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Physio-Approved Gifts: Health and Wellness on a Budget

Physio-Approved Gifts: Health and Wellness on a Budget

Looking for a thoughtful, health-focused gift this holiday season that won’t break the bank? We’ve got you covered! In this blog, we’re sharing a list of our favourite health and wellness items that are practical, budget-friendly, and high-quality—plus, they’re guaranteed to get plenty of use. Best of all, these products are physio-approved, so you know they are coming from a reliable source. We’ve included links to our top picks for easy shopping, but if you’re eyeing something else that didn’t make the list, feel free to ask us at your next appointment. We’re always excited to talk about anything that keeps people healthy and moving!


Foam Roller: 

Foam rollers are excellent tools for muscle recovery and relieving tension, perfect for home use and in between physiotherapy or RMT sessions. When selecting a foam roller as a gift, look for one with a smooth surface, unless a specific texture is asked for. Choose a roller made of high-density, quality foam for durability. Also, consider the size—rollers come in various lengths. Think about where and how it’ll be used: will it travel to sports events or mainly stay at home? A compact 12-18 inch roller is ideal for travel, while a 26-36 inch roller offers the most versatility for home use. 

Most Versatile on a budget: Amazon Basic Foam Roller

Best for Travel: GRID 13 Inches 

Best All Around:​​ GRID 26 Inches 

Resistance Bands: 

Resistance bands make a fantastic gift for the home workout lover or the family member who's always on the go. They’re lightweight and versatile, easy to pack for travel, and take up minimal space at home. With options in different materials, lengths, and shapes (long vs. circular), it can be tricky to choose the right one. For a simple, practical gift, we recommend a high-quality fabric looped band, which can easily add intensity to bodyweight exercises. Look for a durable fabric band with silicone strips to prevent slipping. For a great stocking stuffer, a bundle of varying resistance levels in elastic loop bands is a thoughtful, versatile choice.

Best for Lower Body: Polygon Fabric Resistance Bands (thick) or Peach Bands (thin)

Best Stocking Stuffer: Gritin Resistance Bands 

Most Versatile: Arena Strength Bands

Yoga Mat: 

If you’re buying a yoga mat as a gift, keep a few key features in mind. First, consider thickness—a mat that’s around 5mm or thicker provides extra cushioning, ideal for joint support during floor exercises. Next, look at the material. High-quality, eco-friendly options like natural rubber or TPE are durable and often offer better grip than standard PVC. Speaking of grip, a textured, non-slip surface is essential to prevent sliding, ensuring safety for poses and exercises. Lastly, think about size and portability. For those on the go, a lightweight, standard-sized mat with a carrying strap is ideal. For someone who primarily exercises at home, a thicker mat with extra cushioning is the crème de la crème.

Best Quality on a Budget: Gaiam Yoga Mat

Best All Around: Jade Yoga Mat

Most Versatile (Double Sided): Lululemon “The Mat” 5mm

Best Travel Mat: Jade Travel Mat 

Fitness App Subscription:

A fitness app subscription makes a fantastic gift! Popular platforms like the Peloton App , Nike Training Club, and Alo Moves offer a wide range of online classes guided by expert instructors. On days when motivation is low, having pre-made workouts ready to go can be a game-changer. These apps let users filter workouts by length (20, 30, or 45 minutes, etc.), equipment (like body weight or dumbbells), and even music style—making it easy and enjoyable to jump right in. Peloton and Nike Training Club are among our favourites for their user-friendly design, well-instructed workouts, and fantastic features. A one-year subscription could be the perfect way to keep your loved one moving all year round.

Athletic Socks: 

We get it… socks as a holiday gift may seem a little lame. But for a fitness fanatic, high-quality athletic socks are actually a fantastic gift! They’re one of those items people rarely buy for themselves, which makes them a thoughtful, practical choice. If your family member enjoys Barre or Pilates, look for specialty grip socks to help them move easily in class—it’s a small touch that shows you notice their hobbies and want to support them. For the runner or gym goer in your life, breathable socks with extra cushioning are a winner, providing comfort and support. 

Socks for the Millenials: Lululemon Power Stride Socks 

Best Crew Socks: Gym Shark Crew Socks

Best Pilates / Barre Sock: Happy Full Foot Sock


If you're searching for local holiday gifts, feel free to give us a call (250-723-5112) or check out our social media platforms (Instagram and Facebook) for more ideas. We have a variety of items in stock, including Biofreeze, TENS machines, water bottles, Pilates and yoga equipment, and sports tape—perfect for stocking stuffers or last-minute gift ideas.

Goal Setting with Your Healthcare Practitioner

Goal Setting with Your Healthcare Practitioner

Goal setting is an important part of working with any healthcare practitioner. From your initial appointment to discharge, goals are established to guide treatment and track progress. 

When booking an appointment with a physiotherapist, strength and conditioning coach, massage therapist, or acupuncturist, it’s wise to think about what you want to get out of the appointment for a positive experience and to achieve best outcomes. 


Goal setting can be challenging and intimidating when asked on the spot during an appointment. To prepare yourself, here are some questions you may want to think of beforehand:

  • What is my injury restricting me from doing?

  • If I felt 100%, what type of activities would I like to do? 

  • Can improvements be made in my performance of my chosen sport?

  • What steps do I need to take from where I am now to where I want to be? 

  • What things may prevent me from achieving my goals (ex. Work schedule, child care)?

We often think of goals on a timeline, both short term and long term. We can break down goal setting into two forms, progressive goals which are the small short-term steps to completing your long-term or outcome goals. Progressive goals help to keep your motivation and treatment on track. They are small more tangible achievements that ensure you are progressing towards your ultimate outcome. 

In a healthcare setting, progressive goals may look like completing your exercises three times a week, when the outcome goal is to run 5km without knee pain. Here is another example of appropriate goal setting. The progressive goal may be achieving full knee extension after an ACL surgery, when the outcome goal is to return to varsity volleyball. The fun really starts when your progressive goals start to improve your function, performance, and quality of life, ultimately leading to the success of your outcome goal. 

Goal setting is important to ensure motivation during your recovery and rehabilitation. Big goals don’t happen overnight. It’s the small achievements and commitment overtime. We are all guilty for expecting instant gratification, but when it comes to the human body and rehab there is no substitute for time. Unfortunately, healing just takes time, and your commitment to the cause and resilience through small setbacks is important. 


If you haven’t already, at your next healthcare appointment set goals with your practitioner. Rehab can feel like a full time job, so make sure you have a clear vision both you and your provider believe in. When you’ve answered the “WHY” behind the reason for your rehab, it’s much easier to stay on course.