Articles written by Devin Sherrington about health, wellness and fitness in regular column called Fit to Be Tried in the Daily News:

The Daily News - Fit to Be Tried by Devin Sherrington

Looking for an interesting last minute stocking stuffer? Try giving the gift of health with resistance tubing.

Resistance tubing is basically a two to three foot piece of rubber tubing with handles on each end. It costs about $20 and can be found in most sports stores.

Why should you buy resistance tubing?

It's the perfect present for anyone who wants to get in shape at home. You can perform more than 30 exercises with this one small tube.

I'm not going to bore you with 30 exercises. Most resistance tubing comes with basic exercise instructions. But I will give you three excellent exercises you get started.

The first exercise is the Standing Squat, which works your legs. For this exercise lay your resistance tubing on the floor in a straight line. Stand on the middle of the tube with your feet shoulder width apart. Reach down, grab the handles and stand up. This is your starting point.

From here squat down as if you are sitting on a chair, pulling the handles upward to aid your balance. Bend with your knees first, and keep your head up in a comfortable position. Lower yourself until you reach a 90-degree angle at your knees. Now stand up slowly, pushing with your thighs. Do three sets of 10 to 15 repetitions with a minute break between.

The second exercise is for your arms and is called a Bicep Curl. Lay the band on the floor and stand in the middle. Pick up the handles and hold them close to your sides. Your palms should be facing outward. Keep your elbows tucked to your sides. Curl your arms up, level with your shoulders. Hold for one second then lower your hands until your arms are straight again. Do three sets of 10 to 15 repetitions, and change sides.

The third exercise for your back muscles and is called a Bent Row. Lay the resistance tubing on the floor. Stand in the middle of the tube with your feet shoulder width apart. Bend forward from your hips. Keep your chest out and head up. Your knees should be slightly bent. Pick up the handles of the tubing. Let your arms hang straight down. If you don't have tension move your feet out until the tube is tense.

From this position pull the handles up to the sides of your ribs. You should feel the tension in the middle of your back. Pause there a second and then lower your hands down until they hang straight again. Do three sets of 10 to 15 repetitions with a minute break between.

Resistance tubing is an excellent inexpensive piece of fitness gear. Try giving someone you love this perfect fitness stocking stuffer.