Movement & Mood: Supporting Your Body and Mind as the Days Grow Shorter
November in Ontario is a transitional month. Our days get darker, the air turns crisp, and routines shift indoors. While the season brings cozy evenings and holiday anticipation, it can also affect how our bodies feel and how our moods flow. Shorter daylight hours may contribute to lower energy, stiffer joints, and even changes in mental health. The good news? Movement and intentional self-care can make a real difference.
Why Mood & Movement Are Connected
Our bodies are designed to move. When we slow down due to weather, our circulation decreases and muscles tighten more easily. Regular movement boosts endorphins, our body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals, helping ease stress and improve mood. It can also helps regulate sleep patterns, which often become disrupted during seasonal transitions.
The November Effect – What Happens in the Body
Muscle Stiffness: Cold weather causes muscles and connective tissues to become less pliable, leading to stiffness and discomfort.
Mood Shifts: Reduced daylight affects circadian rhythms and serotonin levels, both of which play a role in regulating mood and energy.
Postural Strain: More time indoors often means more time sitting at desks, on couches, or curled up against the chill, which contributes to tension in the back, shoulders, and neck.
How Massage Therapy Helps Balance Body & Mind
Massage is more than a way to “relax”. It’s a therapeutic tool that supports the body in adapting to seasonal changes.
Impact on Circulation: Massage increases blood flow during treatment, warming tissues and easing muscle tightness.
Stress Regulation: Techniques that calm the nervous system can help reduce anxiety and stress, supporting emotional health.
Intentional Care: Registered Massage Therapists work with your treatment goals in mind. Whether that’s reducing stiffness, addressing postural strain, or creating space for mental and physical reset.
Tips to Boost Movement & Mood This Month
Daily Movement Snacks: Break up your day with 5–10 minutes of stretching, walking, or mobility exercises.
Morning Light Exposure: Step outside early in the day to help regulate your internal clock. Even if it’s brief, every bit counts.
Mindful Movement: Try yoga, tai chi, mobility classes or simply stretching with intention, connecting breath and body.
Book a Massage: Use massage as a way to reset physically and emotionally before holiday busyness ramps up.
November can feel heavy, but it’s also an opportunity to ground yourself before the rush of December. Movement and mood are deeply connected. Nurture one, and you often find the other follows.
📚 References & Resources
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2022). Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Symptoms & causes. Mayo Clinic.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorderHarvard Health Publishing. (2021). Exercising to relax. Harvard Medical School.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/exercising-to-relaxGovernment of Canada. (2023). Physical activity tips for adults (18–64 years). Public Health Agency of Canada.
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/physical-activity-tips-adults-18-64-years.htmlMoyer, C. A., Rounds, J., & Hannum, J. W. (2004). A meta-analysis of massage therapy research. Psychological Bulletin, 130(1), 3–18.
https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.130.1.3
This blog post was partially developed using ChatGPT to generate ideas and refine the structure. The author made the final edits and choices
