Wellness Inspired Podcast
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Hosted by Sheri Davidson, a licensed acupuncturist and certified wellness coach, the Wellness Inspired Podcast explores the messy, meaningful, and often unexpected path to feeling well—and staying well—in a world that constantly demands more.
Wellness Inspired Podcast
Designing for Connection: A Hygge Holiday Home
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In this cozy episode of Wellness Inspired, I dive into the Danish concept of hygge and its power to elevate your holiday gatherings. Learn how to design a space that fosters connection, from setting up your dining table for meaningful dinners to using the “vacant chair” principle for a warm, inviting atmosphere. Discover tips for arranging seating to spark deeper conversations and incorporating sensory elements like lighting, scents, and textures for a cozy vibe. Whether hosting a large family or an intimate group, this episode will inspire you to slow down, savor the season, and carry hygge-inspired wellness into your everyday life.
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Creating Hygge Spaces for Connection
Speaker 1Hi Wellness Warriors . Welcome back to another episode of the Wellness Insp inspired podcast , a place where you can find inspiration , motivation and empowerment in the pursuit of a wellness lifestyle . I'm your host , sherry Davidson . I'm a wellness coach , acupuncturist , trail runner and former interior designer in Houston , texas , and I am deeply passionate about health and wellbeing . And , as always , I'm here with my co-host , finn , and if you're new to the podcast , finn is my Terrier , mix Rescue Dog , trail runner and loyal companion . He is also a therapy dog and greeter at Element 5 , acupuncture and Wellness . I have a timely and heartwarming episode for you .
Speaker 1Today we are diving into one of my favorite topics this time of the year Well , actually any time of the year , but especially this time of year and it's the . It's the concept of hygge . Now , I heard about hygge early on in my my design design years and once I discovered this concept , it has been a part of my life since I can , since I first read about it . I mean even right now . Like I decided to celebrate a little bit more of this concept as I'm doing the podcast today and I have lit candles . It is daylight , but I have some candles lit . I have a warm blanket . I have some candles lit . I have a warm blanket over my lap . It's a little chilly . I have created a nice cozy bed for my dog , finn , to lay next to me as I do the podcast . It is definitely a cozy vibe , and that is the essence of what hygge is it is a warm , safe , cozy space . So if you're not familiar with the term hygge , it is pronounced hygge , so it's like H-O-O-G-H and it is a beautiful Danish concept centered on coziness , comfort and connection . It's about creating spaces and moments that feel warm , inviting and meaningful , and the holidays are a time of gathering with loved ones , and hygge offers a way to make those moments more special . So that's why I thought that this was a great time for this content , and by intentionally designing your spaces for connection , you can create an atmosphere that encourages longer conversations , deeper bonds and joyful memories . In this episode , we're focusing on how to use the hygge principles to bring people together . From thoughtful table settings that inspire lingering dinners to creating cozy nooks that invite heartfelt conversations , I'll share practical tips to make your holiday gatherings truly magical . So grab your favorite cozy drink and let's dive in . But first you know what I have to talk about .
Speaker 1For those avid listeners who have turned into the podcast over the past year , you've likely caught wind of the Wellness River Cruise . Well , friends , the moment has arrived . Mark your calendars for April , the 20th 2025 . That's four months away . We'll set sail on an unforgettable seven-night cruise along the Danube River . We'll traverse the picturesque landscape of Austria , germany , hungary and Slovakia . Prepare for many active sightseeing adventures , including invigorating hikes , scenic bike rides and even a few brisk runs , maybe , or maybe a long bike ride , not sure yet . Alongside these activities , indulge in the serenity of yoga sessions , engage in enlightening wellness discussions and savor the flavors of locally sourced cuisine . Excitement is already brewing , as several enthusiasts have secured their spots . For those intrigued , I'll put the link in the show notes and , if you want more information , in episode 63 and 64 , a journey of wellness and wonder on the Danube with Ammo Waterways .
Speaker 1I had the pleasure of sitting down with Laurie , a representative from Ammo Waterways , and Tammy , my friend and a seasoned travel concierge . They came on the podcast to discuss the full river cruise experience . So feel free to check out those episodes if you want to learn more . And this all has to happen quickly . The river cruise is around the corner , four months away , like I said , and there are only 129 cabins on the boat . They sell out quickly . So if you're interested , put your deposit down . It's not a lot to hold your spot . Okay , let's get started .
