10 Self-Care Stress Relief Gifts – A Therapist's Advice

‘Tis the season for figuring out that perfect gift for a loved one to open. But the big question is always: what do they ACTUALLY want?

As a therapist, I can tell you with confidence: just about everybody wants less stress and more zen.

That’s why I’ve come up with a Yield2Yin Gift Guide. This gift guide is all about incorporating more being, more pause, more mental wellness into everyday life. These are the gifts that will focus on self-care well beyond the holiday festivities.

Without further ado…

1. A Therapist’s Advice 55-Card Healing Deck – $29.95

This healing card deck offers 52 pieces of life advice that serve as a guide to handling universal challenges. Each card includes: a goal for personal growth, a positive message, a chakra color, a mantra, a yield2yin action step, a yin yoga animal pose, and loving energy sent your way. The deck also includes 3 instruction cards. I pull a random card every morning after my yin yoga practice and set an intention around my “card of the day.”

Yield2Yin A Therapist’s Advice 55-Card Healing Deck

2. Yin Yoga Animal Greeting Cards – $13+

A single order consists of 10 identical yin yoga animal cards. You have 15 different animals to choose from and each animal is pictured in its respective yin yoga pose with the yin yang symbol in the background: fish pose, caterpillar pose, frog pose, snail pose, seal pose, butterfly pose, dragon pose, cat pulling its tail pose, puppy pose, dragonfly pose, monkey pose, half monkey pose, deer pose, eagle arms pose, and swan pose. Take a look!

Yield2Yin 10 Identical Yoga Animal Cards with or without Envelopes

Happy Holidays – $13+

As you can see, one of the 15 choices is a deer in deer pose with the “Happy Holidays” greeting. If you want to send out a card that is both adorable and unique this holiday season, this may be the one – you decide!

Yield2Yin 10 Yoga Animal Happy Holidays Cards with or without Envelopes

Greeting Card Box – $25

This box includes all 15 different cards plus one extra (the only one without a preprinted message); some of the printed messages include: happy birthday, happy retirement, thank you, good luck, proud of you, so deeply sorry for your loss, etc. It is hard to find a greeting card box with this much variety, especially at this price!

Yield2Yin Box with 16 Different Yoga Animal Greeting Cards and 16 Envelopes

3. Yin Yoga Animal Posters – $16+

These 3 beautiful prints are mine (8” x 10” prints in 14″ x 17″ frames). I have this wall art hanging in my yoga room. As you can see, I had some gold matting added (at Michaels Custom Framing) to make the art pop and to coordinate the colors with some of the other colors in my meditation room.

The artwork is offered in 3 different sizes:

5 x 7 – $16 – Yield2Yin Yin Yoga Animal Poster | Fish Pose, Caterpillar Pose, Frog Pose, Snail Pose OR Seal Pose

8 x 10 – $18 – Yield2Yin Yin Yoga Animal Poster | Butterfly Pose, Dragon Pose, Cat Pulling Its Tail Pose, Puppy Pose OR Dragonfly Pose

11 x 14 – $20 – Yield2Yin Yin Yoga Animal Poster | Monkey Pose, Half Monkey Pose, Deer Pose, Eagle Arms Pose OR Swan Pose

These first 3 tips in my gift guide are my own products, so of course I love and recommend them all!

Here are some other products for sale on Amazon that I very much enjoy, and therefore am eager to share with you:

4. Flannel Blanket with Fringe – $27.99

Lightweight Cozy Bed Blanket or Soft Throw Blanket for Couch Sofa: Suitable for All Seasons (Ivory, 60”x 80”)

LOMAO Flannel Blanket with Pompom Fringe in Ivory

I know they also have the smaller, more standard version (51” x 63”), but for the ultimate coziness level, I suggest you buy your throw blankets one size bigger. Why not be fully snug like a bug in a rug? For gift giving, I’d go with a more neutral color such as ivory; you cannot go wrong if you stick with any shade of white, really. A soft, ivory throw blanket will be appreciated by any lucky recipient and go well with anyone’s home decor, guaranteed!

5. Festive Scented Votive Candles (Set of Three) – $48

Luxury Glass Candles: Set of Three 2-Ounce Decorative Scented Candles Ideal for Home Relaxation in Smaller Spaces

NEST New York Festive Scented Votive Candle Trio

I know NEST candles are expensive, but their delicious scents and long burn times make them splurge-worthy. I usually buy the larger orange blossom 3-wick candles (75 – 100 hours burn time) on sale on the Nordstrom Rack website and have one burning in my kitchen in the evenings. However, I could not resist purchasing a few sets of three of these votive candles as holiday host(ess) gifts. Each little candle has its own scent, and the 3 different scents are “Birchwood Pine: Festive Wood + Holiday: Festive Spice + Crystallized Ginger & Vanilla Bean: Festive Gourmand.” Their operating time is around 20 – 28 hours.

