I used to be a quiet neighbor. But lately there’s been a lot of bumping, quite a bit of grinding, a touch of hooting and hollering, and a ton of Missy Elliott coming from my apartment.

No, I’m not throwing all-night raves. Those are just the sounds of my new workout plan, thanks to Dance Central 2 for Xbox 360. Launched this past fall, the latest technology in at-home dance gaming has inspired in me a whole new desire to break a sweat and bust a move.

I’ve played other interactive dance games before, like Just Dance for Nintendo Wii. But there’s something a bit more mind blowing about this one. First off, there’s no remote, which is totally liberating for a dance game (remotes really cramp my style). The game works with a hi-tech device called Kinect, which hooks up to your Xbox 360. Kinect tracks your movements using a camera and infrared sensor, so you’re free to move as you please. I had a friend over the day I set up my Kinect and as we watched our images appear on screen, we both turned to each other with our jaws dropped. “This is the future!” she said. I couldn’t have agreed more.

There’s also the choreography and music selection that makes Dance Central 2 the best thing to happen to me since I put Tetris on my iPhone. The folks behind the game hired big names in the dance biz to create the heart-pumping routines. One such name is Frenchy Hernandez, who has worked for MTV, BET and VH1, not to mention Snoop Dogg. Not just fodder for a video game, these are moves you’d actually want to do in public.

The dancing is equally matched by the music. We’ve come along way since the tunes in Nintendo’s Super Mario Brothers (not that I didn’t love the jams in Bowser’s castle). The soundtrack to Dance Central 2 features artists like Bruno Mars, David Guetta, Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj, to name a few.

As a workout, Dance Central 2 offers some serious cardio. While you can get your heart rate up in any mode (there’s “Perform It,” which gets you dancing right away, “Dance Battle,” which lets you challenge a friend, and “Crew Challenge,” where you attempt to impress a dance crew with your moves), there’s a specific “Fitness Mode” that works best. You’ll dance for up to 50 minutes uninterrupted and the game will track calories burned. Plus, you can even create a custom playlist to keep you inspired.

In fact, the “Fitness Mode” is so much fun, I got 10 girls to work out after a night of boozing during a bachelorette weekend. Some of the ladies even dressed in 80s-inspired aerobics outfits to up the anti.

As for my neighbors and all the raucous coming from my apartment, not one person has made a complaint. I like to think it’s because of my newly toned thighs and endless energy, as I bound up the stairs to my fourth-floor abode, has rendered them speechless.

Naughty Bits:

So we’ve all heard of the green mass that forms on rocks and gives off a slimy feel commonly referred to as algae. But, when it became known as one ingredient that possessed the power to provide physical and mental energy, absorb toxins, strengthen the immune system, prevent colds, stop fatigue or hunger, build muscle, aid in weight loss, and strangely prevent hangovers, all for under 1 calorie per tab—it grabbed everyone’s attention!

Algae provides three times more protein than steak, fifty times more iron than spinach, four times more chlorophyll than wheat grass, most B vitamins, all of the electrolytes, and forty other nutrients. It also has 18 of the 22 amino acids, including all eight essential amino acids that the body cannot make itself—making it the most nutritionally dense food in the world!

http://www.naughtybits.com
Retail: Two-three months supply $110.00
Recommended Serving: 12-30 tabs per day

Rockin Models Workout DVD:

There are two words to describe this workout—sexy and fun. Imagine a workout where yoga, ballet, and a dance version of burlesque moves come together to create one perfect 65 minute workout.

Celebrity trainer Grace Lazenby sets her workout to the right tune incorporating musical that keeps you motivated the entire time. Its no wonder they say you’ll look like a model, feel like a dancer, and workout like a rockstar!

http://www.rockinmodels.com
Retail: $22.65

This is my favorite time of year. Sure, the leaves are nice, the brisk air fab, but the reason that I live for the fall is that pumpkin abounds. Gracious gourd help me, but if I’m out late and the clock strikes twelve, there are worse things that I can think of being turned into.

