265 views Nov 26, 2018, 02:12pm Holiday Gift Guide 2018: Best Recovery Gifts for Athletes Margaux Lushing Contributor I cover wellness, from fitness to travel and everything in between. Young woman running GETTY Shopping for triathletes, runners, power lifters and other super active friends and relatives can be a challenge. So we re thinking that due to their pedal to the metal lifestyle of improving race times and constantly pushing to get stronger, they might really appreciate a gift that encourages a little self-care in between workouts. Because, after all, it takes smart recovery to get stronger and faster. https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/11/26/holiday-gift-guide-2018-best-recovery-gifts-for-athletes/#5991bbe17933 1/22
Kush Queen Relief Bath Bomb SOURCE: KUSH QUEEN Kush Queen Relieve CBD Bath Bomb Show me an athlete and I ll show you a bath-lover. Hot baths are high on the list of recovery activities prescribed by trainers to soothe tired muscles and relax the body. Your athlete may be perfectly content with a bag of epsom salt from the local drugstore, but for a special holiday treat help up their bath game with a CBD- and essential oil-infused Relieve bath bomb from Kush Queen. https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/11/26/holiday-gift-guide-2018-best-recovery-gifts-for-athletes/#5991bbe17933 2/22
One-on-one stretch services at Stretch*d SOURCE: STRETCH*D Stretch Studio Visit Most of us know the importance of stretching after a workout to prevent muscles from tightening and shortening, but somehow nearly none of us stretch deeply or long enough. Which is why a gift card to a stretch studio like Stretch*d in New York or Stretch Lab in LA (or Massage Envy anywhere in between - where they now offer a stretch service) is a perfect treat. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/11/26/holiday-gift-guide-2018-best-recovery-gifts-for-athletes/#5991bbe17933 3/22
Infrared saunas SOURCE: SUNLIGHTEN Infrared Sauna Sweat studios are trending in big fitness markets like Los Angeles and New York. While those looking to go big and really impress can gift an entire home sauna system from Sunlighten, a more practical approach may be gifting a gift card to a local sweat studio that uses these industry leading saunas, like Hot Box in LA or Shape House in New York. https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/11/26/holiday-gift-guide-2018-best-recovery-gifts-for-athletes/#5991bbe17933 4/22
The Now gift kits SOURCE: THE NOW MASSAGE The Now CBD Balm For any athletic Angeleno, a massage at the city s chicest massage chainlet The Now would be a treasured gift. For those not in the SoCal area, a jar of The NOW s new CBD balm can transport tight necks and shoulders to a coastal California massage when melted onto muscles. Bonus points for gifters who combine the balm with The NOW s very LA crystals, jade rollers and other soothing goodies. https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/11/26/holiday-gift-guide-2018-best-recovery-gifts-for-athletes/#5991bbe17933 5/22
SodaStream One Touch SOURCE: SODA STREAM Soda Stream When training for a race or competition, alcohol abstinence is a standard part of protocol. But living sans booze doesn t need to mean being beholden to the La Croix flavors currently stocked at the local grocer. SodaStream s new Fizzi One Touch makes three levels of carbonation, meaning endless varieties of hangoverfree and low-waste fun until race day. Comrad Compression Socks There is so much data showing the efficacy of compression socks on increasing circulation, and subsequently relieving muscle swelling, ache and fatigue. Comrad Compression Socks has taken these effective but historically not so stylish accessories and turned them into fun, patterned giftable styles. https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/11/26/holiday-gift-guide-2018-best-recovery-gifts-for-athletes/#5991bbe17933 6/22
Your Super Protein Powder SOURCE: A GOALEN FOR YOUR SUPER Your Super Protein powder might not be the most exciting holiday gift at first glance, but when it s completely vegan, free of any fillers or heavy metals and contains a dose of good-for-you greens it might very well be your athlete s favorite gift. Your Super s pea and hemp-based Skinny Protein is beautifully branded, non-gmo, organic and full of greens like spirulina and moringa. https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/11/26/holiday-gift-guide-2018-best-recovery-gifts-for-athletes/#5991bbe17933 7/22
Recoup Cryosphere Cold Roller SOURCE: RECOUP FITNESS Recoup Cryosphere Cold Roller Ready to impress the compression socks off of your favorite athlete this season? Recoup s cold roller ball is used by NFL teams including the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Jets to minimize recovery time via supercharged myofascial release. It s a combination of novelty and utility and will become a go-to in your athlete s kit of post-workout necessities. https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/11/26/holiday-gift-guide-2018-best-recovery-gifts-for-athletes/#5991bbe17933 8/22
Jon Reyman styling models backstage PHOTO CREDIT: CAROLINE CUSE https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/11/26/holiday-gift-guide-2018-best-recovery-gifts-for-athletes/#5991bbe17933 9/22
Spoke + Weal If you re shopping for a triathlete or swimmer, chances are they are sweating on their hair for hours, stuffing it into a swim cap and dunking it in chlorine-filled water, all at least a few times each week. Treat them to a day of self-care with a gift card to an appointment at the fast-expanding and education-focused salon brand Spoke & Weal who can help them optimize their hair care while giving those locks a little TLC. Spoke & Weal has locations across California, New York, Tennessee, Massachusetts and Illinois. https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/11/26/holiday-gift-guide-2018-best-recovery-gifts-for-athletes/#5991bbe17933 10/22
