With Christmas just around the world, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a new to exercise or a seasoned pro, because we’ve put together a list of useful fitness gifts to suit everyone.
Fitness
trackers
While
high tech fitness trackers may have their place, we often forget about the simplest
and most useful of measurements – the step. Your step count is probably the
easiest and most useful unit of movement, and when used in the right way, can
be highly motivational. Research suggests that early humans walked on average,
a minimum of 5 miles per day, and it was this simple movement that was an
important contributor to a faster metabolism, better circulation, greater
mobility and stronger bones and muscles. For an average adult, 5 miles equates
to approximately 10000 steps, which is the pre-set target on many fitness
trackers.
For
simple tracking with a 1-year battery life, check out Garmin Vivofit 3, .
Wireless
earbuds
Listening
to music during your workouts can be highly motivational. Unfortunately,
trailing headphone cables can often limit and even prevent safe execution of
quick, high intensity and functional exercises. In addition, over the ear
headphones can slip, get knocked, and may simply be too uncomfortable for
longer workouts. Enter the wireless earbud – the perfect workout companion!
These in-ear headphones can quickly pair with your phone or smart watch, giving
you a hassle- and wire-free experience.
Check out
Jaybird X2/X3 Wireless Buds– which offer sweat-proof, adjustable ear buds with
super sound quality.
Slackline
Slacklining
is fast becoming a fun and challenging fitness activity. According to
Wikipedia, “Slacklining refers to the act of walking or balancing along a
suspended length of flat webbing that is tensioned between three
anchors”. The fitness benefits of slacklining include improved balance,
posture, concentration and enhanced core stability and muscular endurance.
Check out
the Gibbon Slackline sets – which can be mounted between two anchor points,
or the Gibbon Slackrack frame.
Self-massage
tools
Exercise
duration, frequency, intensity and diversity must be balanced with effective
recovery strategies to ensure we get the most out of each workout. Flexibility
and mobility exercises can go some way to off-set the demands of training, but
often muscles can become chronically tight, leading to impaired movement and
the development of trigger points. A trigged point is a tender area in a muscle
that causes pain when stimulated. Fortunately, through regular self-massage,
trigger points can be deactivated, often with immediate improvements in movement
ability.
Check out
the TriggerPoint Therapy Foundation Collection, which contains four tools
and a self-help guide to get you started.
Kettlebells
Finally,
in our list of gifts is the humble kettlebell. Out of all the free weights, the
kettlebell is probably the most versatile. Strength, endurance, speed, power,
flexibility – you name it, it can be done with a kettlebell! What’s more, a
pair (or two) of kettlebells takes up very little room, and are highly
portable. Additional benefits of kettlebell training include increased wrist
strength and enhanced joint stability – both of which can positively influence
your ability to lift more in other forms of training.
Check out
Rogue kettlebells – which offer good grip, balanced feel and a great look
at an affordable price.
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