Picking right and meaningful gifts for friends, colleagues, and family during the festive season is a task that requires much thought, effort and time. Most would go to great lengths to pick an ideal gift for our loved ones. And there is nothing more meaningful than gifting something that would inspire them to take a path towards a fit and healthy life. Here comes the concept of health and wellness gifts.
At The Floor, a school of dance and fitness in Kochi, Kerala, it has become a tradition among its members to present a session to their friends or family members as a Christmas gift. Arunima Gupta, its founder, wholeheartedly endorses this practice, considering it a thoughtful way of offering loved ones the gift of a new and enriching experience. However, do ensure that the gift is something tailored to their interests or serves their needs.
“This kind of gesture is extremely unique because, rather than giving someone a present that might be helpful for a brief period of time, you are giving them an experience that could inspire them to lead a healthy lifestyle and beyond,” says Gupta, a licensed Zumba instructor. “This is a great way to spread the joy of fitness.”
Here is a checklist to help you select the best health and wellness gifts this holiday season.
1. Gym membership
Gym membership is an ideal gift for someone who is eager to begin a fitness regimen. Sometimes, despite having a strong desire to join a gym, people put it off for various reasons including not having enough time searching for the right gym. Budgetary constraints are also a factor. While buying a membership as a gift, ensure you pick a gym that has state-of-the-art facilities, qualified trainers and is also close to the place where the receiver of the present resides.
2. Smartwatch or fitness watch
Ideal for a tech-savvy person, fitness enthusiast, or someone adopting a connected lifestyle, a smartwatch is a thoughtful present. Suitable for all age groups, it can track heart rate, sleep patterns, and fitness metrics, making it a holistic companion in their fitness journey. By providing real-time health insights and fitness tracking, smart watches encourage an active approach to life.
3. Skipping rope
Skipping rope is one of the oldest fitness accessories. Its simplicity might make you wonder whether gifting it would be construed as cheap. However, when you consider the many health benefits skipping provides, it will make sense. It will also help you connect with your inner child, while enhancing aerobic capacity, muscular endurance, and coordination.
4. Yoga mat
The act of gifting a yoga mat can signify your commitment to the person’s health journey. A yoga mat is ideal for meditation as well as physical exercises, promoting both physical and mental well-being. The gift would also act as a daily reminder for them to take care of both their body and minds.
5. Foam roller
Muscle knots and soreness are uninvited companions in everyone’s life. Using deep tissue releases to ease trigger points or stiff areas, the foam roller is a recovery tool that helps alleviate muscle stiffness. Although foam rollers are common at gyms today, most people are still unaware of what they are or how to use them. Be the first person to introduce someone to the foam roller this holiday season, opening them to a pain-free fitness journey ahead.
6. Wellness journal
Gratitude journals, fitness trackers, mindfulness diaries – wellness journals are of numerous types. Even though there are variations in it, the ultimate goal of wellness journals is to give people an organized and introspective way to monitor and work on various aspects of their mental, physical, and emotional well-being while encouraging self-awareness and goal setting.
7. Hula hoop
A lot of us have probably attempted hooping at some point in our lives. Hula hooping, the art of continuously revolving a circular hoop around one’s body, is classified as a flow art. Getting a hula hoop is a wonderful way to provide an alternative to someone who wants to start a fitness activity but is averse to the gym or other regular fitness activities. Hooping can promote a mindful exercise similar to meditation by keeping one’s body and mind free from external thoughts. Instead, the complete focus will be just on the movements of the hoop.
