Fitness

by Lucy Miller

A Fitness and Nutrition Expert

Exercise can work wonders for your self-esteem. Even if you don’t feel like going to the gym or going for a jog, those feel-good endorphins released by physical exercise can make such a difference to your mood and confidence.

And if it feels too daunting to start with then why not set small, realistic goals? Even the tiniest accomplishments can help to boost your self-esteem, so set modest, short-term goals for yourself. Try turning your bigger targets into smaller, more tangible goals. Always hoped to run half a marathon? Start by challenging yourself to a 5K, then move up from there.

In recent years there has been a growing focus on what our biological age, rather than our chronological age, can tell us about our bodies and overall health. Proving that age really is nothing but a number; someone with a chronological age of 35, leading an unhealthy lifestyle may have the health and body of someone in their early 40s. In contrast, someone of the same age with a healthy lifestyle could have the biological age of someone 5 years younger. Due to the way different habits can affect our bodies; our lifespan is determined in part by our telomeres, which hold our DNA together. Over time these shorten, eventually breaking down completely, but the rate at which this happens can be affected by our mental and physical lifestyles.

Training load is the strain and stress that exercises put onto your body - it is that strain and stress that challenges you, and given you take sufficient rest you will come back to the exercise stronger.

You’ve carefully chosen and booked your dream fitness holiday, but now the stressful question arises; what to pack? This isn’t quite the standard holiday where all you need is your swimsuit and flip-flops and there’s nothing worse than arriving at a holiday destination unprepared. You may want to prepare physically by starting your healthy lifestyle with a nutritious diet and some warm up workouts, which will make your programme easier to get into. You also don’t want to arrive having to buy new trainers that may rub, knowing that your worn-in and comfortable pair are lying at home. So, make sure you tick off the essential list of what to pack before your fitness holiday, to help you avoid any stress and allow you to arrive with a relaxed mind set, ready to start your fitness journey.

You’ve carefully chosen and booked your dream fitness holiday, but now the stressful question arises; what to pack? This isn’t quite the standard holiday where all you need is your swimsuit and flip-flops and there’s nothing worse than arriving at a holiday destination unprepared. You may want to prepare physically by starting your healthy lifestyle with a nutritious diet and some warm up workouts, which will make your programme easier to get into. You also don’t want to arrive having to buy new trainers that may rub, knowing that your worn-in and comfortable pair are lying at home. So, make sure you tick off the essential list of what to pack before your fitness holiday, to help you avoid any stress and allow you to arrive with a relaxed mind set, ready to start your fitness journey.

Are you after a change of scenery? Appreciate Mother Nature as you take in the surroundings on a hiking holiday whilst enhancing your fitness and well-being at the same time. Walking is a great yet simple way to enjoy the fresh air and gain an intimate perspective on the world. If you’d rather see the world from a completely different perspective than go on a fly and flop ho-hum holiday, embrace the great outdoors and engrave its beauty into your memory. The key to optimizing your hiking holiday is all in the preparation, so tick off the necessary steps to maximise your hiking experience.

So you’ve decided to go on a scuba diving holiday, but you still feel like you’re not prepared for it at all? With our ‘how-to’ guide, we can help you explore more of our blue planet’s teeming underwater wonders and ensure you make the most of your tailor-made diving adventure. Every trip offers something different in terms of your skills and how far you can push your limits. But as it’s true for most things, preparation is key. In order to embark on this exhilarating experience, you must take note and learn the necessary steps to optimise this holiday of a lifetime. Witness what dwells underneath our vast oceans and uncover a universe all of its own, with our top tips on how to prepare for a scuba diving holiday.

Embarking on a health and fitness journey is a common aspiration for many, but taking that first step can often feel daunting and overwhelming. We have created a simple and realistic guide to kickstart your health and fitness journey, covering essential aspects so that wherever you plan to go on your health and fitness holiday, you can begin your path towards wellness and sustain it in the long run.

by Lucy Miller

A Fitness and Nutrition Expert

Slumped over you desk far too much? I know the feeling. Many of my clients come to me with rounded shoulders, tight hip flexors and repetitive strain in their wrists and forearms – who would have thought sitting at a desk all day could be so bad for you?

