The Gift of Movement

10 Gifts to Send Exercise Encouragement

Let your holiday gifts this year encourage people you love (including yourself) to move their bodies and enjoy an active lifestyle. Whether they’re already on their fitness path or about to begin, these ideas are a good place to start and cover a broad price range for everyone on your list.

1. The Apple Watch 4 takes wearable tech into new territory as a valuable health-monitoring tool. Its FDA-approved heart health features alert the wearer to irregularities and can generate an EKG or ECG, an electrocardiogram. The watch can also detect falls and alert emergency services. The price starts at $399. If that is out of your price range, other fitness monitors (like Fitbit) are less expensive, fun and valuable.
 
2. Resistance bands fall on the opposite end of the high-tech spectrum. These are available from many retailers in rubber and in fabric, starting at around $15. They can provide a good workout at home and are super-simple to toss in a suitcase for travel. 

3. An exercise mat. Maybe it’s time to get a new mat, or maybe it’ll be the first. Either way, it’s great to have a mat handy for home workouts or to take to Yogilates class. Also affordable from countless retailers like Home Sense or local fitness stores around town.
 
4. Locks that use words as combinations. For people who have trouble remembering numerical sequences, try this fun alternative  for the gym locker or bicycle. Local Staples or hardware store.  

5. A headlamp. Walking is excellent exercise, even in winter when it’s colder and darker. Keep the outings safe with a headlamp or reflective materials on clothing.

6. Audiobooks. This is a great way to keep up on reading while engaging in some forms of exercise. At Audible.ca the first one’s free, and then a low monthly fee of covers one title. Keep learning, it keeps the brain young!

7. Proper footwear. Anyone exercising should wear the right shoes, whether while running, working out with weights, playing basketball or anything else. Talk to a footwear expert at one of the local running stores such as The Running Room. 

​A cheaper alternative for a stocking stuffer: good workout socks from any top brand of athletic wear, like Nike, or Lululemon, that give support and have “sweat-wicking” technology to keep feet dry.

8. Weighted blankets. Studies show that weighted blankets help us calm down, feel secure and rest better. And rest is one of the most essential elements of fitness.

9. Classes or private training sessions. Give the gift of a new experience or expert coaching.

​Talk to me about options at Design Fitness Centre and give the Gift of Fitness.  

10. Eat out – right. A local vegan restaurant has caught your eye? Or maybe that place with the quinoa burgers and organic salads. Whatever it is, make a reservation with the loved one on your list, and you’ll both enjoy a new experience together.

It’s fun shopping for fitness for friends or family members. And you might even pick up something for yourself!