It’s been a tough winter…on backs, shoulders, and necks from weeks and weeks of shoveling. If your muscles are feeling the ill effects of moving all this snow around, you could seek pain relief from gels, patches or medications, but you might also consider booking a massage to ease those aches and prevent further injury. “When clients tell me they are experiencing muscle tightness, I focus on that part of their body in order to loosen and condition the muscle,” says Jennifer Edmunds, a Licensed Massage Therapist who sees clients at Arlington Chiropractic. “If the tight muscles don't get fixed…

The approach of a new year is a great time to consider lifestyle changes that will bring us more health and happiness. It's also a good time to review the past year for any improvements we've made, and honor what's already working in our lives. Another New Year's Eve practice I like is the "burning bowl" ceremony, in which we write down things that we want to shed and burn the pieces of paper to release the old. We then write down the positive ways we want to feel in the new year, along with some strategies to get there. I asked some Arlington wellness practitioners to share their strategies …

Between parties, year-end work obligations, shopping, and frightful weather, it can be hard to keep up with exercise this time of year. But local fitness experts say that it's actually a crucial season to keep exercise on your list—not only to keep off extra weight from holiday eating, but also to reduce stress and boost immunity.    Set Realistic Goals, Adapt to the Weather As co-owner of Fitness Together in Arlington, trainer Mike Morris tells his clients to identify their holiday fitness challenges, create strategies to meet them, be accountable to a trainer or a workout buddy, and set …

Happy they may be, but the holidays can also burden overscheduled lives, create expectations that lead to disappointment, and find us drinking and eating things that aren't so good for us. This can result in more stress and less well-being. The good news is that we can change what hasn't worked for us is the past, and design healthier holidays this year. Check Motivation, Lighten Up As you set out to entertain, buy gifts, or accept party invitations, check your motivation. Are you doing something because you want to or because you think you should? When possible, go for what really makes you …

Most of us would not start a weight loss plan during the holidays, but that doesn't mean we should throw caution to the wind this season. A recent study published in Nutrition & Metabolism concluded that just a month's worth of overeating, when coupled with reduced physical activity, can create an increase in body fat that doesn't go away once normal eating patterns resume.  So what's a reveler to do at parties laden with high calorie treats? Have a game plan, says personal chef and food consultant Danielle Schertzer, so you don't arrive famished and attack the buffet table. "Let's say you …