Speaker 1One of the most beautiful things about hygge is its focus on relationships . As Mike Wicking says in his book my Hygge , home hygge is the art of creating a nice atmosphere . It is about being with the people we love , a feeling that we are safe , that we are shielded from the world and can allow ourselves to let our guard down . Hookah is about how we turn a house into a home , a place where we find comfort and connection . So , as you can see , the holidays are a perfect time to lean into this right . Research consistently shows that strong relationships are one of the biggest contributors to happiness and wellbeing . And isn't that what the holidays are supposed to be about ? Connection , love and belonging . But here's the thing Connection doesn't always just happen , but sometimes it takes a little intentionality , and that's where the design of your space can play a huge role .
Speaker 1By making thoughtful choices about how to arrange your home and host your gatherings , you can create an environment that invites deeper conversation , shared experiences and lasting memories . Conversation , shared experiences and lasting memories . All right . So what I want to do now is I want to get into the practical side of things . So how do you design your space to foster connection this holiday season ?
Speaker 1Let's start with the dining table . I tend to like round dining tables because I feel that you know it's , everybody can see each other and it's easy to have conversation . Nobody's really left out of the conversation is when you have a square or rectangle table . The people at the opposite end sometimes are not in conversation with each other , so I tend to like round tables or oval tables . But when you have large gatherings , most of the time you're going to see rectangular tables , so that's okay .
Speaker 1Your dining table is ground zero for connection during the holiday season . So consider the dishes that encourage longer meals . So think fondue , shared platters or family style servings . You don't want to spend all your time in your kitchen , although that's how me and my family connect is cooking together , so that's okay too . We have a big joke we spend so much time in the kitchen cooking that when we sit down and we eat , it's like gone in like 10 minutes , right , and I think that's okay . We have very small gatherings , so we're able to connect with each other in one space . It's a little bit harder to do something like that when you have , you know , 20 people over for dinner . So that's where sitting down at a dining table and applying some of these concepts is really helpful .
Speaker 1Okay , so , where was I ? We were talking about food . Yeah , so we want to incorporate foods that require a bit of interaction . That naturally . This naturally slows the pace and creates opportunities for conversations , right ? So if you are doing a fondue , I mean that takes some time . It slows the eating process down . It opens up the space for conversation to take place .
Speaker 1Okay , so next is , when we're setting the table , think about how you can arrange it to make everyone feel included . And if you're hosting a larger group , try grouping people in a way that sparks conversation . Maybe mix up the family members with friends , or paired introverts with chatty types . Maybe that's not a good idea , I don't know , but the idea is to include everybody , be mindful of everybody and encourage positive conversation . And I'm going to tell you guys about a principle here . It's called the vacant chair principle , and maybe you've heard of this before , maybe you haven't , I don't know , but I love it , especially when you have really large groups and you are integrating different sides of family maybe friends and family but a situation where not necessarily maybe everybody knows each other , or even kids , you know , if you have kids running around .
Speaker 1But this is a concept from hygge that I absolutely love . It's about creating room , both physically and emotionally , for unexpected guests , guests that don't know each other very well , or spontaneous moments . So maybe this means adding an extra chair or two to your dining room , maybe adding an extra chair to your living room , or having cozy floor cushions ready to pull out when the conversation moves away from the table . The idea of this is to make everyone feel welcome and included . Okay , let's go on to the next one . You want to arrange your seating for intimacy , so think about how your chairs and sofa are positioned . Are they facing each other in a way that invites conversation , or are they aligned towards the TV ? You know , small adjustments like creating a circle of chairs or pulling a love seat closer to the coffee table can make a big difference on how people interact . I think what you'll find if you implement some of these . You're going to find that these small changes have a huge impact . You'll be super surprised , okay . So once you have set your physical space up to encourage great conversation . The other thing to remember is that stimulating and meaningful conversations don't always happen naturally . So you can inspire them with little details , like a jar of conversation starters on the table or a stack of nostalgic photo albums for people to flip
Creating Hygge-Inspired Connections
Speaker 1through .
