You’ve probably been inundated with Christmas flyers proving that, just like every festive season, there’s no shortage of all things plastic and pricey to choose from this year. But the holidays can be an ideal opportunity to give presents that are more than mere novelties. From fitness-centre memberships to a full-body massage to nontoxic sex toys, consider opting for a gift of health and wellness.

Massage does a body good
Massage can soothe sore muscles, improve circulation, boost immunity, and relieve pain, besides providing other physical benefits. It also calms the mind, reduces stress and anxiety, and increases energy.

There is a tremendous range of massage treatments offered at local spas. Take the yogalike poses and practitioner-assisted stretching of Thai massage ($160 for 90 minutes at Solarice Wellness Spa [2200 West 4th Avenue] ); a global massage, complete with organic oil blends ($70 for 60 minutes at SpaKwus (102-1638 East Broadway]); a full body massage, intensive facial, and pedicure ($210 for a half-day at Spa LeSoleil [2688 West 4th Avenue]); a scalp massage ($45 for 20 minutes at Flaming June Day Spa [1701 Grant Street] ); and treatments that aim to enhance digestion, posture, and breathing (prices vary at Spa Utopia [various locations] ).

Granted, the price tags can be eye-popping, but keep in mind that some extended-benefits plans cover a portion of the fee if the recipient has a doctor’s referral and the practitioner is a registered massage therapist.

There’s nothing wrong with treating yourself.

We like to move it, move it
Soon New Year’s resolutions will be on everyone’s minds, so why not help your friends and family members get physical? Some easy and affordable ways to do that are to give a short-term membership to a gym (Ron Zalko Fitness and Yoga [1807 West 1st Avenue] is offering two-for-one memberships during the holidays), a pass to a yoga centre (YYoga [various locations] has a two-week introductory offer for $30), a book of tickets to a community-centre gym (the Kitsilano Fitness Centre in the Kitsilano Community Centre [2690 Larch Street] sells a strip of 10 adult-admission tickets for $41.15), or a session with a personal trainer (an hour with a trainer at the YWCA Health and Fitness Centre [535 Hornby Street] starts at $55).

It just might be the kick in the butt your loved ones need to pick up a new, healthy habit.

DIY fitness
You’d be amazed at how much you can accomplish with an exercise ball (aka Swiss, fitness, balance, or body ball): you can get in a full-body workout, targetting everything from your triceps to your core. At Fitness Depot (various locations), balls 55 centimetres in diameter start at $16.88.

Resistance bands (or tubes) are also versatile, enabling you to strengthen your upper and lower body. These rubber bands are ideal for people who travel a lot, since they weigh next to nothing and take up little space. They come in different resistance increments and start at $18.98 at Fitness Town (various locations).

A pair of boxing gloves makes a great gift for those who like to blow off steam while at the same time burning calories and toning their arms, shoulders, and back. Check out Everlast’s bubble gum–pink pair for female hitters available at SportChek (various locations) for $49.99.

Bang-on baskets
You’ll be charged an arm and a leg at a specialty shop for a premade cellophane-wrapped basket full of goodies that you wouldn’t necessarily choose yourself, so why not bundle up your own?

For a relaxation theme, opt for eco-friendly products such as nontoxic bubble bath, soy candles, an organic eye mask, natural body lotion, and a CD of soothing music.

Go the foodie route and include gourmet crackers, organic chutneys and cheeses, and dark chocolate. But read the labels: avoid trans fats, hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup, monosodium glutamate, artificial flavours and colours, and preservatives such as benzoates, sulphites, nitrates, and nitrites.

Or sex it up for your spouse with environmentally friendly toys and lubes. Visit Womyns’ Ware (896 Commercial Drive) or the Art of Loving (1819 West 5th Avenue) for an overview of healthy sex products, including organic and glycerine-free ones, as well as for nonintimidating information and ideas.

Health and safety at home
How many people you know have a first-aid kit on hand? Or a fire extinguisher? These often overlooked items make fantastic, practical gifts.

Both the Canadian Red Cross and St. John Ambulance sell a family first-aid kit ($41.95 each plus tax) that includes various bandages and dressings, a thermal blanket, scissors, tweezers, antiseptic towelettes, and other supplies. (Go to sja.ca/ or redcross.ca/ to order. There are kits for cars and small businesses, too.) At the very least, you can turn one of these into a useful joke gift for the particularly accident-prone people in your life.

Portable fire extinguishers come in different sizes and weights and are made for different types of fires. The City of North Vancouver notes on its Web site that an extinguisher marked ABC can be used on all three classes of fires (combustibles such as wood, cloth, and paper; flammable liquids; and electrical equipment). The city’s site has other advice on what to look for when purchasing an extinguisher for home use.

It might be best not to combine this with a bottle of cognac.