This time of year there are a lot of these gift guides going around, but most include a lot of stuff that ends up collecting dust and doesn’t add to your life in a meaningful way. Plus, the supply chain is a mess, everything is back-ordered and who knows what will get here in time for the gift-giving holiday of your choice anyway?!
So we’ve put together a list of wellness-themed items and experiences that will increase happiness, physical comfort and mental stimulation, prioritizing local businesses and featuring some of our tried and tested, provider-approved items.
Equilibrium Gift Certificate
Gift the gift of care! We offer gift certificates in any denomination. Gift certificate recipients can be existing patients or brand new faces. Refer your friends and gift them some health, wellness, and relaxation. Give us a call and we’re happy to help you gift our services — 503-228-5000.
Self-Care Tools
It might seem like a boring gift, but we promise these are items that will get daily use and help you and those you love reduce pain and stiffness, live with greater physical comfort, increase mobility and even improve athletic performance!
Foam Roller
This must-have home tool for fitness or relaxation can help relieve muscle tightness, soreness and inflammation, and increase range of motion. With a foam roller, your friends and family can work out those myofascial adhesions and muscle knots in between their Equilibrium massages.
Theracane
This unique, portable massage tool is great for working on those tough spots and stubborn knots! These have been flying off our shelves this year to take care of those work-from-home aches and pains.
Therapeutica pillow
This pillow was designed for spinal alignment in consultation with a doctor of chiropractic, and it has been very popular with our patients over the last year! It offers proper support for back- or side-sleeping, and can help relieve neck pain and tension headaches.
Don’t forget to take a peek at our products page for more of our provider-approved bodywork tools, work-from-home ergonomic essentials, and braces and supports. We use Amazon affiliate links and when you purchase using the links provided on these pages, we earn a small commission from your purchase. This makes is convenient for you to shop while still supporting our small business! If you’d rather avoid ordering and shipping altogether, we stock these items and more in our office!
Move Your Body
Research shows that positive experiences bring us more and longer-lasting happiness than material items. Gift your loved ones an experience — and consider joining them! Bonding over a shared activity could enrich and enliven your relationships, leading to increased emotional and physical health. And let’s be honest: we all need a reason to get out of the house in the middle of winter when we start to go a little stir-crazy.
Free Love Yoga
A fantastic gift for yourself or a loved one, Free Love Yoga is a local, woman-owned small business offering high quality yoga, meditation and mindfulness classes. Their live classes are streamed on their easy-to-use online platform and recordings are available so you can take them with you anywhere and practice on whatever schedule works for you. Unlike youtube videos, Free Love Yoga enables you to connect with your teachers to ask questions and get personalized recommendations from highly trained teachers right here in our community. With a wide variety of styles and class lengths, there’s something for everyone! Purchase a gift card or bundle and start the new year off right!
Kinespirit Circle Studio for Gyrotonics and Pilates
Care for your body with stretch, strength, balance, and flexibility at this local, woman-owned studio. The exercises build muscular strength and promote stability around the joints, enabling increased range of motion. People of all ages and all levels of fitness can participate. Get a friend a gift card for the holidays and then you’ll have a workout buddy in the new year!
BodyVox Dance Studio
A great gift for anyone on your holiday list, BodyVox offers a wide range of dance and movement classes for all ages. There’s a kids camp for your niece or nephew, and wine tasting with beginners ballet for your bestie. Plus, classes are offered online and in-person with robust health and safety protocols to keep you safe. Their hybrid model gives you the flexibility to keep dancing no matter the fluctuations of the outside world.
Feel Good
Sometimes the best gift is something just a little frivolous, decadent and luxurious to escape from or to elevate your everyday.
Abbey Soap Company
Handcrafted soaps and cleansers made with all-natural ingredients and minimal packaging. The perfect gift for friends, neighbors, and ‘white elephant’ gift exchanges. Everyone needs soap, and these bars are delightfully decadent. Don’t forget to throw in a bar of their doggie shampoo for the furry friends in your life!
Loyly Sauna and Spa
Break up the long cold winter with a few hours of blissful warmth. Sauna bathing is a form of whole-body thermotherapy that has been used in various forms (radiant heat, sweat lodges, etc.) for thousands of years in many parts of the world for hygiene, health, social, and spiritual purposes. Some research suggests that sauna bathing can have beneficial effects similar to those found with exercise including “reduced oxidative stress and inflammation pathway activities, and increased insulin sensitivity.” Loyly Sauna and Spa has 2 Portland locations and offers sauna, skincare and relaxation massage, making it a great gift for anyone (and everyone) who could use some relaxation. Loyly has strong health and safety protocols in place including limited capacity and required proof of vaccination. Book an appointment during public hours, or schedule a private time.
Portland Cider Co.’s PDX Community Cider
Ok, ok, so cider may not fit the traditional concept of “wellness,” but it is made out of fruit, so it’s basically healthy! Plus, Portland Cider Company’s PDX Community Cider is healthy for our community — it’s expertly made from backyard fruit donated by Portlanders, and 10% of proceeds from the sale of this cider go to Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon. Pick-up a 6-pack for your cider-loving friends and family!
Missionary Chocolates
All of the deliciousness, without the allergens or animal products. That’s right: dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan chocolate! What could be better? Founded by a Naturopathic Physician, Missionary Chocolates is a decadent gift for neighbors, family and friends no matter their dietary needs. Hand-made right here in Portland with an impressive selection of truffles, bars, and confections, there’s sure to be something for everyone, and something everyone can feel good about.
Whatever your winter season plans are, we’re sending you warm wishes, happiness, and health for the new year!