RainyDayGiftGuide 2014 : Sports

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Some of us in the office have studied Aikido for a while under the guidance of Sensei Gleason at Shobu Aikido of Boston. The training is hard, but rewarding. Hard in the sense that the body does not always do what the brain wants, but rewarding when, after a time, it finally does. But, in order to train hard, recover well, and make progress, it is important to take care of the body. What we have learned is that hydration, flexibility, and proper techniques are the keys to endurance, balance, and powerful movements.

So for the 2014 Sports issue of the Holiday Gift Guide, we have assembled a collection of suggestions which we hope will help our readers do just that, regardless of what activities may get their hearts pumping.

• Kor Delta Water Bottle
• Kettlebells
• PowerBall Gyroscopic Wrist and Forearm Exerciser
• FitSkuad Speed Jump Rope
• RPM Fitness Speed Rope 2.0 
• HyperIce Utility Cold Wrap
• Verve ARC
• Stretch-a-Flex
• High Density Foam Roller

Hydration : KOR Delta represents the art of high style, high performance hydration with its striking, yet simple design and ergonomics. The Delta is BPA-free, has a cushioned base, and is easy to fill/clean. The shape is easy to hold, has a covered hygienic spout, and a cap that swivels open with a press of a button and a twist of the wrist. You’ll can’t help but hydrate with and be inspired by Delta everywhere you go.

Core training with Kettlebells: Core strength is important for…everything. With a strong core, movements are easier, more fluid, and more powerful. There are a lot of ways to develop the core, but training with  kettlebells is gaining recognition as one of the most effective and efficient ways. Kettlebell training is ideal for explosive exercises that work major muscles, burn body fat, and build power, but they also add a new dimension to classic moves like chest presses and flys.

Wrist training with PowerBall: Non-impact, portable, and usable anywhere. The faster the PowerBall’s internal gyroscope spins, the more inertial resistance it generates, working the arm harder and harder until the muscles are burning and screaming. And because it’s pure isometric resistance, Powerball engages almost the entire group of fibers in each muscle that it’s exercising, ensuring that muscle fatique is reach much faster than with traditional exercises. Your arms won’t believe your wrists!

Jump Ropes: Properly done, jumping rope can be a GREAT cardio exercise. 10 minutes for rope jumping at a moderate pace is the cardio equivalent of running one mile in 12 minutes, cycling 2 miles in six minutes, or swimming a quarter mile in 12 minutes. The additional advantage of this efficient workout is that it may be done anywhere, at anytime, with a piece of gear that is highly portable. We have found two excellent speed ropes for anyone who want to kick their cardio into high gear.

• FitSkuad Speed : The Fitskuad Jump Rope is specially designed for Professional Boxers and Cross Training and it is Perfect for Mastering Double Unders, Triple Unders and even Quadruple Unders. Up to 300 RPM. Comes with light and very durable aluminum handles and a foam grip for better feel in the hand. The steel cable is coated with a PVC sleeve for protection and better durability.
• RPM Fitness Speed Rope V2.0 : The RPM Speed Rope 2.0 combines sophisticated technology and beautiful design to reach record-breaking speeds and achieve unparalleled accuracy with every jump. V2.0 features 50% lighter handles and ALL metal (no more caps) construction.

HyperIce Utility: Bumps and bruises comes with being active. When they happen, ice will help reduce swelling / inflammation and a compression wrap will help support a weaken joint while it heals. HyperIce has designed a series of wraps which combine the best of both remedies. While HyperIce has wraps designed for specific parts of the body, we like the Utility wrap as it is sized to go almost anywhere. The compact design, fitted with a smaller ice cell, allows for targeted cold placement to fight inflammation while providing compression support. A must for any athlete to repair rolled ankles, tendonitis, bumps, and bruises.

Verve ARC: The ARC was developed, designed and created by a physical therapist and an engineer. The focus is on the science of the human body and physics. The ARC is a simple, elegant, effective solution for neck pain relief and correction of poor postural mechanics. By simply lying down on The ARC for 10 minutes a day, the neck is placed in a neutral position, which relaxes the joints and muscles. The custom designed pressure inserts mimic a physical therapist’s hands to provide release of tight and achy muscles that can cause pain and headaches.

Stretch-A-Flex : It is important to stretch everyday if possible. Stretch-A-Flex is an ingenious flexibility enhancer, specially designed to provide the optimal leverage necessary for super stretches and the fastest way to maximum flexibility. Unlike stretching with the aid of a partner, Stretch-A-Flex allows the user to monitor their own stretch comfort zone, thus are able to gain the optimal intensity for maximal flexibility while at the same time avoiding over stretching and injury.

Foam roller: Foam rolling is a self-myofascial release (SMR) technique that is used by athletes and physical therapists to inhibit overactive muscles. This form of stretching utilizes the concept of autogenic inhibition to improve soft tissue extensibility, thus relaxing the muscle and allowing the activation of the antagonist muscle. Self-myofascial release provides the user the ability to control the healing and recovery process by applying pressure in precise locations, because only you can feel exactly what is happening. Anyone can learn to do it and all that is needed is one of these.

BTW, if you are too tired or sore from working out to go and shop, you can always just give an Amazon Prime membership as a present 🙂