You could stuff your loved one’s stocking with chocolate and DVDs, but why not include gifts that will fuel — or perhaps inspire — a love of fitness? Here are 10 ideas:
1. Toe Socks
Although these might feel strange the first time, toe or yoga socks are great items to protect and keep feet warm while practicing poses. These socks allow toes to move freely, which is essential in balance activities. They also have grips on the bottom to help yogis stay put on their mats or the bare floor. In fact, these are a great alternative to lugging around a yoga mat for practicing on the go, since they basically have mini-mats right on their soles.
[See: 11 Healthy Holiday Gifts.]
2. Sport Shampoo
For people with active lifestyles, sport shampoos can be the perfect way to refresh and relax after hard workouts. Many of these shampoos contain natural ingredients that help hydrate hair, which is often needed after exercising — especially if your loved one wears hats or headbands, or sweats a lot. For swimmers, anti-chlorine shampoos can help restore hair to its natural luster.
3. Microfiber Towel
These are wonderful not only for wicking away sweat, but also for withstanding mildew and bacteria growth. Some towels also have a cooling feature: Users just have to wet the towel and snap it to activate it, which makes hot sessions in the gym or brutal summer temperatures a bit more bearable. These towels are also great to use on top of a yoga mat or weight bench to prevent sliding.
4. Clip-On Light
In the winter, fewer daylight hours can make exercising outdoors dangerous. But clip-on lights are a great way to increase your loved one’s visibility, as well make him or her more visible to others on the road. Many products also contain a strobe feature, which is intended to grab the attention of motorists.
5. Massage Balls
Exercise can cause tissue damage, tightness and soreness. Massage balls, however, can help by targeting trouble spots on various parts of the body. Look for ones made of materials that are pliable and have moderate ridges; massage tools constructed with rigid material and pronounced knobs often do more harm than good to tender muscles.
[See: 10 Reasons You Should Try Self-Massage.]
6. Gloves
A good pair of leather, fingerless gloves is great for cycling, weightlifting and sparring. Gloves help protect hands from cuts, bruises and callus formation during activities. They also increase friction, which prevents hands from slipping when they start to sweat.
7. Nutrition Bars
These are a great snack for the person on the go. Bars are available in a wide variety of flavors; there are even seasonal ones, which can be fun try during the holidays. For the healthiest options, look for varieties that are not processed and are low in sugar and preservatives.
8. Stretch Strap
Flexibility exercises are much easier when using a stretch strap, which are made of a rigid material and have loops through which users can hook their feet or hands.
9. Sunglasses
Athletes know it’s important to own a pair of sunglasses they can wear while exercising. Glasses can help prevent UVA and UVB damage, and can protect eyes from debris and foreign objects. Look for a frame that suits your loved one’s activity, offers UV protection, stays put with movement and can withstand weather conditions. Other features to consider are lens protection against scratching, lightweight frames and venting to reduce fogging and condensation.
[See: 7 Ways to Prevent Skin Cancer.]
10. Deodorizing Sachets
These products are great to help get rid of post-workout funk. The gift recipient can throw a few in his or her gym bag or shoes in order to smell fresh — and appeal to the people he or she lives with. Deodorizing sachets often come in small sizes so that they can get to hard-to-reach places and help remove odors from items that cannot be washed or are heavily used. In other words, they’re just the right size for a (fresh-smelling) stocking.
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10 Perfect Stocking Stuffers for the Fitness Buff on Your List originally appeared on usnews.com
