Your Home Workout Essentials Gift Guide
Gifts for Your Pilates Loving Loved Ones
2020 is winding down and you’ve likely settled into some sort of groove regarding your fitness routine. Now’s the perfect time to upgrade your equipment. You probably already know you’ll be more psyched to hit the mat when you have gear that makes you feel good- so there’s your WOFH motivation settled!
Obligatory Reminder That I Teach The Best Online Workouts On The Internet
I mean, duh, I had to. I created HPS because it’s annoyingly hard to find workouts that are both challenging physically and not an asshole to your self esteem. You get a free 10 day trial when you join our community- and you can give gift certificates for any length of membership too! Remind them to download the iOS and Google Play apps so they can take me with them everywhere! If they’re more of a 1:1 type, check out my booking page to get them set up with a personalized session!
Equipment
Manduka is my preferred mat brand (and the one you’ll find at most legit studios because of their quality and durability). I use the Pro Mat version at home, which is IMHO the Mercedes of yoga mats because it’s sticky and thick without compromising your ability to feel the floor- but it is HEAVY and a bear to transport. Not that we’ve done a ton of traveling in 2020… but hopefully gifting this super light mat will help your loved one bring some of their wanderlust dreams to fruition in the new year.
IMO the most important equipment you can buy- you can work every single part of the body with these- and I prefer them for upper body work. In a pinch, you can even tie them in a loop and they act as minibands as well. There are lots of off brand ones- but these are the most durable in my experience, though the yellow, as the lightest is the easiest to snap, which you’ve probably even see me do on camera from time to time.
If you hate the feeling of latex rolling rolling up your legs when you DIY a mini loop from a long band, invest in a set of mini loops to crank the heat for your favorite lower body exercises and side-lying sequences.
SKLS Dual Sided Sliders
Yes, you can DIY sliders with dish towels or your slipperiest socks, but if you want to give the gift of up-leveling your loved one’s home fitness situation, these are the way to go. I also recommend these slightly cheaper ones from Synergee in the Prop Shop but the fact that the SKLS version are slightly padded makes them more versatile (ex: you can knee on these without grimacing which opens up tons of exercise options).
No, pink is not usually my jam, but it is crazy hard to find in stock weights this year, and these are available (at time of writing) and it’s time to upgrade from your soup cans! As a rule, I don’t go heavier than 3lbs for Pilates workouts because it’s almost impossible not to lose form and compensate for the type of work we do in Helen Phelan Studio. (Disclaimer: I’m ALL for lifting heavy and cross training, especially for womxn- but my particular choreography is best done with a lighter touch). These wearable weights are also a great dupe for Bala Bangles (which are beautiful but expensive and always out of stock!). Additional PSA: I love wearable wrist weights for walks and easy hikes- but anything more strenuous than that you have to be mindful about neck strain.
Listen, if you’re aware and mindful enough about the way you resist space, you don’t need ANY equipment to get a high sensation experience. That being said, a little prop action can be an awesome tool to turn up your intensity and help you improve your body awareness so when you do bodyweight workouts, you have a better sense of how to resist appropriately.
I’m in a relationship with the Magic Circle and it’s complicated. There’s a reason the pilates ring is often called the “ring of fire”. If you know, you know. Nothing activates the deep abs, inner thighs and pelvic floor like this puppy. Nothing.
Blocks are super versatile in that they provide support for limited mobility and provide resistance for strength work too. I love these because the cork is eco friendly and the solid material makes it a little easier to find stability for standing work. This foam version is slightly cheaper and the give of the foam gives your balance muscles an extra run for their money.
You haven’t mastered a move until you’ve conquered it using the ball- and once you do that, we sub in something else! That’s the beauty of Pilates- it’s all about the process. A lot of workout equipment is made with icky chemicals- this one is non-toxic and the perfect size.
Because They Want It But Will Never Buy It For Themselves
This foam roller vibrates. Enough said.
There’s simply nothing like a massage gun, especially after dealing with WFH aches and pains. This one’s less than half the price of the Theragun and quiet to to boot.
Like your essential pinky ball, but better.
File this under things you never knew you always needed. Warning: this is a high density foam, meaning it can be more intense than a softer foam roller, making it not the best choice if you’re new to myofascial release. On the pricier side for a water bottle- but the convenience cannot be beat, especially for travel, and when you consider it’s multipurpose usage, it works out.
Don’t forget Helen Phelan Studio has over 100 full body workouts that are intentionally designed to boost both mental and physical health, which is the greatest gift you could get. The best part? It’s totally free for the first 10 days!