Ten minutes is all it takes to trade the holiday hustle for a little headspace. That is the magic of a holiday stress relief workout. December is a lot, with all of us running around, going to parties, and planning everything. But even moving for a few minutes can help us breathe a little easier and feel less frazzled. The best part is that you do not need an hour at the gym. Quick, low-impact sessions are easy on your joints and realistic for a packed schedule.
These mini workouts are designed to help you stay active during the holidays while feeling good in your bodies. In this blog, we will share three calming 10-minute home workouts, a set of three-minute “rescue” options, a simple weekly map, and a few small tweaks that help the habit stick.
What Helps You Feel Calm in Only 10 Minutes
Exercise is effective, straightforward, and clear. A brief session for alleviating stress helps dissolve tightness and boosts your spirits simultaneously. However, during the holiday season, pushing too hard might increase stress instead. That’s why mild movements combined with some attention to your breathing work so effectively. They provide calmness, are gentle on your joints, and are exercises you can repeat often.
Even just 10 minutes can make a noticeable difference in stress and mental energy. It is perfect for jam-packed holiday days. A low-impact home workout like this gives you a quick, calming reset without adding any pressure.
The DB Method makes it effortless. Short, posture-guided sessions you can do in your living room, guest room, or even on the road give you just 10 minutes to feel calmer and more in control.
Pick Your Ten: Three Calming 10-Minute Flows
Begin with a warm-up. Start by marching in place and adding gentle hip circles for about a minute. After that, you choose a sequence that fits what your body needs today and finish with a minute of focused breathing. These short, soothing exercises are ideal when you need a small holiday recharge.
Calm Strength (Glute-First, No Jump)
Perform ten sit-to-stand movements or supported squats, followed by ten easy hip hinges. Continue with twelve glute bridges and pause briefly at the top. You can rest against a wall while holding abduction for 30-45 seconds and finish with a minute of calm breathing. This routine supports your body, eases tension, and is very gentle on your joints.
Fireplace Flow (Mobility with Core Ease)
Move through six slow cat-cow cycles, then eight bird dogs on each side. After that, complete twelve side-lying abductions on each side and a light figure-4 stretch for 20-30 seconds per leg. Close the flow with a full minute of slow, calming breaths.
Walk & Breathe Reset (Indoors OK)
Simply walk around your room or hallway for about eight minutes while breathing slowly through your nose. Then settle into a comfortable spot for a couple of minutes and focus on deeper breaths. Ten minutes like this can help you feel calmer, more grounded, and a little more ready for whatever the holidays bring.
These gentle flows remind us that even small moments of movement can shift how we feel. When you keep them simple, you are far more likely to return to them again.
Three-Minute “Rescues” (When Time Is Tiny)
Have a minute free? That’s all it takes to reset.
- Rescue A is very straightforward. You perform squats for one minute, hold a glute bridge for another minute, and spend the final minute focusing only on your breathing.
- Rescue B is ideal when you want to get moving. You stroll through your hallway or room for about ninety seconds, then spend the next ninety seconds concentrating on slow, deep breaths.
- Rescue C works well for relaxing. Begin by pressing into a hinge position for one minute, hold a figure-4 stretch for 30 seconds on each leg, then rest quietly for another 30 seconds.
Even three minutes like this can make a difference. They are quick, easy, and a small pocket of calm you can fit in anywhere.
A Holiday Week That Actually Fits Real Life
Here’s an easy, no-pressure way to stay active during the holidays. Just pick what feels right each day. Maybe a Calm Strength on Monday, a Walk and Breathe on Tuesday, and a Rescue with a quick stretch on Wednesday. No schedule, no stress. Just small things that keep you moving. Thursday is great for a Fireplace Flow, Friday for another Calm Strength, Saturday for an easy Walk and Breathe, and Sunday is your “pick whatever feels good” day.
If you’re traveling, just split things into two tiny five-minute check-ins, one in the morning and one at night. It all counts. Don’t ignore the tiny wins. They add up. A slow walk with your family after dinner, cleaning your room with music blasting, or even taking the stairs while something is baking. It all counts.
And on those chaotic days, doing a quick guided class or a few assisted squats on The DB Method machine is enough to make you feel like, “Okay, at least I moved today.”
Friction Fixes, So You’ll Actually Start
Holiday fitness doesn’t need to be a whole saga. Tiny habits genuinely carry you through this season. Try making your day work for you with simple If-Then cues. If the kettle boils, then start a quick Calm Strength round. If the tree lights switch on, then take a slow walk and breathe for a moment.
On party nights when you’re tired and glittery, the Two-Move Rule saves you. Twelve bridges and ten squats, three easy rounds, and you’re done before the excuses kick in.
Keep your space in “go” mode. Mat out, timer open, playlist ready, so a low-impact home workout feels less like planning and more like instinct. The DB Method is right. Tiny starts, even 5-10 minutes, cut the decision drama and keep you consistent through the holidays.
Cool-Down & Breath to Seal the Calm
Here’s a tiny cool-down that feels like a reset button, not another task. After your workout for stress relief, drop into a figure-4 glute stretch, a half-kneel hip-flexor stretch, and a hamstring stretch, just 20-30 seconds each. It is only a couple of minutes, but your body will feel like you actually closed the workout instead of rushing off.
Then finish with 60 seconds of quiet breathing. You can use pursed-lip breathing, box breathing, or whatever feels natural. This short, calming workout ending helps your muscles settle, your mind downshift, and your whole system relax. Static holds here are perfect. Save the bouncy stuff for warm-ups.
Make Calm, Strong Reps a Holiday Habit
Make calm, strong reps a little holiday ritual. Pick the “Ten” that matches your energy that day and repeat it. Those tiny choices stack up faster than you think. And when the season gets chaotic, having a low-impact home workout you can rely on makes everything feel more doable.
If you want something that supports good form and feels easy on your joints, short glute-focused sessions work beautifully. They fit into ten-minute pockets and travel well, no matter where you are spending the holidays.
The DB Method Squat Machine is an easy entry point with a patented assisted squat that is kind on your knees and back. It also pairs with trainer-led classes on The DB Method channel on the Playbook app that you can follow without overthinking. It is a simple way to keep your holiday stress relief workout steady and calm.
Feel the difference a glute-first routine can make. The DB Method Squat Machine helps your calm, steady holiday habits stick.
