Before you begin leafing through holiday mail order catalogues, searching online, or driving to the mall for a frustrating shop-a-thon, consider starting a new “Out of the Box” holiday tradition of giving. Why not give a gift that demonstrates your heartfelt concern for the receiver as well as for the community in which you live? Purchase your gift locally at an independent retailer and let your friend, loved one, or party host know that you not only care deeply about their well-being but also about keeping your local community alive and well.

Circulating money within the boundaries of your community creates a “feel-good” spirit that has ripple effects beyond the holiday season. To begin a local stress-free holiday shopping experience for friends and family, start by creating a list of services and products that nearly everyone uses on a regular basis: haircut, house cleaning, three meals a day, exercise and fitness, personal care services, lawn or car maintenance, etc. Then look no further than our Natural Awakenings healthy lifestyle community to purchase time-saving gift certificates, which can be mailed to your home. Should you decide to make the purchase in person, a little self-indulgence might be in order to congratulate yourself on your brilliant new approach to holiday gift giving.

Although everyone needs a haircut, a gift certificate for a new style or complete makeover will still be appreciated in 2012.

Salon Shangri-la & Spa, Bonita Springs, 239-949-9030. SalonShangri-la.com.
Raw Hair Organic Salon, Naples, 206-0939. RawHairOrganics.com.
LaDonna Roye, Naples, 239-254-9100.
Embrace Your Curls, Naples, 239-298-2569.
Studio 37, Naples, 239-263-5434. Studio37XtremeLashesAndHair.com.

For the individual who wants to exercise a green thumb, give a gardening lesson, rent them a garden plot for the upcoming season, or give them a container garden.

Eco Logic Land Care, Naples, 239-348-1302. EcoLogicLandCare.com.
Garden at Eden Organic Farm, Naples. Facebook page Garden@EdenForAutism.
Heartland Gardens, Fort Myers, 239-689-4249. HeartlandGardens.org.
Lakes Park Community Garden, Ft Myers. 239-533-7575.
Park Place 717, Naples, 239-207-7971. [email protected].
Roots Heritage Garden, Fort Myers, 239-464-9925.
Unitarian Universalist Children’s Garden, Fort Myers. 785-317-6586.

Give the gift of massage with lasting health and emotional benefits. 

Help a loved one get fit for 2012.

Beyond Motion, Naples, 239-254-9300. Go2BeyondMotion.com.
On-site Fitness Training, Naples, 239-398-6196. NaplesHomeTraining.com.
Transcendent Fitness, Naples, 239-293-9984. TranscendentFitness.com.
Bala Vinyasa Yoga, Naples, 239-598-1938. BVYoga.com.
Love Yoga Center, Naples, 239-692-9747. LoveYogaCenter.com.

A rejuvenating afternoon at a spa is always a welcome gift that keeps on giving. 

Give a cycle fan a new set of wheels.

Naples Cyclery, Naples, 239-566-0600. NaplesCyclery.com.

Furry friends enjoy gifts, too.

Naples Dog Center, Naples, 239-530-3647. GroomAtTheInn.com.
For Footed Friends, Naples, 239-431-7661. ForFootedFriends.com.

Peace of mind as well as health and well being are a welcome gift anytime.

Integrative Mindfulness, Bonita Springs, 239-390-1113. IntegrativeMindfulness.net.
Qigong, Kimla Steward, Naples, 239-298-0509.

Who doesn’t love time out for a facial, skincare, and other personal care services?

A Health & Beauty Clinic, Naples, 239-659-9100. HealthAndBeautyClinic.net.
Dori Stephens, Naples, 239-777-9917. NaplesMassageTherapy.com.
Kara’s Skincare, Naples, 239-262-5110. KaraSkinCare.com.
Tamara’s Skincare & Massage, Naples, 239-692-8994.
Purely You Spa, Naples, 239-331-8266.  PurelyYouSpa.com.
Salt Cave, Naples, 239-403-9170. SaltCave.us.
Samantha Magi, Alive and Well, Naples, 239-226-9355.

Find the perfect gift for the individual who is interested in looking and feeling younger.

Trim Wellness Café, Naples, 239-594-8746. TrimWellnessCafe.com.

For the individual who needs the motivation to achieve his or her dreams or
to break a bad habit, give an hour of coaching or a hypnosis session.

Jasse, 239-503-0619. [email protected].
Lynn Thomas, Medical Clinical Hypnotherapist, 239-597-1328. HypnosisBasics.com.
Edward Donald Anthony, Fort Myers, 239-850-1568. ForAmazingFuture.com.
Ann Willis, Happiness Coaching, 239-331-5545.
David Essel, Life Coach University, 941-266-7676. LifeCoachUniversity.com.
Intuitive Life Coach - Claudia Creates, 855-926-3636. [email protected].

Ease someone’s chronic pain with an acupuncture session.

For the cook who wants a healthy dining break.

Ada’s Natural Foods Market & Garden Café, Fort Myers, 239-939-9600. AdasWholeFoods.com.
Bamboo Café French Home Cooking, Naples, 239-643-6177. BambooCafeFrenchHomeCooking.com.
Back to Nature Organic Market & Café, Cape Coral, 239-549-7667. CapeBackToNature.com.
Chef Brooke’s Natural Café, Fort Myers, 239-332-2433. ChefBrookeOnline.com.
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Naples. 239-254-1292. Chipotle.com.
Earth Origins Market (formerly SunSplash Market), Naples, 239-434-7221. EarthOriginsMarket.com.
Food & Thought 100% Organic Farm Market and Café, Naples, 239-213-2222. FoodAndThought.com.
For Goodness Sake Organic Marketplace & Café, Bonita Springs, 239-992-5838 ForGoodnessSake123.com.
Loving Hut, Naples, 239-254-9490. LovingHut.us/naples_01/.
Nature’s Garden Organic Café, Naples, 239-643-4959.
Sea Salt, Naples, 239-434-7258. SeaSaltNaples.com.
Sweet Tomatoes, Naples, 239-597-1112. Fort Myers 239-489-1150. SweetTomatoes.com.
Tea with Me at Audrey’s, Naples, 239-403-8322. Audreys-Attic.com.
Whole Foods Market, Naples, 239-552-5100. WholeFoodsMarket.com.

Every hostess appreciates a gift basket of tasty organic foods.

Wynn’s Fine Foods, Naples, 239-661-7157. WynnsOnline.com.

They who believe their future is in the stars will appreciate an astrology reading.

Bob Mulligan, 239-261-2840. TheAstrologyCompany.com.

For avid readers of uplifting books.

Unity of Naples Bookstore, Naples, 239-775-3009.

Something for your metaphysical friends.

Shaman’s Blessings, Bonita Springs, 239-947-0000. ShamansBlessings.com.
Anahata, Naples, 239-262-0811. AnahataNaples.com.
Open Mind Den, Naples, 239-514-0001. [email protected].

Satisfy someone’s sweet tooth.

Adelheidis-Organic Sweets, Naples, 239-206-7091. Facebook: Adelheidis-Organic-Sweets.