The gift of health

Welcome to afitnewyou!  This week I would like to help you with your holiday shopping.  With all of the sales on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you can often be tempted to make an impulsive purchase.  This could be either something for you, or as a gift to someone else.  But ask yourself; is it something that you or they really need?  Is it a gift that will last?  I have a suggestion for a holiday gift that you can either put on your own list, get for someone else, and even is a great idea for those who are hard to shop for.  Give the gift of health!  Who wouldn’t be happy receiving something that will make them both feel better and be healthier?  With the gift of health, you don’t have to worry about whether you picked out the right color or size.  On the other hand, you will help someone reach the size that they want to get to.

One idea on how you can give the gift of health is by getting someone a gym membership or a personal training session.  Some fitness facilities try to take advantage of the Black Friday sales gimmick and offer discounted memberships or personal training sessions this time of year.  But even if they don’t have a sale, you can still find a number of healthy gifts to get at a gym.  For example, most gyms will offer an introductory membership that range from one to a few months.  Even if you give someone an initial month in a gym, you might be providing them with the motivation needed to start exercising.  They will even have extra motivation to go at least once knowing that you had given it to them as a gift.  And, if they are already a member somewhere, you can either purchase additional time onto their membership, or purchase them a personal training session.

Personal training sessions are a great gift for anyone to receive.  Whether it is someone who isn’t currently working out, or someone who exercises regularly, a training session or package would be a great gift of health.  Someone who hasn’t started working out yet might be using the excuse they don’t know what to do.  Having a personal training session scheduled will give that person the extra motivation they need.  And, for people who are already exercising, a personal training session can help them either “mix it up”, learn something new, or simply add to what they are already doing.

Even though a gift to the gym will help someone be healthier by giving them some motivation, the gift of health doesn’t have to involve the gym.  You can find another area of health and fitness to gift from.  For example, spas and massage therapists usually sell gift certificates for body work services.  When someone gets to feel good, they can be encouraged to keep feeling good, and want to keep themselves feeling that way.  You may also find acupuncturists, nutritional counselors, and others who would sell similar gift certificates.

And if you are still stuck on wanting to give a gift that fits better in a box that can be wrapped, you can always give someone a product that will help them on their fitness quest.  New clothing such as sneakers or gym wear, small equipment such as a jump rope or training gloves, and even fitness related DVD’s are all examples of a healthy gift.

If you’re going to give someone a gift this year, why not make it one that can have a profound impact on their lives?  Give that special someone a gift that can really make them feel better.  Even if it’s for you, let others know that you would prefer something that can help you reach your fitness goals.  Avoiding the gifts that have become cliché and giving a healthier alternative gift is a joyous way for you or that special someone to reach a fit new you.