Winter Solstice and the Holiday Season 

Written By Betsy Ranum

Betsy Ranum MA, RN, NBC-HWC

Reiki Practitioner,Rest & Relaxation Coaching

Ah, “the holidays.”

In the northern hemisphere, the light decreases with every passing day until we arrive at the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. This year winter solstice is exact on December 21. Here in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Dakota and Anishinaabe land, the night will be exactly 11 hours and 40 minutes, with the sun rising at 7:48am and setting at 4:34pm.

Just as our mammalian bodies are slowing down and craving rest in the darkness, a number of holidays at this time of year honor the light. Winter solstice celebrations can be traced back to ancient times, when people gathered with food and traditions to provide physical, emotional, and spiritual nourishment for the coldest days of winter that lay ahead. While many peoples and communities around the world continue to celebrate the solstice itself, we also see echoes of winter solstice traditions in modern celebrations of Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year, and more.

While the roots of the winter holidays are ancient, what we now recognize as the holiday season is a relatively new invention. Forces of colonization, industrial revolution, and post-World War II political economy gave way to the social and economic phenomenon that is “the holidays,” during which United States spending is projected to reach nearly a trillion dollars this year. Many of our bodies suffer from the economic anxieties, relational stressors, sugar and alcohol, and other excesses and imbalances that accompany this time of year. All the while, we long for the deeper roots of these holidays: being present with the quiet stillness of the season; gathering with loved ones; nourishing ourselves and others in community; reflection on our core values through the long, dark nights. 

At MN Integrative Health Studio, whatever holidays you celebrate (or tolerate, or disregard altogether!) we hope to support you during this time of year. And if you are looking for ways to invest in small, local businesses through your gift-giving this year, and to find comfort and peace amidst the frenzy—we’ve got you.


Gift Cards

We have MIHS gift cards available for purchase online, by phone, or in person at our front desk. Through 12/23, we’ll add $10 FREE for every $50 spent, OR buy $100 gift card and receive a free 250mL bottle (a $25 value) of Palestinian olive oil. (Make sure to check out the fine print: you’ll need to contact the front desk to add the extra dollars, or to receive the olive oil, which is available in person at the studio only.)

Palestinian Olive Oil 

Again this season, Minnesota Integrative Health Studio owner Said Isayed is proudly offering limited quantities of Palestinian Extra Virgin Olive Oil straight from his family's olive tree groves in Al-Khalil (Hebron), Palestine. The olives are hand-picked from trees that have been in his family for generations, with some of the olive trees as old as 600 years.

This olive oil is simple, single origin, and extra virgin. Handpicked in Palestine, the olives are pressed at a community olive press, and shipped directly here. Extra virgin olive oil is rich in healthy fats, high in omega-3’s fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins E and K, anti-inflammatory properties, and is protective of heart and brain health.

500mL bottle: $35

Stop by or contact our front desk for more information. 

Palestinian Za'aatar

New this year, we are offering Za’atar spice blend from MIHS owner Said Isayed’s family business Alsaeed for Herb and Spice shop in Al-Khalil (Hebron), Palestine. Alsaeed for Herb and Spice is a multigenerational business that has been in Said’s family since the 1800s. They mix their own special blend of Za’atar, and we now have packages for sale, just in time for holiday gifts.

Za’atar is one of the most popular spice blends in the Middle East. This spice blend has been used for centuries as not only a delicious addition to food, but also as an herbal medicine. 


According to a 2023 study, the unique mixture of leaves, fruits, and seeds in Za’atar contains hundreds of antioxidant compounds, especially polyphenols, and fiber, with evidence suggesting it is supportive of cardiovascular and metabolic health, and may  provide beneficial effects for gut health. (Khalili, Mohamed, et al., 2023). 


Za’atar is the perfect companion for our Palestinian Olive Oil you just purchased. One of the most common ways to enjoy Za’atar is to dip some bread first in olive oil, then into the Za’atar for an easy, delicious snack. Za’atar can also be sprinkled on bread with olive oil and cheese to create an amazing flat bread. You can get creative and use it in many different dishes, from garnishes on vegetable dishes, hummus, potato wedges and more.

7oz package: $13

Stop by or contact our front desk for more information. 

Infrared Sauna

Cold climate societies across time and geography hold traditions of heat and sweat during the cold of winter. Infrared sauna is a descendent of this legacy, using modern and ancient technology to support the body in a relaxing, rejuvenating and therapeutic sauna experience. For more about infrared saunas, visit our website.

 

We’re offering infrared sauna memberships this winter, and our acupuncture memberships also include sauna sessions. If you aren’t ready to commit to a package or membership, feel free to book online, call, or stop in anytime for a sauna session. Whether you bring a friend or two to join you, or enjoy a time of quiet solitude, the infrared sauna is a special place to experience warmth, comfort, and peace.

Check out our sauna memberships: https://mnintegrative.com/seasonal-deals



Gift Baskets

This year, we are offering a limited supply of holiday gift baskets that include a little bit of all of the above!


Gift Basket # 1:

$50 gift card

One 500 mL bottle of Palestinian Olive Oil from Hebron, Palestine

One 7oz package of Za’atar spice mix from Hebron, Palestine

Two infrared sauna sessions

TOTAL VALUE: $138

TOTAL PRICE: $100

Total Savings: $38

Gift Basket # 2:

$100 gift card

One 500 mL bottle of Palestinian Olive Oil from Hebron, Palestine

One 7oz package of Za’atar spice mix from Hebron, Palestine

Two infrared sauna sessions

TOTAL VALUE: $188

TOTAL PRICE: $135

Total Savings: $53


Again, stop by or contact our front desk for more information. 


Private Treatment Special

Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Reiki, Craniosacral Therapy, Therapeutic Bodywork, Myofascial Release, Prenatal Massage, Visceral & Neural Manipulation, Reflex Integration for Stress Resilience, and Geriatric Massage, are all opportunities to invite in calm, comfort, and peace amidst societal and family pressures and expectations. When you mention this blog post, receive 15% off ANY private treatment in December.

Yin Yoga

Yin Yoga is a gentle, cozy, and meditative practice well-suited for this time of year. Nadia Alsadi, E-RYT is offering in-person and virtual Yin Yoga classes on Saturday December 7th, 9:30 am - 10:30 am and Thursday December 19th, Yin Yoga 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Sign up for in person classes here, and virtual classes here.  Yoga is offered on a sliding scale. Book online or contact us, and stay tuned for new events. 

Winter Solstice Event: Community Reiki & Acupuncture

Join Reiki practitioner Betsy Ranum MA, RN, NBC-HWC and Acupuncturist (and Reiki master!) Ashley Steffensen LAc on Sunday, December 22 at 4pm or a deliciously restful, relaxing Community Reiki and Acupuncture session to mark the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere. 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the dark of winter is maximum yin time, a time for rest, reflection, and deep nourishment of our minds, bodies, and spirits. You will have an opportunity to set an intention, followed by hands-on Reiki (option for hands-off Reiki if requested) and a simple acupuncture protocol to support unwinding and rest. This event is limited to 6 people, book online here.

To find out more about Minnesota Integrative Health Studio services, check out our website. You can book online here. Questions? Feel free to contact us, call (612.345.5648), at or stop by “the studio” on our corner of northeast Minneapolis.

Betsy Ranum
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