Speaker 1So I have a personal story . When I was married , my husband at the time was in Boston Well , he was from Massachusetts and we would alternate every other Christmas , so we'd spend a Christmas at my parents , we'd go there and spend a Christmas with his family , and the first time I went I thought that I was going to get a white Christmas . Um , cause , I've never . I'm from Texas and I've never had a white Christmas . And so when we went I did not get that . They had like a heat wave and then when we left they ended up having like a blizzard . So , um , go figure , but I did not have a white Christmas . But that year , uh , my parents on the Gulf coast got a foot of snow on Christmas Eve . Can you believe that ? I cannot believe that my parents took pictures of that wonderful evening that they had there without me and they put it in a photo album . So every year I am reminded that I was not there the only Christmas that it ever snowed . I could have had a white Christmas if I stayed in Texas , in Houston , actually right outside of Houston , on the San Bernard River .
Speaker 1So it's a great conversation starter . We talk about it every single year and I flip through it every single year to remind myself that I was not there for my white Christmas . Okay , so that's just one example , but you could also set up like a memory station if you wanted to get really , really fancy and set up a memory station where guests can jot down their favorite holiday memories to share . Sometimes , once you get the ball rolling , it just starts to take a life of its own . So I highly encourage doing something fun like that .
Speaker 1But you also want to focus on sensory details . Fuga is all about this . It's all about atmosphere , and that includes sound , smells and touch . So play soft , inviting music , light a candle with a subtle scent like cinnamon or pine something that reminds you of the holidays and drape blankets over chairs for an extra coziness . We do this all the time , even though we're in Texas and it's super hot all the time . It just adds a bit of coziness and comfort and that safe space that we can let our guard down in . These little touches really do make people feel more at ease , which sets the stage for that connection , because people do drop their guard down and they will start talking more and connecting more Also , the last thing I want to talk about .
Speaker 1My last tip is to build in pauses for presence . You guys know how much I love mindfulness and really connecting to the here and the now , and so I want to talk about that here , because I think that that is also part of what hygge is . Consider designing moments into your gathering where everyone can pause and appreciate the moment . This could be gratitude circle for dinner or a quiet break in the evening to sip hot cocoa by the fire If you're lucky enough to have a fire , which I hope we are this year , because I really do love doing that . But those mindful moments , those moments to just be silent and just appreciate what you have , I think are so , so essential to our , to our wellbeing . Okay , so the last thing I want to touch on before we wrap things up here is you know I talk a lot about who go during the holidays because it seems to be , uh , something that you think about when it's colder outside and um , you're seeing more family . But here's the thing you don't have to save these ideas for the holidays .
Speaker 1Designing for connection is something you can carry into your everyday life throughout the year . So maybe it's rearranging your living room to feel more welcoming , or starting a tradition of Sunday dinners with friends . I keep saying I'm going to do it every single year . It's on my it's on my um new year's resolutions list that I'm going to have a dinner at home for friends once a month , and um , I think I've done it a couple of times and then I've kind of fall off . I just get so busy . But you know , hookah is about creating spaces and rituals that bring us closer to the people who matter the most . It's about choosing connection over distraction and presence over perfection . So here's your challenge Think about one small change you can make this week to design for connection .
Speaker 1Maybe it is as simple as lighting a candle at dinner or rearranging your chairs to face each other . Whatever it is , I would love to hear about it . That's it for today's episode of the Wellness Inspired Podcast . I hope that you feel inspired to create a hygge-inspired space that brings people together this holiday season and , like I said , if you try these tips , share them with me on social media . Use the hashtag wellness inspired hygge . I would love to see how you're designing for connection this holiday season . Thank you so much for tuning in and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode . Until then , stay cozy , stay connected and I'll see you next time on the wellness inspired podcast . If you like what you hear , please subscribe to the podcast and share with your family and friends . You can also give me a rating and review .
Speaker 1Wherever you listen to your podcast , it helps others find me as well . To get updates on new episodes and wellness inspiration in your inbox , please join the wellness inspired community . Go to the wellness inspired podcastcom to sign up . I'll put the link to the website in the show notes so you can click and join . Also , there's a Facebook community at the wellness inspired and you can follow me on Instagram at wellness underscore inspired .
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Speaker 1If you're in the Houston area or just visiting and interested in our services acupuncture , herbal medicine , cupping , zinchiatsu or dry needling therapy contact us . You can find out more on our website at element5omcom that's element5 , the number 5 , omcom , and again I'll put the link in the show notes . If you're interested in health and wellness coaching . We can connect in the clinic or on zoom . Reach out to us and we'll get you on the schedule and , as always , I would love to hear your feedback . I am dedicated to bringing you great content that is inspiring and informative , with an artsy , fun , edgy spin . Thank you so much for listening . We'll meet here again next time and remember , never stop exploring , learning , loving and being you . Bye .