11/26/2018 Holiday Gift Guide 2018: Best Recovery Gifts for Athletes Kusmi Wellness Blends SOURCE: KUSMI TEA Kusmi tea The new wellness tea gift set from Kusmi contains a selection of tea blends to harmonize mind and body, as well as an infuser to for ease of use. Perfect for unwinding after an intense HIIT session. Kit teas include a caffeinated and https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/11/26/holiday-gift-guide-2018-best-recovery-gifts-for-athletes/#5991bbe17933 11/22
lemongrass-scented Detox, a black tea-based Sweet Love with cardamom, a green tea-based Be Cool and BB Detox with a blend of green tea and rooibos. Sleepletics oxygen-boosting sheets SOURCE: SLEEPLETICS Sleepletics performance sheets https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/11/26/holiday-gift-guide-2018-best-recovery-gifts-for-athletes/#5991bbe17933 12/22
Eight hours is ideal, but if your athlete is an overachiever who wants quantity and quality, Sleepletics new thermo-reactive sheets might be the ticket. Made using Celliant technology, or minerals embedded in yarns used in the sheets, body heat is absorbed and then turned into infrared light and reflected back into the muscles - boosting oxygen consumption. Woah. https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/11/26/holiday-gift-guide-2018-best-recovery-gifts-for-athletes/#5991bbe17933 13/22
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Bellacures Dr. Detox pedicure SOURCE: BELLACURES Bellacures Detox pedicure When in doubt, gift a pedicure. Some salons, including the California-based Bellacures, are offering medi-spa-like combination treatments such as a new Dr. Detox pedicure that is the ultimate in recovery indulgence. And a pre-red carpet favorite of local celebs. The service includes a customized IV vitamin drip provided by IV Doc and administered by a registered nurse practitioner, as well as a sea salt and charcoal soak, activated charcoal scrub, a charcoal mask and an acupressure massage. Yoga Anytime SOURCE: YOGA ANYTIME Yoga Anytime https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/11/26/holiday-gift-guide-2018-best-recovery-gifts-for-athletes/#5991bbe17933 15/22
There are few things more decadent than taking an hour to stretch and move restoratively. Often impossible on days when already fitting in a workout, active rest days are the perfect time to work in some soothing movement. Yoga Anytime has over 2,000 yoga videos, many focused on restorative themes such as 'Too Tight To Stretch' and 'Flow Sweet Flow'. Baze personalized supplements and vitamins SOURCE: BAZE Baze The best gift of the season might be helping clean up that overcrowded (and under-performing) supplement cabinet. With all of the strides in personal medicine, it s no longer necessary to guess which supplements to take, or buy every single one that s trending. Based on a DIY blood test, Baze develops a personalized supplement regimen for users based on blood work. https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/11/26/holiday-gift-guide-2018-best-recovery-gifts-for-athletes/#5991bbe17933 16/22
23andMe's kit SOURCE: 23ANDME 23andme Chances are that your athlete has at least one handy fitness tracker to measure heart rate and other data to keep improving their strength or pace. Gifting a 23andme kit could expand their data set to include what their muscle composition looks like and whether they re predisposed to performing better at endurance sports or power sports. https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/11/26/holiday-gift-guide-2018-best-recovery-gifts-for-athletes/#5991bbe17933 17/22
Ryka's exible walking shoes SOURCE: RYKA Ryka walking shoes Most experts will share that recovery days shouldn t necessarily be completely devoid of activity. So a lightweight walking shoe with ample support and modern colorways might be a nice addition to a sneaker closet full of runners and gym shoes. For the active women in your life, Ryka s Primo Knit is perfect for farmers market strolls and walks to dinner. https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/11/26/holiday-gift-guide-2018-best-recovery-gifts-for-athletes/#5991bbe17933 18/22
After "The Class" Soak SOURCE: PURSOMA Pursoma After the class bath soak https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/11/26/holiday-gift-guide-2018-best-recovery-gifts-for-athletes/#5991bbe17933 19/22
Yes, drugstore epsom salt baths will do the trick. But Pursoma s beautifully packaged After The Class soak is a beautified version named after cult-favorite fitness method Taryn Toomey s The Class. This treat will soothe tired muscles with contamination-free seabed magnesium and a hand-picked Quartz crystal locally sourced from Idaho Badass Body Goals Book and Tools SOURCE: HABIT NEST Badass Body Goals For aspiring or beginner athletes, Jennifer Cohen s Badass Body Goals journal is a 10-week, step-by-step personal training program to getting strong and burning fat. Each book comes with a booty band and access to videos of the workouts, for maximum ease of use when building that booty. https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/11/26/holiday-gift-guide-2018-best-recovery-gifts-for-athletes/#5991bbe17933 20/22
Jessica Biel for Gaiam SOURCE: GAIAM Jessica Biel x Gaiam Gear For the fit gal in your life who's #fitspo is strong and sculpted Jessica Biel, gift her a piece or two from the actress' new capsule collection with Gaiam. Gear includes traditional two-piece sets, as well as one-piece onesies for a streamlined sweat, and a few warm-up sets for going from studio to brunch. I am a journalist who loves to write about the wellness world, with a special focus on fitness and healthy travel. I'm the founder of healthy city guides company Well + Away, and advise hotels on wellness programming. I have a bachelor's degree in art history from UCLA and a... MORE Margaux is the founder of Well + Away, and editor of the brand's healthy hip city guide series VitalGuides. Cities covered so far include San Francisco and London. https://www.forbes.com/sites/margauxlushing/2018/11/26/holiday-gift-guide-2018-best-recovery-gifts-for-athletes/#5991bbe17933 21/22
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