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Giving a gift that promotes a healthy lifestyle is an excellent choice. But men come in a variety of shapes, sizes and physical condition. Here is a range of ideas that cater for every type of man. Whether you're buying for Hercules or Homer Simpson, there is something here for all.

MEN'S HEALTH MAGAZINE

A subscription to Men's Health magazine is perfect for every man, from the elite athlete to the couch potato. It's crammed full of interesting articles, including diet tips, exercise regimes and testimonials. It caters to all men and may offer the trigger for the most inactive male to get off the sofa and do something about his health. A ten month subscription costs $25 and may prove to be a life changing experience.

YOGA/PILATES

A gift of Yoga or Pilates classes may not be the first thing you think of, but the benefits are enormous. As we age, our bodies become lazy and content with a limited range of movement. Yoga will increase muscle and joint flexibility and increase his enjoyment of other activities he participates in. The advantage of relaxation and learning to breathe in tune with his body will be a plus in his everyday life. Pilate's classes will bring to life those muscle groups that have been dormant for many years or increase the performance of an already active person. It will help him build strength and with it self confidence. There are particular classes for the different athlete, so if your friend is a runner or cyclist, look for the specific classes that targets those sports.

EQUIPMENT

Men appreciate good quality active wear, so a good quality shirt that will breathe with the runner or keep the winter walker warm will always be appreciated. The same applies to shorts or pants, a nice loose fitting pair of pants that allows some breathing room will be a great addition to the fitness wardrobe.

HEART RATE MONITOR

Men love gadgets and integrating a heart rate monitor into an exercise regime is a fabulous way of improving your friend's workout. Whether he's aiming to lose weight or train for a marathon, he will learn how his heart performs at certain levels of exertion and to train within a zone that best suits his goals. It will give his training session a competitive edge that he hadn't experienced before and have him better equipped to improve his fitness.

Perhaps the best thing you could do for someone to improve their health would be to turn the TV off, but we couldn't do that could we?

Learn more about this author, Peter Robertson.
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