Holiday Gift Suggestion

It's time again to think about fitness gifts. In addition to the suggestions I offered last year, I would add the TRX training system. This simple device is a whole gym in a tiny bag. Buy the door attachment and it is perfect for indoor workouts and for travel. Using vector body weight, it allows clients to adjust the difficulty exactly where they need it. I use this for people who need a gentle start, and for athletes who need a new stimulus. It's the most versatile piece of equipment you can buy.

I also love the Jack folding bike from Dahon. Even in winter, you'll enjoy having a bike that can stay in the trunk of your car for those odd spare moments (waiting for a companion who's still shopping?) when you'd love to go for a short bike ride. I got my Jack from bikesarecool.com. It comes disassembled. I suggest taking it to a bike store for assembly and adjustment, or you can assemble it at home and just take it to the store for a tune-up. Really a lot of fun - and not a clownish folding bike, a real, solid bike!

GPS watches are another great gift. Garmin's Forerunner (models 201, 305) is a great way to keep track of workouts, time your interval work, test new routes, and find your way back to the start. Still a bit bulky, it does fit on like a wristwatch. This gadget has a bit of a learning curve, and the buttons only take the display options in one direction, so it takes a bit of experimentation to get in the garmin groove, but it is a great help for the advanced athlete - or the easily lost.

Another convenient exercise toy that may be just the motivation someone needs - the JumpSnap jumprope without the tangles! Enter the code "20instr" on the checkout page, along with "Jean Binkovitz" in the following field, and get a free e-training session from Bink's Gym!

Now to the oldies-but-goodies:

Don't know what to get the fitness buff? Some suggestions: a stability (or Swiss) ball - 65 cm for the average man, 55 cm for women - allows comfortable seating with knees at about 90 degrees; Nordic walking poles (see the previous post); for nano owners, the nano-Nike system; energy bars; hats and gloves; music or a subscription to a music service - I suggest emusic because they do not restrict the number of devices where you house the music, so you can have it on your ipod and not worry that you may later want it somewhere else and be restricted - once it's downloaded, you can also always download it again at no additional charge! Magazines make great gifts - try Walk Magazine.

Ironically, I do NOT suggest a gift certificate for training sessions unless you KNOW the recipient wants that - 'tis the season to preserve harmony at home! For those who know the recipient will love a training gift certificate, visit Bink's Gym - it's the perfect last-minute gift!