When December arrives, something shifts within us.
The days grow shorter, the light becomes softer, and nature begins to retreat.
It is the time of year when our bodies, too, long to become quieter – slower, calmer, closer to ourselves.

And yet, while the world outside settles into stillness, many people experience the exact opposite within due to the stress of the Christmas season.

In this article, we would like to take you along:
Into the winter calm, into a deeper understanding of your body – and into the soothing effect of a daily moment on your acupressure mat.

1. Why Winter Calls for More Rest

The darker season affects not only our mood, but also our biological rhythm.

Less daylight means:

• our bodies produce more melatonin, the “hormone of darkness”,

• we become tired, irritable or drained more quickly,

• the nervous system reacts more sensitively to external stimuli.

Ideally, our bodies would now like to slow down – just as nature demonstrates.
Instead, December often overwhelms us.

This imbalance between our “inner winter” and the outer pace creates stress.

2. Pre-Christmas Season: When Calm and Reality Drift Apart

Many people love the Christmas season – the lights, the rituals, the sense of togetherness.
And at the same time, it asks a lot of us: full calendars, buying gifts and meeting expectations, one Christmas  dinner after another, and never-ending to-do lists.
Added to this is the emotional charge of this time of year. For some it is beautiful, for others painful, and for many a mixture of both.

Stress rarely comes from a single moment; it arises from the accumulation of many small things. This is why sensitive or busy people often feel “overfull” in December.

3. Cold, Tension & Muscle Tightness: Why Winter Can Strain the Body

An often underestimated aspect: cold affects our muscles.

When we feel cold, we unconsciously lift our shoulders, tense our neck, or move less.
As a result:

• blood flow in certain muscle areas decreases

• muscles become tighter and less flexible

• the nervous system stays in protection mode

• tension develops more easily or becomes more noticeable

People who already carry a lot of stress often feel an additional physical strain during winter.

It is precisely at this point – where stress and muscular tension interact – that acupressure can offer noticeable relief.

4. Why Acupressure Feels So Beneficial in Winter

Acupressure is a gentle technique that uses pressure points on the body to promote relaxation and balance. On an acupressure mat, this effect is created through many small spikes providing a steady, even stimulus to the skin.

What happens inside the body?

1. The nervous system shifts into “rest mode”

The mild pain stimulus on the skin activates receptors that signal to the body:
“You may let go now.”

This stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system – the part responsible for relaxation.
Breathing deepens, the heartbeat slows, and the body eases into a calmer state.

Studies show that acupressure can help to:

• reduce tension,

• regulate inner restlessness,

• improve overall wellbeing.

2. Increased blood flow – increased warmth

Many people report the same experience: after a few minutes, their back becomes warm and the muscles soften.

This is because the pressure increases circulation.
In winter, when muscles tense more easily due to the cold, this warming effect feels like a small release.

3. Stress reduction through hormonal balance

Gentle acupressure has been shown to:

• reduce stress hormones such as cortisol,

• promote endorphins and serotonin,

• support the body in finding a more balanced state.

Many describe the sensation afterwards as clearer, lighter, more spacious within.

5. A Daily Time-Out: A Small Ritual with a Big Impact

A moment on the mat is more than relaxation: it is a conscious, quiet pause within the busyness of everyday life – like a small winter break.

Something you do only for yourself – 10 or 20 minutes in which you do not have to achieve anything.

The mat helps you to:

• release physical tension,

• slow down mentally,

• create a natural counterbalance to external demands.

Especially in the weeks before Christmas, this little daily ritual can become your anchor –
a place where you return to yourself again and again.

6. Final Thought: December as an Invitation

Perhaps we should reconnect more deeply with the rhythm of nature and remember that we are part of it. We, too, need phases in which we come to rest and gather new energy.
So here is your gentle reminder:

“You do not have to accomplish everything.
You are allowed to slow down.
You are allowed to breathe.”

A daily moment on the acupressure mat can be exactly that –
a warm, calming space in the midst of the December days.

A small ritual that reminds you to return to yourself.

Sources

Oke, S. L., & Tracey, K. J. (2009). From pain to pleasure: The role of the parasympathetic nervous system in stress recovery. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews.

Manzaneque, J. M. et al. (2011). Effects of acupressure on anxiety and wellbeing: A systematic review. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

Hsieh, L.-L. et al. (2015). Acupressure improves muscle relaxation and reduces perceived stress. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Tsay, S.-L. (2004). Acupressure and its effect on fatigue and depression. Journal of Clinical Nursing.

Nakamura, T. et al. (2010). Cold-induced muscle stiffness and its physiological basis. Journal of Applied Physiology.

Riemann, D. et al. (2020). Impact of light exposure on circadian rhythms and mental wellbeing. Nature Reviews Neuroscience.

Field, T. (2016). Massage therapy and pressure stimulation: Effects on anxiety, cortisol and muscle tension. Psychological Bulletin.