Health is the foundation of both happiness and success. It is rare and extremely difficult for an unhealthy person to either be happy or be successful.
During Christmas and Christmas gift giving, it is true, we hardly think of health. We, however, do think a lot of love and merry making, which are very necessary for good health. But immediately after Christmas, we think a lot about health and fitness. It is so because New Year follows Christmas closely and when we think of New Year Resolutions health and fitness is our top priority. To go for walking, jogging, swimming, to start playing a game, to join a gym, to be more active and near the nature, to eat balanced food, etc. are some of the New Year Resolutions which people make for good health and superb fitness.
Before we discuss what Christmas gifts we could give for health and fitness, let us see the Fundamentals of Health and Fitness. These are:
Decide to Be Healthy!
Condition Your Mind to Health
Eat Healthy
Exercise Regularly
Be Active
Live naturally and near Nature
Fast at least once a week
Be Happy
Adopt a Regular Life Style
Keep away from Bad Habits
So, as with happiness, so with health and fitness also mind plays great role in keeping us healthy and fit.
Christmas gifts relating to health and fitness would be appreciated very much. Some gifts which we could give are as under:
Yoga Books and Accessories: I have put yoga books and accessories at the top because yoga is a health system par excellence. Of course, yoga is not just a health system. It is a complete way of life. But it harmonizes body, mind, and soul and for perfect health and fitness this is very necessary. Yoga can be done indoors or outdoors, singly or in a group, nearly any time of the day, and by persons of any age. So, give the gift of yoga this Christmas.
Games and Sports: I have put games and sports in the second place after yoga as games and sports keep us active and interested. If we play some game, we are to a great extent addicted to it. We will make sure that we go to play. In some other activities this sort of commitment is difficult to maintain. Furthermore, most of the games and sports involve partners and teams and, therefore, it becomes sort of an obligation to be present. In a sense, every activity could be termed as games and sports, and many of the following activities could come under this heading, here by games and sports I mean activities like football, hockey, golf, tennis, badminton, etc.
Outdoor Activities: Most of the games and sports are outdoor activities. On the other hand, nearly all the outdoor activities are sports and games. Football is an outdoor activity as well, and skiing is a sport also. However, by outdoor activity I mean such things as camping, hunting, mountain climbing, fishing, and trekking, etc. Being outdoor means being near the nature. Being near the nature means health and fitness, and also peace of mind. Though nature is free (sun, moon, river, forest, mountain, cool breeze, sky, etc. are free) and one could enjoy them freely, most of the outdoor activities require special equipment which may be little costly. Giving a gift of such equipment to an outdoor enthusiast would be appreciated very much.
Gym/Swimming Club etc. Subscriptions: Gym and Swimming Club etc. subscriptions are excellent gifts. They are long lasting also (they would last, at least, the period of subscription). Personally, I have observed, that it is sometime difficult to keep up with such activities. People lose interest. So, such gifts are to be given to the right person if you don't want it to go waste.
Home Exercise Equipments: These are gaining popularity now-a-days as people are hard pressed for time. They want to include exercise also in their routine of shaving, taking a shower, and eating breakfast. A jogging machine in the bathroom is very convenient. Here also, unfortunately, people lose interest. However, it is still good as the equipment is at home and sooner or later some family member would benefit.
Health and Personal Care Products: These include diet and nutrition, health and personal care, medicines and household medical equipments, etc. These help in keeping good health and personal care. These are also good health gifts.
Accessories and Clothes: Every sports and game and activity require accessories and clothes. A good jogging suit, sneaker, or swim suit is not only necessary; they also inspire to undertake the activity. Giving such gifts is a signal to the recipient to start the activity. They also motivate.
Books, Audios/Videos, and MP3 Downloads: As with happiness gifts, so with health and fitness gifts also, books, audios/videos, and MP3 downloads are very important to inspire and motivate. They also teach. For example, yoga and exercise videos are very popular and many people do their exercise session following them.
Memorabilia and Allied Products: In games and sports memorabilia and allied products are very important. The possessor of an autographed baseball bat or World Series mascot or cards would be very proud and happy. Such memorabilia is available as gift items and would be appreciated very much.
Sports and Games Items to the Needy: It is true that many would be great sports persons could not realize their potential as they had no money to buy even the bare minimum equipments. In the developing countries the conditions is very pathetic. Only rich and well-to-do persons could afford the expenditure. So is the case with health. What to talk of sports equipments many don't have even enough to buy medicines or food. Hunger is the greatest enemy of good health. Please also think of in this direction also while giving Christmas gifts of health and fitness.?