Mind Body Fitness Gifts for Holiday and Birthday
Unique Personal Presents for a New Year or a New Life
Nov 16, 2009
Gifts are most appreciated when personal or unique. Although gift cards are always acceptable, consider a gift card for something specific such as classes or private sessions. Purchase a meaningful book or significant DVD for the recipient. Increase the gift value by sharing it with a loved one.
Class Card for Yoga or Pilates
Most schools offer a reduced fee multiple class card. Giving someone a class card and even attending class with them may end up literally being a gift with many returns. For a recipient’s first time, consider a 5-class card to avoid undue pressure to commit.
Books on Yoga, Pilates, and Inner/Outer Fitness
There are many books on these subjects and more are out each year. Some are coffee table quality and others offer an introduction to a new way of thinking and moving.
- Chi Walking by Danny and Katherine Dreyer and Tai Chi Walking by Robert Chuckrow are both books that teach mindful walking. Further benefit of the book can come from sharing it with a hitherto semi-active neighbor or relative and sharing the chi walk as well.
- BKS Inyengar is always quotable and Light on Yoga or BKS Iyengar Yoga are lovely books sharing a world of being and movement.
- There is a deck of cards of postures and poses, Yoga Turns Back the Clock, which is easy to use and helps a beginner start without stress. Similarly, The Pilate’s Body Kit, an interactive program may jump start a beginning practitioner continue the practice.
- Books such as Machel’s Ashtanga Yoga, Practice and Philosophy may be too wordy for the beginner but treasured by someone who has taken class previously.
- On the other hand, Hatha Yoga Illustrated is excellent combining photographs of postures with easy descriptions for the basic practitioner on to the more advanced practitioner.
Clothing for Exercise Fitness
Most people have some sort of workout gear but a new pair of pants for yoga class or Pilates may be all that is needed to inspire a return to class. Yoga socks are a unique gift. The soles have gripping pads to prevent slip and the toes are often separated. If nothing else, they can be used for slippers or at a home pedicure.
DVDs for Mind Body Fitness Gifts
Some DVDs seem to cry out “gift” as if someone might want one but not purchase it for themself. Among these are Doga videos and books and Yoga for the plus sized yogi or DVDs that include or explain use of props.
Most Unique Personal Gifts for Mind and Body Well-being
A gift of a session or series that may change someone’s life is never regretted and forever appreciated.
- Consider a Reiki session for a friend who has tried every available diet without success for healing negative energy with touch.
- Feldenkrais private class for a relative who needs to move more and hurt less.
- Tai Chi classes can be found in community centers, some YMCAs or yoga/pilates studios.
- A class or several with an Alexander Technique teacher may help improve the quality of the sound of a singer's or actor's voice or of a musician’s use of an instrument. This gift can help a young (or older) performer for lifetime improvement. Sharing a dinner together after the class makes the gift part of a unique personal memory.
Additional Sources of Information
Reiki Therapy and Weight Loss; Dieting by healing negative Energy and Touch
What to Wear for Yoga Class for men and Women, Suite101, by Amy Andersen
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