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Mindbody Gift Guide
Wellness
Published Friday Nov 20, 2020 by Sara Lesher

Gift Guide 2020: The Perfect Ideas for Relaxation, Rejuvenation, and Renewal

Salon
Massage

It’s around that time of year again when we have to start thinking of what to buy for the special people in your life. The holidays may look a tad different this year—and so will our gifts.  

While there’s no magic wand that makes 2021 look like pre-pandemic 2019, we polled you all on Instagram to find out what brought you joy or comfort throughout the "damn shit show,” “test in patience,” “cluster fuck,” “mess,” “crazy a$$ freaking time,” and “unforgettable dumpster fire” that was 2020 (or, as one of you put it, “like stepping on a Lego”).  

That said, here is the 2020 Gift Guide for Relaxation, Rejuvenation, and Renewal (for every type of person in your life). 

For the "I let things build up to the point I need to be reminded to breathe" person... 

  • Send them on a journey with a virtual guided meditation or yoga class 

  • Go touchless at the spa with salt therapy, compression therapy, a float tank session, or infrared sauna 

  • Up their nap game with a weighted blanket or comfy PJ set 

  • Get ready for movie night with a popcorn machine



We all know someone like this. Or maybe we know someone who has just become this person recently due to added stress. The perfect type of gift for a person like this?  
Dedicated self-care time. 30 minutes or an hour of uninterrupted time for relaxing, something they may not make time for themselves. This can be in the form of a virtual guided meditation or yoga class, or a touchless spa treatment such as salt therapy, compression therapy, a float tank session, or time in an infrared sauna. Plus, a lot of you said your guilty pleasure was napping, sleeping in, or binge-watching TV shows. Consider getting this person a weighted blanket, comfy PJ set, or popcorn machine to encourage some rest time! 
 
 


For the "I just need some sense of normal, please" person... 

Maybe they have the whole relaxation thing down, but they really just want to feel a sense of normalcy right now. Get them an airbrush tan so they can pretend they actually had a summer this year, or maybe a blowout or makeover for their holiday dinner or New Year's celebration (even if it’s virtual!). Or, if they have a backyard, and they’re typically a big camper, get them a firepit they can set up and make s’mores on! It’s the little things. 
 
  


For the "Everything's fine (but definitely could be better)" person... 

  • Pamper them with a face mask 

  • Set the mood with a bath bomb 

  • Bring the salon home with nail polish 

  • Get cozy with fuzzy slippers 

  • Find ambiance with scented candles 

  • Treat them with ice cream and/or chocolate 


Similar to the “lets things build up” person, but very different. This person looks like they’re absolutely killing this whole COVID thing. But you’ve noticed they haven’t taken any time for themself in a while. For this person, we suggest looking on retail sites of your local salons and spas and putting together a little gift basket perfect for pampering. Include a hair mask, a face mask, a bath bomb, some nail polish, scented candles, fuzzy slippers...all the workings for a perfect spa night in. Don’t forget to ask their family members or roommates to help make sure they have a night uninterrupted. Oh, and definitely throw in some ice cream or chocolate. Those have been a big hit this year. 

For the "I wanna look super great on Zoom" person... 

  • Get them selfie-ready with a ring light 

  • Show of their smile with some bright lipstick 

  • Smooth their skin with a facial or moisturizer (no beauty filter needed!) 

  • Fix those flyaways with a hair treatment 

  • Get spiffy from the waist up with a nice new shirt 

  • Create a Zoom background paradise with some new office plants 


Just because we’re all working from home, doesn’t mean big presentations and important meetings have been canceled. And sometimes, lighting does not do us any favors on those Zoom calls. For someone who needs a little help in this department, consider ring lights, bright lipstick, moisturizer, facials, hair treatments, a nice shirt (pants not necessary), or even some items to spruce up their background (you can never go wrong with plants).

For the “I should finally start a business” entrepreneur person...

  • Get fancy with a standing desk 

  • Get mobile with wireless headphones 

  • Get classy with artwork/ décor 

  • Get comfy with a nice new office chair 

  • Get caffeinated with an espresso machine 

  • Get insights with a new book 


For many, 2020 has been a year of slowing down and rethinking priorities. Maybe you know someone who has taken this time to finally dive back into their dream of starting a business, or maybe they already have and could use some additional support! For this person, consider getting them some practical items to create an awesome home office space. Many of you invested in standing desks, wireless headphones, artwork/décor, or nice, comfy office chairs to make your space welcoming and your attitude productive. One of you even bought a $600 espresso machine—we’re jealous. And if their goal is to start a wellness business—or gain some insights from a successful entrepreneur—you may want to gift them with Building a Wellness Business That Lasts: How to Make a Great Living Doing What You Love, written by Mindbody’s founder, Rick Stollmeyer. 


For the “I don’t need new hobbies” person... 
  • Just get them wine 


We can’t finish this guide without acknowledging the huge number of responses that mentioned wine. Some of you even put it into the hobbies category (hey, we respect it). If you’re considering a gift that keeps on giving, think about a wine delivery subscription—or just a one-time large quantity of wine.  


For anyone else... 

Consider these gifts as a show of support for the salons and spas that have kept you well this year and before. 

  • Swag from your favorite studios (sweatshirts, yoga pants, resistance bands, etc.) 