6. Mint Body Lotion – $34

A Smoothing and Stimulating Daily Body Lotion with the Invigorating Scent of Wild Mint, Mandarin and Fresh Basil: Free from Parabens, Phthalates and GMOs (18 oz)

Archipelago Botanicals Morning Mint Lotion

This moisturizer is a mixture of simple and healthy botanical-based ingredients. I love how the distinctive scent of the wild mint really comes through. After taking a relaxing shower or soaking in a bubble bath, gently apply the lotion to hydrate the skin. You may want to treat yourself to a bottle of this body lotion too, so both your gift receiver and you can feel equally refreshed and rejuvenated!

7. Satin Sleep Set – $34.99

Softer than Silk Pillowcase and Eye Mask Holiday Gift Set: includes 1 Satin Pillowcase, 1 Satin Eye Mask and 1 Satin Volume Scrunchie. Color: Leopard (also offered in Black, Blush, and Ivory)

Kitsch Satin Sleep Set in Leopard

My teenage daughter turned me on to this brand and their satin products. The pillowcase is so soft to the hair and skin! The satin keeps in your natural oils, so it prevents hair dryness and breakage (the set even comes with a satin scrunchie) and encourages your skin to stay hydrated and youthful. Just like any eye mask, this one also blocks out light and its calming effect can help you fall asleep faster. But unlike some other masks, this one has a BONUS: because it’s made of satin, it protects your lashes and eyebrows – there is no friction whatsoever!

8. Organic Aromatherapy TOP 8 Essential Oils Gift Set – $21.99

Cliganic Organic Aromatherapy Essential Oils Gift Set (Top 8), 100% Pure – Peppermint, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Frankincense & Orange

Cliganic USDA Organic Aromatherapy TOP 8 Essential Oils Gift Set, 100% Pure

Who does not like some aromatherapy right in their home? Yes, walking in nature or going to a spa are nice experiences too, but sometimes your loved ones just don’t have the time or money. Just a few drops of some essential oils will be so appreciated and go a long way. Keep in mind their healing power – some of the essential oil treatment properties include: reduced stress and anxiety, improved sleep, better mood, and (chronic) pain relief, incl. colds and allergies, muscle pain, and headaches and migraines. If you’re interested in learning more about the healing powers of essential oils through aromatherapy, and how to use this type of therapy, here is one good resource I recommend: Essential Oil Reference Guide With 250 Aromatherapy Oil Diffuser Recipes.

The oil diffuser uses water to disperse the different fragrances into your loved one’s surroundings. The diffuser I use in my home is the “aria ultrasonic diffuser” from Young Living; it is made from elegant maple wood with a beautiful glass bowl top, but is very costly ($342.43, incl. two 5ml essential oils). If you want a similar yet less spendy look, I say go with the one from Beachwood Essentials ($48.95) instead; the bamboo is equally aesthetically pleasing to the eye for about 1/7 of the price.

9. Yoga Mat – $98.95

Natural Rubber Home Exercise Mat, Durable & Thick Gym Fitness Mat: Workout Mat for Home, Gym Mat, Stretching Mat, Non-Slip Yoga Mat for Women, Men’s Yoga Mat

JadeYoga Harmony Yoga Mat in Midnight Blue

Since I only practice yin and restorative yoga, which both consist of longer held poses, I specifically looked for a thicker and somewhat heavier mat, with extra cushioning, and this one does the trick: it is comfortable and soft (and sustainable!), and although not overly grippy, still has just the right amount of traction. I bought my mat in midnight blue, but it comes in plenty of other beautiful colors: black, jade green, olive green, purple, raspberry, teal, and Tibetan orange. I recommend the 74” in length over the shorter size of 68″; why not have more mat space if you have the choice?

10. Yoga Bolster (Standard Size) – $92.95+

Yoga Bolster with a Firm Core and a Soft Surface: Rectangular Shape. Made of Cotton. The Size is 25″ x 11″ x 6″ and the Weight is 5 lb. Handmade in the US.

Standard – $103.95

Hugger Mugger Standard Yoga Bolster in Quartz

I have this one in quartz, but they offer many other pretty colors. I use my bolster for stretching, meditation and relaxation during and after a yin or restorative yoga session. Because this bolster offers the perfect balance between comfort and support, it is so versatile that it can be used for any type of yoga or any other activities that require the use of a bolster.

Junior – $79.95

Hugger Mugger Junior Yoga Bolster in Black

I recommend buying a junior size as an extra bolster for heart-opening poses, for example. I have this one in black and love it! Again, they have several more colors to choose from, so take your pick.

For more gift ideas, check out my other gift guides: Showing Love with a DIY Care Package & Calming Techniques – Yin Yoga Gear, and for meaningful gift ideas to help mothers thrive through parenthood, check out: Spark Mamas

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