The great news for those of you fellow pumpkin heads out there is that this seasonal staple is a super food. High in fiber, Vitamins A, B complex and C, it is also rich with essential fatty acids. One cup of mashed pumpkin contains approximately 50 calories, and can be very filling. Native Americans recognized pumpkin for its nutritional and healing properties long before we showed up on Plymouth Rock. Little known medicinal uses includes:

· Crushed leaves for superficial burns and healing warts
· Slightly broiled flowers applied to the ears for ear infection
· Pulp of the fruit for Arthritis, urinary problems
· Husked seeds aid in digestion, stomachache and gas problems
· Unripe seeds to control nausea, vomiting and morning sickness in pregnant women
· Roasted ripe seeds for infection of the prostate gland or prostatis

Both economical and multi-faceted, nearly every part of the pumpkin can be used including blossoms, flesh and seeds (“pepitas”). Most pumpkin varieties will store for up to three months under cool conditions.

If in October pumpkins were for décor, November will be your month to let them shine on the dinner plate. Go ahead and substitute this for your typical starchy side dishes, and make your morning pancakes sing. Here are some quick and easy recipes to get you started:

SPICED PUMPKIN PANCAKES (from epicurious.com)

Yield: Makes about 12

INGREDIENTS
1 1/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups whole milk
3/4 cup canned pure pumpkin
4 large eggs, separated
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Vegetable oil
Maple syrup

PREPARATION:
Whisk first 5 ingredients in large bowl to blend. Whisk milk, pumpkin, egg yolks, melted butter and vanilla in medium bowl to blend well. Add pumpkin mixture to dry ingredients; whisk just until smooth (batter will be thick). Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in another medium bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold whites into batter in 2 additions. Brush large nonstick skillet with oil; heat over medium heat. Working in batches, pour batter by 1/3 cupfuls into skillet. Cook until bubbles form on surface of pancakes and bottoms are brown, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining batter, brushing skillet with oil between batches. Serve with syrup.

LAZY EVENING PUMPKIN SOUP (from allaboutpumpkins.com)
1 cup cream
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 bay leaf
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup pumpkin, cooked and mashed
1-1/2 tbsp melted butter
1-1/2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
dash of pepper

Combine milk, onions and bay leaf in saucepan. Slowly bring to a boil. Strain, then combine strained ingredients with chicken broth and mashed pumpkin (save the milk). In a separate pan, make a roux by combining the butter and flour and cooking over low heat for 5 minutes. Add milk mixture to roux slowly and whisk until the soup is smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes to bring out the flavors.

Garnish with pomegranate seeds, parsley, and cream.

PUMPKIN FRITTERS (from allrecipes.com)

Prep Time: 5 min/ Cook Time: 10 min / Ready in: 15 min
Original Recipe Yield 24 fritters

INGREDIENTS
· 1 cup pumpkin puree
· 1 egg, lightly beaten
· 1 cup all-purpose flour
· 1 teaspoon baking powder
· 1 teaspoon curry powder
· 1 teaspoon salt
· 4 cups vegetable oil for frying

PREPARATION
1. In a medium bowl, combine pumpkin, egg, flour, baking powder, curry powder, and salt. Mix until smooth.
2. Heat oil in a deep saucepan to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Drop batter by spoonfuls into hot oil. Fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, and serve immediately.

The Perfect Plank:
Not to toot my own horn, but when it comes to planking I could hold myself up for hours! Eventually though my arms would tire and start to cramp, especially on a wooden floor. When I tried the Perfect Plank for the first time only two words popped into my head – extreme comfort.

Picture a standard yoga block. This generic prop would appear to have no room for improvement, but Stick-e has added additional functionality and comfort making it a two–in–one product. Perfect Plank combines the traditional foam yoga block with a wrist saving push up device to create the perfect form. The Stick-e Wrist Saver Block is a foam block with an internal handle providing optimal wrist positioning during upper body weight bearing exercises for better strength and superior comfort. The blocks can also be stacked on top of each other enabling a full range of motion during pushups and tricep dips.

Retail Price $19.95
Retail Availability: Modell’s Sporting Goods; Sports Authority, http://www.stick-e.com

Non Slip Yoga Towel:
When I take time out of my busy and hectic week to attend a hot yoga class, I’m looking forward to some stress relief. There’s nothing I hate more than being in a deep pose and having to break my concentration to adjust my soaking wet towel in order to fully cover my yoga mat.

Entering the Hot Yoga market, Stick-e introduces a non-slip full mat length towel. This is the only towel on the market with a smooth Slip less surface on one side providing superior comfort and grip, not to mention a nifty drawstring mesh back pack to go along with it for easy storage–A perfect alternative to my classic plastic bag.

