The holiday season should be a highlight of the year—filled with joyful times spent with friends and family. Unfortunately, it can also bring stress and anxiety. Shorter days, bad weather, the rush of shopping, and pressure to meet expectations can make it difficult to stay positive. Here are some ideas for keeping the holidays healthy and happy.
Treat Yourself - Although the holidays encourage us to think of others, we also need to be kind to ourselves. Beyond the occasional small gift, make sure to get plenty of rest, avoid skipping meals, and make healthy food choices. Be mindful of exposure to the cold, the risk of getting run down, and even simple things like walking on icy ground. Build downtime into your schedule. A hot cocoa and a little quiet reading can work wonders.
Create a Happy Environment - One way to reduce stress is to shape a pleasant environment. Small, intentional choices can make a big difference. Choose uplifting music and media that improve your mood rather than drag it down. Keep your living space clean, warm, well-lit, and pleasantly scented. A comfortable 

To compensate for increasing expenses, the tuition at ZenQuest will be adjusted slightly in 2026. Starting in January all tuition for adults and children will increase by 3.7%. This means an increase of $5 per month for the basic monthly adult tuition, and $4 per month for the basic monthly children’s tuition. Discounts for three, six, or twelve month commitments and Easy Pay enrollments will still apply. Discounts for families, college students and Law Enforcement Officers will also stay in place. This amounts to less than 2% annually, which is actually less than current inflation rates. These tuition rates will take affect on January 1st, 2026.
Students and parents may want to consider taking advantage of the existing rates and committing to longer enrollments 

On November 8th & 9th five members of Team ZenQuest competed in the 2025 ‘Tap Cancer Out’ grappling tournament. The annual fundraising event was held in Danvers, Massachusetts and hosted over 900 competitors. Representing Team ZenQuest this year were Michael Siktberg, Katie Lefkowitz, Shawn Chambers, Chris Boyle, and Weston Aube.
Despite a high level of competition the team turned in some amazing matches and everyone did well. Although they 

We had a great turnout for Advanced Concepts Jiu-Jitsu on Saturday, November 15. This one focused on strategies using the ‘Lockdown’ and counters. The Lockdown involves entangling an opponent’s leg from the bottom of ‘Half-Guard’ to limit their options and improve your own situation.
Eleven people earned promotions at the conclusion of the clinic, including: Philip Peligrad, Tyler Fogg, and Kelsey Koldys to Blue Belt; Robert Inesta and Andrey Norin to 1-Stripe Blue Belt; Craig Jones to 3-Stripe Blue Belt; Jennifer Sommerville to 1-Stripe Purple Belt; Dan Dufur to 3-Stripe Purple Belt; Glenn Giumarra and Russell Moody to 4-Stripe Purple Belt; and Tom Aube to Brown Belt. Congratulations to everyone promoted and thanks to all for being there!

Shop small this holiday season and choose a gift from ZenQuest for your favorite ninja. In addition to memberships for friends or family members, we have a variety of gift ideas including: custom uniforms, training shirts, shorts,     t-shirts, sweatshirts, gear bags, hats, bracelets, and more!
Students and parents can also order a wide variety of training gear and equipment including sparring gear, targets, and punching bags for home. If you’re not sure what to get, or something needs to be ordered a gift certificate is a great way to go. This can be purchased at the ZenQuest desk, or online in $25 increments at zenquestmac.com.
So, make the holidays extra happy for the martial artist in your life with some these stocking stuffers from ZenQuest!