10 Hot Fitness Gifts

With all of the stress and overindulgence permeating the holiday season, it's nice to get and (give) a gift that helps put you back on the path to greater health and relaxation.

And it's easier than ever to choose a healthy gift, with a wide array of new gadgets, games, tools and DVDs designed to instruct, inspire and motivate people of every fitness level.

I reviewed recent releases in all of these categories to come up with picks that are sure to please. Here are 10 top health and fitness gifts to give this season:

1. Striiv.

Pedometers are great for tracking your steps. But how about a gadget that actually motivates activity and helps save the world? This new device, designed to move between your key chain, belt or pocket, tracks your steps, miles and calories burned during the day and rewards you for hitting certain milestones with on-screen games and trophies and even better -- charitable donations to organizations that deliver clean water and vaccines or conserve the Tanzanian rainforest. Through a partnership with GlobalGiving and its corporate sponsors, Striiv allows you to walk for a different charity at a time. Simply sync the unit with your computer to record your progress and register the donations.
Cost: $99.99; Striiv.com, Amazon.com and HSN.com.

2. Gym in a Box.

Call this the no-excuses fitness gift: TRAINERbrands Gym in a Box includes everything you need to get your fitness routine going. It includes a stability ball, exercise mat, resistance band and foam roller with dozens of trainer-approved exercises printed on each of them, as well as a DVD to illustrate perfect form. Just add sneakers and a bottle of water.
Cost: $89.99; available at sporting goods stores and Trainerbrands.com.

3. Restore Massage Therapy Kit.

Hunching over a computer during the day or lugging grocery bags home at night leaves most of us with trapped tension in our backs and necks. This set of two small massage balls, a larger stretching ball and 30-minute yoga massage DVD with Rodney Yee will help the Type As on your list unwind and unkink after a long day.
Cost: $19.98 at Gaiam.com and other sporting goods retailers.

4. New Balance NBX Windblocker jacket.

Getting new workout gear each year helps inspire the efforts of fitness aficionados and newbies alike, especially during winter months. For the runners on your list, how about a new high-tech running jacket to keep them warm? This semi-fitted and stylish model by New Balance is breathable and wicks away sweat, yet still manages to seal out the wind. It's made of an anti-microbial scuba-like fabric, yet it's surprisingly soft and fuzzy on the inside.
Cost: $129.99 at New Balance stores and online.

5. Deepak Chopra's Leela video game for Wii and Kinect for Xbox.

Can you find inner peace in a game console? Maybe not, but this game helps adults unwind after a long day (and after their teen finishes playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on the console). Leela, which means "play" in Sanskrit, uses soothing sound, intoxicating imagery and interactive activities to get you to slowly move your body. In addition, a meditation center coaches you through seven different meditations. While this may seem too New Age-y for some, there's no question that it helps you to slow down and breathe.
Cost: $48.99 Xbox, $38.99 Wii

6. Bob Harper Contour Kettlebell.

Kettlebell workouts are an efficient way to pack cardiovascular exercise and strength training into one short session. The only downside is when heavy 10- and 15-pound weights bang against your wrist when you're lifting them. These colorful weights are contoured to help cut down on some of that discomfort. The weights range from 7 to 35 pounds, and each purchase includes a basic kettlebell workout DVD from Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper.
Cost: $29.99 to $84.99 depending on size; Gofit.net.

7. Hatha and Flow Yoga for Beginners with Yoga Strap Kit.

Many yoga DVDs that claim to be suited for beginners really aren't. This one, featuring yoga instructor Tamal Dodge, contains two 30-minute workouts that allow you to build the intensity of your practice. The first, a slow and gentle Hatha workout, uses an included yoga strap for most of the moves to allow those who are less flexible to go deeper into their stretches. Next, a more fast-paced and challenging flow workout gets your heart rate up and takes it to the next level. Dodge's gentle manner puts yoga newcomers at ease.
Cost: $19.99 from collagevideo.com.

8. Do or Die Fitness Tools.

Sore wrists or knees can prevent even the most die-hard exercise fan from enjoying a workout. These foam tools help head off pain during exercise, allowing for better performance. The angled wrist wedges cushion your downward dog and planks, taking the stress off your joints. The knee donuts make modified pushups and other weight bearing exercises easier. (They also work for gardening.) There's also a circular neck cushion for exercises done flat on your back.
Cost: The three tools are sold separately or together in a set; $9.99 to $44.99 at dodfitness.com.

9. Xtend Barre: Lean & Chiseled DVD.

If you haven't tried a barre workout yet, you're missing out. These dance/Pilates hybrid workouts are a great way to torch calories while building flexibility and lean muscle. This DVD, featuring dancer/choreographer Andrea Rogers, delivers a challenging full-body workout that will leave you sore but not injured the next day. Beginners can break the workout into three segments; each focuses on a different area, such as upper body, lower body and core.
Cost: Retails for $16.99 at Acacia.

10. Digifit Connect 2.

Bust out of your exercise rut with a little self-tracking. This second-generation wireless transceiver plugs into your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch and, through a related app, tracks your heart rate, calories burned, speed, distance and time spent in each cardio zone from a number of wireless heart-rate monitors, foot pods and bike sensors. Unlike some other tracking devices, you're not forced to pay a monthly fee for monitoring.
Cost: $50 for the transceiver and $10 for the app in iTunes; Digifit.com.

SecondAct contributor Melinda Fulmer writes regularly about issues of health and wealth for publications such as the Los Angeles Times and web portal MSN.