try to get out for a walk once a week.  It's also a great thing to do after eating a big holiday meal.

Take a hot bath before bed.  Hot baths are great for powering down and clearing your thoughts.  Add lavender or eucalyptus oils to enhance the calming, clearing effect.

Practice breathing exercises.  Some people find it helpful to make breathing exercises part of their daily routine, doing them first thing in the morning and/or before going to bed at night.  But breathing techniques don't need to be part of a ritual to be calming.  Here is a technique you can use while sitting in traffic, standing in a long line at the store, at dinner with your relatives, or whenever you feel your stress level starting to rise:

• If you're sitting or standing, become aware of the bottoms of your feet on the ground, feel them rooted there.  If you're lying down, become aware of the back of your body touching the surface beneath you - relax into it and feel it holding you up.
   

• Place the palm of your hand on your lower abdomen.  When doing this exercise, try to breathe deeply enough that your breath makes your lower belly and, consequently, your hand rise.  And then they both lower with your exhale. (If you're in public, don't worry about this part - just be aware of the gentle rise and fall of your lower belly).

• Exhale completely through your mouth.
   

• Slowly inhale through your nose to a mental count of 4.

• Hold your breath for a moment.
   

• Exhale slowly through your mouth to a mental count of 8.

• Repeat at least 5 times.

And, of course, Acupuncture is wonderful for reducing the effects of stress.  It helps to calm and reset your nervous system.  So, come into the soothing, comforting clinic, lie down on one of our heated, soft massage tables and let us take care of you.

Taking some time for yourself allows you to fully enjoy the season and to stay healthy throughout it.  Give yourself the gift of self-care for the holidays! 

WINTER FARMERS' MARKETS

We are lucky enough to live in an area where we can still get local produce throughout the winter!  These winter farmers' markets offer root vegetables, frozen vegetables from this year's harvest, and lots of other fabulous, fresh things from local farms.

New Paltz Winter Market

2^nd Saturday of the month, December-March (12/11, 1/8, 2/12, 3/12)

10am-3pm

Deyo Hall, Broadhead Ave, New Paltz

wintersunfarms.com

Rosendale Winter Market

1^st Sunday of the month, December-May (12/5, 1/2, 2/6, 3/6, 4/3, 5/1)

10am-2pm

Rosendale Recreation Center, Route 32, Rosendale

Rosendale Winter Market

Gardiner Winter Market

3^rd Saturday of the month

11am-3pm

Gardiner Library community room