With Christmas just around the corner I have compiled a list of affordable, portable, effective and versatile pieces of fitness equipment that I highly recommend for home use, at the office or on vacation. These are my personal favourite training tools which I use myself and with all of my clients.

1. Kettlebell: These affordable and portable weights will not only increase your strength and endurance but also help improve agility, balance, flexibility and mental toughness. Kettlebells are a durable cannonball shaped weight with a handle, that when put into motion allow for explosive full body movements, building strong, firm, toned bodies.

2. Medicine Ball: Whether carrying, lifting, tossing or catching, medicine balls are a creative and fun way to train alone or with a friend. Most often used during core and abdominal exercises, medicine balls are a safe and effective tool to add to anyone's workout routine.

3. Resistance Tubes: Less intimidating than free-weights and heavy duty machinery, resistance tubing is cheap in cost and can be taken with you anywhere. They fit perfectly in your gym bag, back-pack or suitcase and weigh absolutely nothing. Fit tubes come in plenty of different resistance levels and are differentiated by color.

4. Heart Rate Monitor: The easiest way to ensure that you are getting the most out of your workouts by effectively training in the correct target heart rate zone.

5. Punching Bag & Gloves: Cardiovascular exercise doesn't have to be boring and repetitive. Boxing is a fun way to relieve stress while working up a great sweat and burning off those excess calories.

6. TRX Suspension Trainer: Portable, versatile and durable, this innovative piece of fitness equipment allows you to use your own bodyweight to perform hundreds of exercises for every body part.

7. Aerobic Step: This traditional stepping platform comes with adjustable risers for increasing levels of difficulty. Stepping is a fun and effective way to burn calories and shed fat. Just add weights and shorten the amount of reps to turn this into a killer strength training workout for your legs.

8. Stability Ball: Just sitting on one of these large inflatable balls will activate core muscles for body stabilization. Great for balance and core strengthening, stability/exercise balls can replace your typical weight lifting bench to make all exercises more challenging.

9. Exercise/Yoga Mat: An absolute necessity for all exercisers. Whether you are taking yoga or Pilate's class, using the mat for abdominal exercises at home, looking for a better grip to stand on or help to protect your floor, the yoga mat is for you.

10. BOSU Balance Trainer: You get all the benefits of a stability ball while adding the additional challenges and fun of a balance board. This dual sided half ball, half board is a must have for any fitness enthusiast, regardless of experience or skill. BOSU training will enhance your performance whether it's for sport, recreation or daily tasks.

This holiday season give the gift that keeps on giving. A healthier and happier life is something everyone could use.



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