Retail Price: $29.95
Retail Availability: Modell’s sporting Goods; Sports Authority, http://www.stick-e.com

Beam Fit:
This is by far the best at home workout I’ve tried and is super beneficial to the core. Introducing the newest craze in health clubs around the world, Beamfit is the perfect in-home, full body workout that can grow with the user. The Beamfit Balance and Exercise Beam offers four workouts designed to promote better balance while building core strength and improving muscle tone. The Beamfit offers endless workout options when used with dumbbells, kettle bells, and resistance bands.

Retail Price: $99.95
Retail Availability: Modell’s sporting Goods; Sports Authority, http://www.stick-e.com

Slimmie’s Weight Loss Chocolates:
Now you can have your chocolate and eat it too! Any product that puts chocolate and weight loss in the same sentence is worth a try. Slimmies is not only tasty but super beneficial. This powerful treat provides weight loss, appetite surpression and fat obstruction. Each chocolate contains a highly refined form of Konjac Glucomannan, which gently expands with water to help you feel full faster, so you eat less. When you do eat, Konjac Glucomannan will help obstruct the fats and calories from the food you eat. Both will help reduce your calorie intake to help you lose weight! The results are clinically proven and in plain sight below!

Retail Price: $24.99
Retail Availability: Rite Aid; Walgreens, http://www.myslimmies.com

Tape it up:
Ace bandages are so a few years ago. The newest pain relief support is called KT Tape, which is the first and only Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape available in convenient pre-cut strips. The tape is a high performance elastic athletic tape used for treating muscle and joint injuries. By lifting the skin and relieving pressure on pain transmitters, KT Tape provides muscle-pain relief and support without restricting motion. The product is so unique because it’s for anyone, athletes of all sports and levels and is the perfect item to keep in your backpack or gym bag for that unwelcomed injury or pain. I found KT Tape very effective for a recent foot injury from running. I applied it on the inner left side of my right foot where I recently strained some ligaments and found that the tape was easy to apply and took all the pressure off of that sensitive spot during my run. The tape worked much better than an ace bandage I had recently been using and since it promotes healing, I was not worried about the possibility of reinjury.

KT Tape comes with 20 precut strips attached to a 16′ roll which is enough tape for 10-20 applications and can last anywhere from 40-60 days depending on usage. You can wear KT Tape in the shower or pool and with fun colors like blue, pink, red and green, you might not want to take it off. KT Tape’s Web site is a great resource for video instructions and tips to apply the tape. Visit http://www.kttape.com to learn more and to find a retailer near you. In NYC, KT Tape is available at Sports Authority and Paragon Sports.

Flip for comfort:
After a workout sometimes I just want to rip my sneakers off and let my feet breathe. Whether you can agree or not, something we could all use this summer is a sandal that is both fashionable and comfortable. OKA b.’s Malia flip flops are just that, they are sandals that can be worn with a multitude of outfits, whether they are your post-wedding shoes, commute to work in shoes or like me, post-workout shoes, you really can’t go wrong. The sandal, as with all OKA b. sandals is 100% recyclable, waterproof, made in the USA and priced under $40.

OKA b. began with two basic styles, a slide and a thong, designed to feel like a spa shoe by integrating the principles of reflexology and ergonomics. Today the line has expanded to include dozens of styles and colors adorned with natural seashell, gemstones and ribbon, without compromising on comfort. Massage beads pamper the foot and promote good posture. OKA b.s are also made using a single piece of proprietary Microplast® material and are antimicrobial, waterproof and washable. My personal favorite, the Malia, comes in fun metallic colors, has cute crystals and will definitely be your new summer staple.

Visit http://www.shoesthatloveyou.com to learn more about the unique company and to buy yourself a pair of OKA b.’s today.

A Skinny story:
It seems no one wants to drink just “regular” water these days, as supped up versions are popping up all over. Since I’m usually against drinking my days worth of calories to hydrate, I tend to stay away from the sugary, electrolyte pumped waters, yet it just so happens that my prayers have been answered for a zero calorie, zero sugar, zero preservative water, and its called Skinny Water.

Skinny Water provides you with a convenient, accessible and flexible way to get the water and nutrients needed each day. The idea behind Skinny Water is that when you experience how much better you feel when you get more nutrients and hydration, you will likely seek out additional sources of good nutrition and better health practices. The Skinny Water flavor is from natural flavors found in fruits and vegetables. There is ZERO sugar in Skinny Water and they use a very small amount of Sucralose and Ace-K as sweeteners.

