Mindfulness meditation... to alleviate holiday stress

One of the big traditions of the holidays is to get all stressed out.

A University of Minnesota professor has a new study that offers some help without drugs or tickets to the Bahamas.

The study from Professor Philip Zelazo and others shows that “mindfulness meditation” can help people feel better and concentrate better on whatever they’re doing.

The research appears in this December’s Motivation and Emotion, a psychology industry magazine.

Students who want to take a practical approach to de-stressing can participate in Mindfulness for Students, an ongoing club at the University of Minnesota.

For families, The Clouds in Water Zen Center in St. Paul hosts classes for children and teens, letting them sample the principles of mindfulness meditation.

Or find a family yoga class in Minneapolis at Joy Within.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction classes are available in Minneapolis too, at Seeds of Mindfulness.

Might be a good way to cut down on stress as we wrangle our families and ourselves toward the holidays.