Do you get stressed out around the holidays? In a recent Health.com article on holiday stress brought on from shopping, crowds, nonstop parties, family visits, gift-giving and travel, several stress-busting tips were suggested to help you stay happy, healthy and energized. On top of getting enough sleep and trying not to overindulge, many of the suggestions can be easily achieved with a visit to Norris Hot Springs. Read on for some examples.
Hike your mood with sunlight. It stimulates the production of feel-good serotonin and also helps relieve seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which impacts millions of Americans every year. Imagine what soaking in healing outdoor natural spring water will do.
Take a whiff of citrus. Researchers studying depression have found that certain citrus fragrances boost feelings of well-being and alleviate stress by upping levels of norepinephrine, a hormone that affects mood.
Squeeze here. The fleshy place between your index finger and thumb is called the hoku spot in traditional Chinese medicine. Applying firm pressure there for just 30 seconds can reduce stress and tension in your upper body. So if you start to feel overwhelmed by the holiday chaos, give your hand a squeeze and take a deep breath.
Do less, enjoy more. Less shopping, more soaking!
Get out of the house. This can be achieved by loading your loved ones into the car and taking the meandering road through Madison Canyon for a soak at Norris Hot Springs — or leave everyone behind and enjoy a solo soak.
Go tech-free. Constant cell phone buzzes and email alerts keep us in a perpetual fight-or-flight mode due to bursts of adrenaline. Not only is this exhausting, but it contributes to mounting stress levels, especially in women. Guess what — no phones in the pool, and many cell providers don’t reach Norris. Unplug and take a soothing soak.
Turn up the tunes. Research from the University of Maryland shows that hearing music you love can relax blood vessels and increase blood flow. That not only calms you down but is good for your heart, too.
Norris Hot Springs brings you live acoustic music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7pm. Here’s a look at all the upcoming music.
Neil Filo Beddow kicks things off on Friday, December 15th. He plays original folk rock for the soul, and describes his guitar style as the “West Dakota stutter.” His lyrically scrambled iambic pentameter can be politically bent, spiritually seeking, tongue-in-cheek humorous with just a twist of serious.
Wes Urbaniak performs poolside on Saturday, December 16th. The “musical love child of Tracy Chapman and Mumford & Sons,” Wes makes noise on homemade guitars, beats on them with his hands, and tools and creates acoustic and amazing music.
The songwriting duo of Shaun and Jamie Carrier, known professionally as The Lucky Valentines, round out the weekend Sunday, December 17th. Their music has been described by fans as “stirring” Americana, “straight from the heart.” Married in 2010, they have been playing music for the whole of their life together. Crafting songs rooted in honest, raw emotion and blending sounds from alt-country, rock n’ roll, indie, and folk, they span themes of joy and pain in the face of life’s trials. They borrow inspiration from their own experience, observation, and the beautiful, lonesome landscape and history of Northern Montana. Their 2016 independent release Lion in the Garden is a collection of songs that explore betrayal, loss, and joy.
Joe Schwem gets the following weekend to a fine start on Friday, December 22nd. He’s a singer/songwriter from Bozeman with Americana, folk and rock influences. Joe plays a mix of original songs and covers.
Amber Ikeman, a crowd favorite, returns Saturday, December 23rd. The singer/songwriter’s music carries audiences across the open spaces of the American West and into the depths of their souls. Her folk/Americana songs tell stories of self-discovery, resilience, and wildness, with powerfully clear vocals and raw, confessional lyrics. Inspired by her solo journey from her Florida hometown to live and work in Yellowstone National Park, Amber’s debut album, Free, was named one of Southwest Montana’s top local albums of 2015. An engaging performer, she received the 2017 Vic Heyman Songwriting Award. Amber is set to release her second album in January.
Dan Henry brings the first of the final shows of 2017 on Friday, December 29th. The Montana native is a singer/songwriter with a unique vocal style coupled with acoustic guitar and bluesy harmonica. He’s driven by a blues influence, but covers a wide range of music from folk and rock to reggae, and so much more.
Join Dave Landsverk on Saturday, December 30th. He’ll be playing acoustic guitar versions of all your favorite classic ‘60s–‘80s hits from the likes of The Beatles, The Eagles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and many others. He’ll also bring along some original instrumental music. Dave’s renditions are perfect for de-stressing.
Please note: the hot springs will be closed on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve so the Norris staff can enjoy their holidays.
For operating hours, menu items, directions and more, please visit www.norrishotsprings.com or phone the office at (406) 685-3303. •
