If the past year has taught us one thing, it is to take our physical fitness seriously. As we gradually see some light and welcome back the days of ‘normalcy’, it is more important than ever to ensure that you and your loved ones are looking after your holistic mind-body health.
With more and more people incorporating mindful movement into their fitness routine, the holiday season could be the perfect time to give the gift of wellness. Merrithew® is back again with another shopping guide. We’ve asked some Merrithew Instructor Trainers to share some of their favorite Merrithew equipment and accessories to help you ease into your holiday shopping.
Why do you think giving the gift of wellness is a great idea for the holiday season?
With the overwhelming amount of choices available, it is easy to get confused while making a decision. If you want to gift something that is practical, useful, and will bring a sense of well-being- I think a subscription to Merrithew Connect™ is a perfect choice. It is a universal gift as people can use it from anywhere and at any time. Whether you’re gifting this to someone who has just started their fitness journey or someone who is a pro-Pilates professional- this platform caters to everyone’s diverse fitness needs.
Which Merrithew equipment and accessories would be your top pick for the holiday gifting season?
I absolutely LOVE the Halo® Trainer Plus. It is a unique and versatile piece of small equipment. You’ll be pleasantly surprised once you know the various ways in which you can use it, a unique item that a lot of people don't know about so it will have the element of surprise and will definitely enhance anyone's workout routine!
The Mini Stability Ball™ is also the perfect gift for someone who doesn't have a lot of space but wants to spice up their fitness regime at home. If you’re thinking of traveling during your holidays, you can easily carry it along!
A simple but crowd favorite are the weights, whether Toning Balls™ or Handweights, they will increase any workout's level.
What is the best holiday gift that you’ve received?
The best holiday gift I could ever receive is to be able to travel and visit my family in Brazil. This year, after 4 long years we are finally able to do that. I love to stay fit even when I’m traveling or away from home so I always bring my Merrithew mat and maybe deflate my Mini Stability Ball for the trip to squeeze in a workout whenever I get the chance.
Why do you think giving the gift of wellness is a great idea for the holiday season?
Personally, I believe gifting the gift of wellness is not just a great idea for the holiday season but for any time of the year! In particular, the holiday season has most of us out of routine and indulging at holiday parties more than we normally would which can have us not feeling quite like ourselves. There’s nothing like fitness to help rebalance the body, reduce inflammation, and improve much needed sleep during this often hectic season.
One tip would be to indulge in at-home workouts during the holiday season when a lot of us don’t have the time to go to a Pilates studio or gym. If you want to squeeze in a quick workout, just get your Merrithew Pilates & Yoga mat and get moving with any one of the workouts available on Merrithew Connect.
Which Merrithew equipment and accessories would be your top pick for the holiday gifting season?
I love gifting small props. They can fit in anyone’s suitcase and can be taken anywhere, a point to consider especially during holidays when most of us like to plan our vacations. A lot of my clients don’t want to stop their fitness routine just because they are away, so small props like the Sliding Mobility Disks™, the Flex-Band®, or the Mini Stability Ball are easy to bring along and keep you moving anywhere!
Another unique and useful gift idea would be a six-month or year-long subscription to Merrithew Connect which makes it easy for anyone to work out regardless of their location.
What is the best holiday gift that you’ve received?
Spa getaway with a girlfriend for sure. Nothing can beat the gift of downtime to rest the body and feed the soul.
Why do you think giving the gift of wellness is a great idea for the holiday season?
I always use the holiday shopping season to refresh my personal collection of small props and accessories. It’s also a great time to introduce your family and friends to a new prop or a subscription service (like Merrithew Connect) that can renew their passion for movement all year long!
Which Merrithew equipment and accessories would be your top pick for the holiday gifting season?
My favorite piece(s) of Merrithew equipment are the Stability Chair™ and the Ladder Barrel. Both are versatile and convenient to move around the studio (due to the wheels!) and have a relatively small footprint.
I love the challenge and variety added by the split pedal on the Stability Chair and the options for supported 3-D movement offered by the exercises on the Ladder Barrel.
Moving on to accessories, I love Twist Ball™ at the moment. It is a great prop to add load and incorporate swing patterns to existing programming and workouts, it’s practical and aligns well with athletic and functional movement based protocols.
What is the best holiday gift that you’ve received?
My most memorable fitness gift was a trip to a wellness retreat that featured surfing and bodywork - heaven! I’m a big fan of how experiences and relationships can impact our lifestyles in a meaningful way. It can be anything new that switches on a different system or perspective. That trip gave me greater insight into a sport that influenced how I approach movement and learning in all facets of my physical journey.
Why do you think giving the gift of wellness is a great idea for the holiday season?
It is easy for us to get caught up in a retail frenzy this time of year, but the reality is that many of us are trying to downsize, declutter and simplify our lives. We're also recognizing the fact that more stuff does not mean more happiness. On the other hand, giving the gift of wellness, which might be a subscription to Merrithew Connect, shows that we care about the wellbeing of the recipient, and want them to live a long healthy life.
Which Merrithew equipment and accessories would be your top pick for the holiday gifting season?
There are so many amazing items available, it's hard to choose just one. For smaller gifts or stocking stuffers, the Toning Ball™ hits the mark. They offer so many programming options and come in a variety of weights. While choosing something larger, the Stability Chair would be my pick. It's a little smaller than a Reformer or Cadillac, and can be used for a huge variety of workouts which makes it a really functional piece.
What is the best holiday gift that you’ve received?
I am a huge LEGO fan, so one of my favorite gifts was the LEGO Sesame Street set. It had the apartment building and Mr. Hooper's store and came with all my favorite characters and lots of cookies!
A holiday surprise for you!
If you’re intrigued by the idea of giving the gift of wellness this year, you’ll be happy to know that we’re offering $250 off on select Reformers along with 60-day free access to digital workouts on Merrithew Connect. Shop before December 31st and make the most out of Merrithew holiday deals!