SPRI Fitness Equipment

By Tara Richter…

Many people think of the Christmas season as a time of indulgence with an over-abundance of food, drink and sweets. I myself have given in to the yoga pants requirement after a big turkey dinner on more than one occasion, and with divorced parents, it’s certain there will be more than one big fancy feast over the holidays. It can feel like a bit of an uphill battle to keep fitness top of mind during the holidays.

SPRI Products Inc is a great company that has a multitude of fantastic fitness items to aid in the achievement of those fitness goals. I think I got a workout just looking through their products on the website. This company is the leading manufacturer of rubberized resistance exercise products. Their design has led the way in popularizing those resistance workouts that so many of us are familiar with. Workouts completed with these rubberized products are a simple, portable, and effective way to strengthen, tone and build lean muscle tissue.

Xertube Trainer

One of these great products is the new generation of Xertube. This resistance band features patented braided tubing for dynamic, and high resistance exercise. The braided Xertube Trainer also has a nylon loop that can be attached to a sturdy surface (or your buff workout buddy) to add a different dynamic to your workouts. Each of the braided resistance bands are colour-coded for varying levels of resistance training from very light (yellow), light (green), medium (red), heavy (blue) and finally ultra heavy (purple). I love that the product comes with a large, colour, poster-type paper on various exercises that can be done with the Xertube. Quite frankly, repeating these movements along should provide some great muscle toning! The best part is this resistance band is so portable that it can literally be taken anywhere so there really are no excuses NOT to fit in a workout.

One of the key features I really like are the foam handles. I have to say I hate having equipment that slips while I’m holding it from sweaty hands since it usually results in blisters. The foam handles allow me to keep a nice grip, providing more control over each muscle resistant movement. When it comes to resistance bands, quality DOES make a difference and you are sure to find the highest quality band with the Xertube Trainer. Unfortunately I have fallen victim in the past to a cheapo model whose band literally snapped as I pulled on it. There is a definite level of confidence with the braided tubing in knowing it won’t snap and hit me like an elastic band; a very unpleasant experience indeed.

Ignite Fitness Mat

I used to think that all fitness mats were equal. That is until the luxury of the Ignite Fitness Mat came into my life. This mat is the cat’s meow. It is nice and thick, which provides superb cushioning during exercise, especially for floor/abdominal work. Since I workout in the basement on concrete, the Ignite Fitness Mat has become my new essential piece of gear for my workouts. It is amazing the difference the thick padding makes while doing simple tasks like crunches, planks, and even just end of workout stretches. I’ve even used it for some of the more intense cardio moves because it absorbs the shock from my body, rather than it hitting the hard concrete. If you’ve ever had shin-splints – you’ll completely understand he benefit of great cushioning, and the Ignite Fitness Mat will not disappoint. The no-slip texture also makes sure that your feet stay firmly in place; despite that workout sweat you’re sure to put on. A handy nylon strap is also included to assist in deepening stretches to improve flexibility – something I definitely want to work on. The Ignite Fitness Mat provides such great cushioning, that I actually think it will also serve its purpose as a great camping sleeping pad too!

There is no need to wait until the New Year to continue with, or even get started, with a commitment to fitness. Why not give the gift of fitness to yourself, or a loved one this year and give the SPRI Xertube Trainer resistance band ($29.99) and Ignite Fitness Mat ($39.99). Both are available for purchase at Target and amazon.ca.