The fun, fruity flavors of Skinny Water include:

- Wakeup: A blend of Orange, Cranberry and Tangerine, containing Vitamin C, Calcium and Potassium.

- Total-V: A blend of Lemonade and Passion fruit, containing Vitamins B3, B5, B6, B12 + C and Vitamin A.

- Crave Control: A blend of Raspberry and Pomegranate, containing Key Metabolizers, like EGCG.

- Shape: A Goji Fruit punch, containing vitamins D-Ribose, L-Leucine and L-Valine.

- Hi-Energy: A blend of Acai, Grape an Blueberry, containing Acai Extract, Guarana, Ginseng, L-Carnitine and Vitamins B3, B6, B12.

- XXX Detox: A blend of Peach, Mango and Mandarin, containing Hesperidine and antioxidants.

Visit http://www.skinnywater.com to learn more and to purchase it online for your home or office. Skinny Water is also available at Target, ShopRite and Stop & Shop.

Just spray it:
Unglamorous to say the least, but chaffing is a common part of many grueling workouts and can lead to a less than pleasant feeling afterwards. I had my worst “friction” incident after a half marathon in which my v-neck shirt left me with awful, painful cuts on my chest/neck. It has since healed but I’m now careful to spray any such areas with a skin lubricant beforehand, my new favorite being TRISLIDE. TRISLIDE is an innovative anti-friction, anti-chafing product in a continuous spray that provides unbeatable ease, comfort and freedom of movement in competition, training or just your everyday workouts.

Other skin lubricants that are packaged in roll-ons or sticks can contribute to bacteria build-up, and so TRISLIDE is more sanitary as it sprays on evenly with one press to render a silky emollient feel to skin. Some common uses for TRISLIDE are to prevent blistering on runners’ feet, general chafing from shorts and certain tops, as well as for easy entry into wetsuits. TRISLIDE is easy to use, safe to share, fragrance-free, will not stain clothes, will not melt or crumble, and lasts on the skin for hours (simple soap and water will rinse off the product).

TRISLIDE is available in over 650 outlets, sporting goods chains and specialty stores nationwide. Visit http://www.triswimbeauty.com for more information and to find a store near you that sells the product.

With a plethora of high-quality, male-oriented skincare products on the market now, there’s no reason for men not to take great care of their skin, and reap the glowing results. Here’s a quartet of amazing brands that cater to the best of men:

The Decleor Paris Men Skincare line is rife with the finest ingredients to maintain healthy skin. Men can start with the exfoliating Clean Skin Scrub to refine and exfoliate skin, then follow with 100% pure, preservative-free Aromessence Triple Action Shave Perfector serum with eucalyptus and clove essential oils for a clean shave. Smooth Shave foam for sensitive skin and Express Shave gel-to-foam are other shaving options for faster cell renewal. Top the skincare regime off with moisturizers and skin protectors such as Skin Energizer with essential oils (which smells fantastic), Soothing After Shave for sensitive skin with no preservatives, and Eye Contour Energiser to soften fine lines. Gird yourself for battle against aging lines with these anti-aging weapons, and your skin will know sweet victory. Find them at http://www.decleor.com and fine department stores.

Ole Henriksen is another man-friendly brand, with products that work for all skin types. Sheer Transformation is a creamy, oil-free satin froth infused with vitamin C, sweet pea and licorice root to repair and hydrate. On The Go Cleanser is a regenerating, vitamin-c enriched balm, and the Walnut Complexion Scrub brightens, deep-cleans and deeply exfoliates skin. The Ole Henriksen Men’s Kit is perfect for travel, and includes the uber-effective Natural Hair Wash. This is highly recommended for when called to covert spy duty on a moment’s notice – you’ll need to look polished. Visit http://www.olehenriksen.com and choose your favorites.

The new Origins Zero Oil deep pore cleanser caters to both genders and all ages, including teens. Saw Palmetto and Mint render this product refreshing and unique, and salicylic acid clears pores and reduces shine. Follow this very thorough cleanser with Origins’ Zero Oil moisture lotion, which contains with the same refreshing mint and saw palmetto blend, and you’ll be good to go anywhere. Peruse the extensive Origins for Men section at http://www.origins.com.

Everyone loves Kiehl’s, and for good reason: the products never fail to satisfy. Men, you’ll relish the Kiehl’s Cross-Terrain All-In-One Refueling Wash, which is an invigorating shower cleanser for both hair and body ““ perfect for at the gym, when traveling on an adventure or trek, or to refresh all over at home after a long, hot summer day in the city. Visit Kiehl’s on Third Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets, or on the Upper West Side at Columbus Avenue between 66th and 67th Streets, or online at http://www.kiehls.com.

