Gift ideas for the fitness buff in your life

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/12/2013 (4625 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As December rolls around, it’s time to start your holiday shopping.

If you’re like me, you want to buy thoughtful, practical gifts, something that will have meaning, rather than a trinket to look pretty on the mantle. If you have a loved one who is making some serious health and fitness resolutions, here are a few gift ideas to help them out on their journey.

Inspiration — Reading material such as a fitness magazine subscription or a book about the person’s favourite sport can be just what the person needs to get motivated to make some changes in their life.

Tracking devices — If your loved one already trains regularly, tracking aids can be tremendously productive. For the more traditional types, consider a paper journal for tracking food intake and workouts. For avid runners, stopwatches and GPS devices are a great way to track progress. For the CrossFitter on your list, consider a mobile app or an interval timer.  

Home Gym — Many fitness buffs find it more convenient to train at home. For this crowd, consider helping them equip their home gym with kettlebells, resistance bands, medicine balls, mats, or even a pull-up bar for the doorway. As home fitness buffs can usually benefit from some professional instruction, whether they are into martial arts, yoga or a specific sport, there are tons of great DVDs your loved ones can use to train at home.

Mobility and flexibility — There are so many yoga props that make fantastic gifts for the yogi in your life. You can stick with the basics, such as yoga mats or apparel, but you can get a bit more creative and look for props like straps, blocks, bolsters, eye pillows or meditation pillows. Even if your friend doesn’t practise yoga, they can likely use a bit of help in the flexibility department. Tools such as foam rollers, trigger point massage implements and Theracanes make fantastic gifts.

Workout apparel — Everyone wants to look good at the gym. Since style and sizing are so personal, consider items such as socks, toques, gloves, or headbands for the ladies. These items tend to be easier to size, and outdoor runners need to stay warm during the cold winter months.

Nutrition — There is a massive industry surrounding sports nutrition and supplementation. Some of the claims by the industry can be questionable, but there are some practical items that can be very useful for the fitness buff in your life. Durable BPA-free water bottles and shaker bottles make great gifts, as do gift certificates for supplements such as electrolytes, vitamins and protein powders.

Pampering — Most people who train hard regularly benefit from regular maintenance for their body. This might mean a trigger point session, reflexology, acupuncture, active release or an old-fashioned massage. This is on the top of my wish list for the holidays!

Tania Tetrault Vrga is owner and head trainer at CrossFit Winnipeg. Send questions to her at www.crossfitwinnipeg.com