There are lines to wait on, presents to buy, extra traffic to battle and guests to prepare for. As the intangibles add up, especially now, we compound stress in already overloaded lives.
"We have so many unavoidable commitments during the holidays," says Alan Franzi. "But we can limit stress, by changing something that is not working. A lot of the stress is extraneous and you can eliminate it.

Franzi, 45, a yoga instructor with master's degree in counseling from Southern Connecticut State University, says that there are three ways of eliminating stress during the holiday season. We can get rid of the problem, reframe, which can mean looking at the problem differently or as Franzi does, work on mind and body.

Aside from counseling people with stress management techniques and doing private wellness counseling, Franzi leads classes along with Martha Maguire, Lorie Ruskin and Ronnie Ford in Guilford. He is certified to teach Sivananda yoga and integrative yoga therapy and has been trained in Kripalu yoga.

Franzi explains that yoga is a good way to eliminate holiday stress because it "works on mind and body," exercising all of one's internal elements in unison. "The word 'yoga' means union, in this case a union of mind, body and spirit," Franzi said. "It is exercise but it is not strictly exercise, yoga works with the energy of the body. The techniques operate all systems at once. Yoga is a meditative discipline. It works to draw you into the present moment. All of the physical work you're doing invites your body to be aware and relax as you do it. "It frees the energy that your body is holding on to. Yoga provides advanced techniques for relaxation," he added.

Franzi has been teaching yoga classes since 1987 and was trained by Vishnu Devananda, a man who claims to be the first person to introduce yoga in its modern form to the U.S. back in the late 1950's. Yoga's first visitation from India was in 1893, when Vivekananda introduced its higher philosophical properties to classes in Chicago. Franzi said that younger generations of Americans created a following in the late 1950's with increased exposure to the gurus of India.

Yoga has been around for roughly 5,000 years, but around the time of its inception was only practiced by sages and seers, according to Franzi. "Five-thousand years ago it was more meditative and philosophical," he said. "But the classical postures were not introduced until around 500 AD."
Franzi says that is important to recognize that even for advanced practitioners of Yoga, it is a spiritual exercise rather than a religion.

"Yoga is more of an intuitive science," said Franzi who is also certified in the field of Gestalt psychotherapy. "Breath and emotions are connected with thoughts, and in minutes of practicing Yoga you can change your mind state. You stretch and work your body to release your tension, and the issues you struggle with in your mind you release through breath and other techniques. You increase the amount of energy in your body. It helps you to relax and release."

As an instructor, Franzi says that his experience with people guides him more than his training.
"I understand that when you are working with a mixed level class, some people will be able to do certain postures and some people will not. I offer suggestions, give ideas and possibilities, not orders. As a teacher you have to understand that people have strengths and limitations. If a pose is helpful, use it. If not, leave it behind. Your student feeling safe in class is of the utmost importance."
Franzi understands that there are people who remain skeptical of yoga's benefits.
"Oftentimes the experience burns through the skepticism," said Franzi in reference to first time students. "I can't promise anything, but all techniques have their intentions. I have had people come to me through desperation, whether it be physical injury or emotional distress and they have experienced success."

But many people seem to be recognizing the physical and emotional benefits yoga has, says Franzi who points to its veritable explosion on the fitness scene within the last three years.

Indigo Crow owner Lili Kinsman agrees. Kinsman offers a variety of classes at Indigo Crow including T'ai dance (a blend of yoga and dance) and Pilates.

Pilates began to popularize on the West Coast a decade ago and combines stretching and strengthening exercises designed to decrease body fat and add muscle tone.

The latest trend has been to combine Yoga with Pilates. "A lot of people combine the Yoga and Pilates because the body it gives you is unbelievable, and it is a great way to develop long, lean muscles," Kinsman said. "We have a diverse group of instructors which makes our fitness schedule so appealing. Our range of classes allows you to customize your workout. We offer a well rounded workout and any of our classes can be joined on a drop-in basis," she added.

According to Kinsman, many of her customers prefer the classes offered at Indigo Crow rather than those held in gyms for several reasons. "We don't adhere to just one discipline of Yoga," Kinsman said. "We also have more of a community atmosphere here. After class you can look at artwork, come down stairs, have some coffee or tea and talk. Isn't that what relieving stress is all about?"