Now that Mother Nature is letting up and starting to show us some of that LA weather she’s famous for, let’s get outside! The brand is fitness is your friend and under that umbrella lies Recess, Detention and personal training. What are these, you ask? Alternatives, I say. If you’ve tried kickboxing, rock climbing and spinning you, like me, might be in the market for something new. Why not go back to where it all began”¦ the playground?

At first glance, a hula-hoop, tug of war rope and a rousing game of duck duck goose did not seem challenging enough to achieve my fitness goals. But, one intense game of Blob Tag and you’ll be like me, looking for the nearest park bench to catch your breath and prepare yourself for the rest of the class. Recess was designed to bring a sense of play and fun back into your workout routine. Detention, on the other hand, was created because sometimes you need a “Stern Principal” to help whip you into shape. Stephen Divenere is the mastermind and lead trainer of fitness is your friend. He designed this to get people out of the gym, into the great outdoors and experience what it’s like to revisit childhood.

These hot new classes are currently located at Verdugo Park in Burbank and Roxbury Park in Beverly Hills but are so popular that new locations are currently in the works. Private and corporate events are also available. However you chose to participate, laughter and fun are mandatory parts of the curriculum. fitness is your friend is a great way to make working out seem less like homework and more of an event.

For more details and to sign up for classes go to http://www.fitnessisyourfriend.com

Tracy Anderson has become a bit of a phenomenon in the last two years. We at BNLA have been following her closely because everyone she trains, from celebrities to us mortals, looks phenomenal.

I personally was thrilled at the chance to attend Tracy’s master class at her Studio City location. I got a first-hand experience of the “method” she has developed.  Her approach is to go after your small accessory muscles and work to tighten them with high repetition specialized sculpting exercises. She believes that building the structure by pulling and lengthening the muscle is the key to building our infrastructure.

Muscles get pulled in tight to the bone and skin smoothes out, which explains why everyone doing her workout looks graceful and conditioned. Tracy insists that we combine dance aerobics cardio with training. She feels that the dance aerobics burns the right amount of calories, but makes a powerful mind- body connection.

I’m a disciple after attending the 2 hour sweat-a-thon where I got a chance to speak to Ms. Anderson. Her commitment to what she does is crystal clear. 

“I have been working at creating this approach for 11 years. I have not deviated ““ only continually improved it,” Tracy told us.

She trains her staff rigorously and regularly. The studio is the ideal setting to incorporate her methods, as it provides more opportunities to keep tripping up your muscle groups with bands, machines, mats, and several other tricks keep your muscles guessing.

If you don’t live in NY or LA by either of the Tracy Anderson studios, her DVD’s are available at tracyandersonmethod.com.

That fresh, crisp scent of autumn is in the air. But as the mercury drops and the days get shorter, the risk of catching a cold or flu increases.

The key to staying healthy as the season changes is prevention. Check out the below all-natural ways to strengthen your immune system and prepare it for the cold and flu season ahead.

The ABC’s of Vitamins

Vitamins B and C, as well as minerals such as Zinc and selenium are important for helping our body deal with stress, fight free radicals and maintain a healthy immune system. Taking a daily multi-vitamin can help ensure we are receiving adequate levels of these important vitamins and minerals, especially for those of us who are super-busy and unable to get our daily recommended intake from the food we’re eating.

(fish oil pills may look eerie, but the benefits are ten-fold!)

Not So Fishy Fish Oil

Fish oil is another fantastic fall formula. The Omega 3′s in fish oil help our bodies reduce inflammation, flush toxins and maintain immune balance ““ all things that have a positive impact on our health. A brand we recommend is Nordic Naturals. Not only does their fish oil taste great, but the company also tests their oil for purity to ensure there are no heavy metals or toxins in any of its products.

Tea Temptations

If you find yourself under the covers because you’re under the weather, it is important to stay hydrated. Drinking lots of fluids such as water and herbal teas makes the thin mucous secretions easier to get rid of. According to recent research, tea has the ability to boost and strengthen the immune system as well as prevent cell damage, both of which improve the body’s ability to fight disease and infection.