The good news is there are some pretty easy ways to fix these underlying problems and get them under control. 

Sweating it out during a fitness routine is probably not the best look to go for in front of your partner but, as it turns out, couple workouts not only work on your muscles but work on your relationship too! This is why acouples' healthy holiday could be the perfect option for you and your other half, or even a best friend, as you can relax and unwind whilst finding a deeper bond in your relationship.

by: SKINS

We all know compression sportswear is tight, but so is pretty much everything else we exercise in, so what’s all the fuss about? Can a little extra squeeze really fight fatigue, reduce the risk of injury, speed up recovery and boost performance?

The short answer to all of those is yes, and to prove it, here are a few fast facts from sportswear brand SKINS to help you get to grips with their high-performance gear.

According to new research by Professor Siegfiend Lehrl of the University of Erlangen in Germany, a specialist in mental performance, taking a two week fly and flop holiday, particularly a hot one, can lower your IQ by as much as 20 points because inactivity reduces oxygen to the brain. Add dehydration caused by heat and alcohol into the equation and brain cell volume may decrease by up to 15%, according to the article in the Daily Telegraph.

Jumping on a bike, inside or out, increases your cardiovascular fitness and burns calories whilst being kind to the environment, and can also be a favourable means of transport. Nowadays, many people take to a bike to get into shape as it's easier on the joints and bones than many other activities and contrary to popular belief, it makes use of a range of muscles, not only in the legs, but also including the gluteus maximus, biceps and triceps. This makes it a great option for those who want to avoid high-impact, more strenuous exercises but still want to boost health and reduce stress. Cycling is the perfect way to build stamina whilst enhancing strength and muscle tone and according to the British Medical Association, cycling just 20 miles a week can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by a considerable 50%. So, when choosing between indoor vs. outdoor cycling, how do you decide which style of cycling would suit you best?

I have been a trainer for over 20 years now. Have always loved helping people improve their wellness, so studied to be a trainer when I was pregnant with my second child. I just kept on wanting to help more people, started working/managing in Health Retreats working on all areas of people’s health.

I started in the fitness industry in the mid 1990’s working in nearly every role possible. I was initially based in Australia but then started working internationally from group exercise, to commercial equipment sales, then into education and training and development roles in private studios and fitness chains.

Timmis Kambanellis

Timmis is the fitness expert at the award-winning Aphrodite Hills in Cyprus. He studied kinesiotherapy (which is the application of scientifically based exercise principles adapted to enhance the strength, endurance, and mobility of individuals) in Thessaloniki. Discovering a passion Timmis then went on to specialize in Fitness and Personal Training at the North Academy of Fitness. Timmis has since gone on to receive accolades from Spa and Wellness specialists and has a successful morning TV slot on the Cyprus national network.

Today we are excited to introduce to you our Fusion Fitness™ Holidays, this exclusive healthy holiday collection was designed for those seeking a truly tailored approach, allowing you the freedom to select only the things you love for the ultimate bespoke wellness holiday.

Is age really nothing but a number? With some people appearing to defy the digits on their birth certificate and boasting a much younger biological age than their chronological age, many of us would answer, yes.

Sydney nutritionist, health blogger and wellness coach Jessica Sepel loves healthy living and traveling and knows that healthy living whilst traveling can be quite challenging so here she shares her top tips for healthy travel with Health and Fitness Travel:

Tell us about the resort – what makes Aphrodite Hills so special?

Aphrodite Hills Golf and Spa Resort is a luxury 5-star resort nestled in the hills above Paphos and overlooking the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. Aphrodite Hills also proudly boasts the best golf course in Cyprus, making it the perfect destination for a golf break.