The holidays are here, theres too much to do and not enough time, energy, and money to do it. On Monday, December 7, Hospice of the Carolina Foothills will have a light-hearted presentation on managing holiday stress at the Landrum Library from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

This interactive workshop, led by Hospice volunteer and breast cancer survivor, Shannon Carney, will present methods to decrease daily stress, leading to increased physical wellness and overall enjoyment of this season.

The intent is to help everyday folks better manage stress, explains Carney. We will use various 60 to 90 second breathing and light body techniques, suitable for beginners, that can be carried out from a chair. I will use lots of humor designed to stimulate laughter and ultimately be very calming.

The holidays&bsp; can be an especially sad time for those who have lost loved ones. It may also be a difficult time for those who are in caregiving roles, says Hospice Director of Bereavement and Spiritual Care Services, Wendy McEntire. Those who are caregivers or are grieving may feel stressed and out-of-step with holiday activities and celebrations. That is why we feel this presentation is especially well-suited to those who find the holidays more stressful than usual, due to loss of interest and energy.

Carney is director of Wind River Services, a local cancer Wellness Retreat Center focused on helping people deal with the emotional, physical and spiritual stresses that often come with the diagnosis of a life-threatening illness.

As a former Fortune 500 attorney, yoga therapist and six-year breast cancer survivor, she is uniquely qualified to lead this hands-on workshop. Most of what I know about these techniques comes from my own experiential learning with breast cancer. When diagnosed, I had to learn how to manage the tremendous emotional and physical stress of cancer, she explains.

Hospice of The Carolina Foothills invites people of all ages to this presentation, which is free and open to the public.