A great tea choice when feeling sick is Organic Ginger tea; which helps cleanse the body and minimize the severity of a cold. Ginger helps to increase perspiration, which in turn helps to reduce the temperature of a fever. Plus, herbal teas do not contain caffeine, so the water from this drink is beneficial to the body as well.

All Washed Up

Health Professionals recommend preventing the common cold through regular hand washing. When a family member is sick, everyone in the house should be washing their hands even more than usual. For those times when soap and water is out of reach, a bottle of hand sanitizer can do the trick.

Conventional hand sanitizers may use chemicals and harsh alcohols to kill germs. However, we found a brand that is non-toxic, alcohol free and leaves your hands feeling soft. It’s called Clean Well and it’s a hand sanitizer that kills 99.99% of germs and is made from essential plant oils including oregano and thyme.

Oregano Oil ““ Not Your Everyday Spice

Oregano Oil is one of my favorite “home remedy” cold and flu tools. An extract from one of the most powerful species of the oregano plant, this is not your everyday store-bought spice. This variety differs from the herb in your kitchen cupboard as it possesses potent antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and antimicrobial properties.

There are more than 50 known active ingredients in the oregano plant that work synergistically to provide its benefits and it has been proven to be effective in fighting fungal and bacterial infections. A brand we really like is North American Herb and Spice. They offer a whole line of oregano products from sinus relievers to inflammatory reducers.

For more information on staying healthy during this cold and flu season, visit http://www.NaturallySavvy.com.

Andrea Donsky, a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (R.H.N.), is co-founder of NaturallySavvy.com, a site that aides in demystifying all things natural and organic, and demonstrating how easy it is to make smart purchasing decisions that will have a direct positive impact on overall health and wellness.

It’s that time of year again! Stressful holiday shopping with its crowds, long lines, and sold-out items has arrived. This year, beat the rush by checking out BN’s Holiday Gift Guide! Each section of this month’s issue has its very own guide to help you find the perfect gift for your beauty, spa, skincare, or fitness fanatic friends and family. Check out our five festive fit finds below for inspiration, and beat the rush (and late gift-buying stress!) by ordering these items online. (We’ve even added the links for each item to make it easy for you!)

Exhale Spa Gift Set – Just in time for the holidays, Exhale Spa is bringing their popular fitness workout””Core Fusion””to DVD format giving people the opportunity to continue Exhale’s transformational mind body class experience at home. The gift includes: two DVDs featuring the two most popular classes, Core Fusion Body Sculpt and Core Fusion Pilates Plus, one pair of grippy socks, an Exhale-branded water bottle, and a Core Fusion exercise and stretching strap, all packaged in a super cute eco-friendly Exhale workout bag.

(Not sure what Core Fusion is? Check out BN writer, Ava Mackenzie’s article describing her experience at Exhale Spa NYC.)

Deluxe Hoopnotica Starter Kit ““ Hula hooping as a workout has been on the rise for a few years now and with Hoopnotica’s claim that their Hoopnotic Hoopdance can burn as many calories as running, why not gift your calorie-conscious gym rats with the Hoopnotica Starter Kit? The travel-friendly kit consists of a TravelHoop, two hoopdance DVDs and two CDs, a coordinating hoop strap, and a hoop tote.

iMuffs – iMuffs by Wi-Gear are sleek, ergonomically-designed wireless headphones that work with iPods and BT phones and provide great stereo sound. The control panel on the headphones lets users pause, change volume, skip tracks, and seek music right from the headphones. And when paired to your BT phone, you can pause the music and answer incoming calls. The perfect gift for those irritated by wires getting in the way of a workout.

Manduka Yoga Mat ““Whether she’s an “upward facing dog” expert or a novice, you can never go wrong with gifting your fave gal pal with a yoga mat. Along with the body and mind perks of yoga, Manduka mats have a lifetime guarantee, which means you’re helping the environment by reducing consumption, all while distressing and detoxifying your inner self. Plus, the quality of these mats is seriously unsurpassed, making them a solid piece of equipment for all yogis, new and old.

Totes with Quotes ““ECOBAGS® offers the perfect holiday gift accessory item. Introducing, “Totes with Quotes“. These Fair Wage/Fair Labor, eco-friendly reusable bags are stylish, affordable and hip!  
With totes featuring sayings like “Get Hip Get Green”, “Think Global Act Local”, “Talk Green to Me”, “Make Love Not Carbon”, and many more; there is sure to be a bag for everyone including the rocker, the activist, the eco-aware, the mother and the truly chic.