GIVING THE GIFT OF HEALTH
Get something for friends and family that will truly make a difference

For years, most of us have been doing the guessing game of what gifts to buy for friends and loved ones. Likely you've been the recipient of many gifts that never get used. We live in an unprecedented time of health issues caused by our increasingly sedentary lifestyles. Add to this the fact that we live in times of a variety of escalating stressors, and you start to realize that few gifts can be more valuable than something that will improve the health of a friend or family member. Nearly everyone you have in your circle of family or friends will appreciate your thinking of a gift that will increase their energy, help them reduce stress, and even manage their weight. In preparing this article, we had our trainers ask a variety of our clients which gifts they have given and received that made an impact. The list was wide ranging, but everyone we asked agreed giving fitness equipment was a great idea. We wanted to get you started in the right direction for the holidays so we've included a holiday shopping list with items that came up time and time again.

• Heart rate monitors & sports watches
• Exercise balls
• A session with a personal trainer
• Training accessories including-strength training gloves, wrist and knee wraps
• Portable exercise solutions including hand and ankle weights, yoga mats with videos, Pilates accessories
• Gift certificates to a specialty fitness store
• Strength training gloves
• Portable equipment for outdoor activities including roller blading or skating protection equipment, walking poles for outdoor hiking
• A month's membership at a health club


One idea that really stood out more than once was the idea of combining a gift certificate to a health club, massage session, or personal trainer with a small piece of exercise equipment like a small exercise ball, outdoor trekking gloves, or an exercise mat. Give friends and family members something this year that will really make a difference in their lives this year. Give the gift of health.