  • Beauty products from the best salons (hair products, manicure kits, skincare, etc.) 

  • Spa essentials from your local wellness businesses (essential oils, candles, face masks, etc.) 


This year is a strange one, to say the least, and we’re doing our best to remind one another that we’re all in this together. So just because your holidays might look a little different this year, don’t forget to show your loved ones you care by giving the gift of wellness (whatever it may look like).

Sara Lesher
Written by
Sara Lesher
Marketing Content Associate
About the author
Spoiled by the San Diego sunshine, Sara’s hobbies include beaching, hiking, concert-going, and brewery-hopping. As Mindbody’s marketing content associate, she naturally loves reading and writing… so if you have any book recommendations, let her know. And just between us: she’s committed to health and wellness but loves a good taco (shoutout TJ Tacos in Escondido).
female massage therapist massaging client in spa
Beauty
Published Wednesday Dec 23, 2020 by Denise Prichard

Unexpected Looks and Learnings from 2020

To put it bluntly—2020 was a real bummer. When we entered the year, we all had that “20/20 vision” mindset of making the year one of travel, joy, discovering new hobbies, and conquering our fitness goals. But come March, that vision became a blurry mess of sheltering-in-place and being forced to throw our normal routines and our aspirations out the window.  

Who would have thought that something like getting a haircut would be off-limits? Or that those monthly massages wouldn’t be around to help us unwind? 2020 forced us to get creative, and you blew us away with your stick-to-itiveness. 

We recently polled you on Instagram to see which beauty and wellness services you missed the most and how you’ve re-vamped your self-care routines to stay sane during this train wreck of a year. And I must say, as I read your responses in my sweats, rocking the messiest top knot of all time, I definitely felt like I need to take it up a notch when it comes to getting ready for the workday.  

Seriously—an alarming number of you have been on point when it comes to sticking to your daily morning routines and actually wearing work clothes while on Zoom calls. Kudos to you!  

Curious to see what the takeaways were from our Instagram poll? Keep reading.

Takeaway #1: All beauty services are missed equally 
beauty services missed 2020

According to your responses, you're all sick of your exposed roots and split ends equally, with 51% of you preferring to get a haircut and 49% opting for hair color. The numbers were also pretty close when it came to your nails—with 52% of you opting for a manicure over a pedicure. Due to the pandemic, the state of the beauty industry has been on a rollercoaster of openings and closings—and they need our help and support now more than ever. If you happen to live in an area where you’re able to enjoy beauty services, make sure you show your stylist or nail artist a little bit of extra love when tipping them.  

 

Takeaway #2: You miss massages, but are ready for touchless spa treatments 
touchless spa treatments

Anybody who knows me will tell you the thing I miss the most is getting a monthly massage—and 71% of you seem to agree. With most of us working from our beds or hunched over our laptops on our couches, our posture (if not our comfort) has taken a serious hit. While most of us either live in an area where massages are off-limits or we just don’t feel safe going in for one quite yet, there are some touchless spa treatments you're ready to try.  

  • 69% of you are interested in trying an infrared sauna treatment—no surprise during the cold winter months. This type of treatment uses light to directly warm your body to increase heart rate, help you sweat out the bad stuff (like all that wine we’ve been drinking), and treat chronic health problems.  
  • 31% of you are willing to brave the cold of cryotherapy. These sessions aim to decrease inflammation and speed up recovery time after an intense workout by standing in an extremely cold chamber of liquid nitrogen or dry, fresh, oxygenated air. 
  • 52% of you are down to try out salt caves. Turns out, Himalayan pink salt isn’t just for you fancy home chefs out there. By sitting in an entire room made of this salt, you can relax and potentially treat respiratory and skin issues.   
  • 48% of you are ready to suit up for a float tank sesh. If you love meditating, this is the perfect touchless spa treatment to try. Float tanks are filled with body-temperature saltwater—and they’re lightless and soundproof. You guys—I’ve tried this and it’s definitely the kind of R&R we all need right now.  
Takeaway #3: Your self-care routines are admirable 

Call it wishful thinking, but I was fully expecting most of you to say, “Zoom camera off” as your go-to beauty tip—but I guess that’s just me. Instead, you've all been pretty consistent with your morning routines—working out, showering, and dressing like you're actually going into an office. Some of you are even going the extra mile and putting on a red lip and some earrings. I’m taking notes.  

And even though this year’s challenges put a damper on our normal routines, it's inspired us to get creative with our skincare regimen. Some of you have added new serums and masks to your skincare arsenal, while others have tried out at-home facials for that quarantine glow. By far, one of the most popular answers was the incorporation of Gua Sha to help detoxify, brighten, and tighten your skin.  

This year was one for the books. But I think it made us realize there is always wellness—and that taking care of ourselves is crucial. If you're in an area where in-house beauty services are an option, book that appointment (if you feel safe to do so). If your only option right now is to stay at home, keep carrying on with your feel-good, at-home routines.  

If you're curious to see what some other wellness trends you should take note of in 2021, check out this blog.  
 

denise prichard
Written by
Denise Prichard
Marketing Content Specialist
About the author
Denise Prichard is a certified yoga instructor (RYT-200) and an experienced content marketing professional with a penchant for writing compelling copy within the health, wellness and beauty industries. When she isn't writing or editing, you can find her teaching yoga classes, at a spin class or hanging out with her rescue pups.