Fitness

The mother-daughter bond can be strengthened through exercise; a bond so powerful it affects a woman’s health, self-esteem and all her other relationships. With this in mind, we shine the spotlight on our top 5 mother-daughter fitness breaks, which make for the perfect Mother’s Day gift. From high intensity training in Herefordshire to Nordic walking in Tenerife, strengthen your body and your bond on one of our female-friendly fitness breaks.

Having just returned from a seven-night stay at Jewel Dunn's River Resort, it's safe to say that it goes above and beyond any other all-inclusive resorts I've stayed at. I ended my holiday in Jamaica feeling refreshed, revitalised and keen to book my next trip back.

Nahid de Belgeonne

Nahid de Belgeonne is a qualified expert in yoga and Power Plates, and the founder of the Good Vibes brand of boutique fitness studios, offering a unique class combination of Spincycle for cardio, Power Plates for strengthening and toning and Glow Yoga for your soul. Nahid was inspired by many movement disciplines including Pilates, martial arts and the Feldenkrais Method, and practices an accessible style that leaves her clients feeling good within themselves. Empowerment, kindness and a sense of humour are key mantras in her method of teaching, coupled with a strong belief that everyone deserves to achieve the best health possible.

Kick-start 2013 with a flexible approach to fitness. We launch our new Fusion Fitness™ Holidays created exclusively for clients looking for the perfect tailor-made luxury fitness holiday. Choose your ideal destination from the Far East to the Caribbean.

Whether you’re a fitness fanatic, yoga guru, spa enthusiast or in need of a body overhaul, we launch our new 3 night BodyBreaks™ available in 23 fantastic destinations across Europe from Greece and Italy to Spain and Portugal. From now you’re finally able to give your body the break it deserves on a luxury healthy break when you’re short on time.

Are you looking for the perfect place to recharge your batteries this New Year?  Or perhaps you would like to fulfil a New Year's resolution to get fit or lose weight? We recommend our top 5 healthy holidays to detox, get fit, lose weight, de-stress and re-energise.

Katie Handyside

Katie Handyside is the Sports Nutritionist, Personal Trainer and Health Coach at Reads Hotel in Mallorca. She has been working in and around Sports and Nutrition most of her life in London, Los Angeles, Vancouver and finally ending up in Palma de Mallorca where she has been running her own business in personal training and nutrition for over four years. Katie is a keen road biker and is also able to organise cycling tours, hikes and any kind of programme to suit all fitness levels and capabilities.

The success of Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics has boosted sales of health and fitness holidays and is set to continue. Active and wellness holiday experts Health and Fitness Travel has seen a remarkable increase in enquiry levels for tennis, water sportsand active breaks, demonstrating the nation's growing appetite to combine fitness and well-being by participating in exciting sports.

Located on an exclusive private island in the Turks and Caicos COMO Parrot Cay is a unique resort that emanates quiet luxury.  Having just returned for a seven-day retreat at the resort I can say that its pristine waters, gorgeous beach, elegant environment and world-class spa are a breath of fresh air for the body, mind and soul.

We all know that Ibiza has a reputation for being a party island but it’s also a beautiful place to relax and boost your health and fitness. A four-day wellness break with38 Degrees North was just what I needed to get fit, detox and recharge. I stayed in Santa Eulalia, a beautiful coastal town with lots of fabulous restaurants and home to a luxury spa holiday and fitness center at Aguas de Ibiza, a 5 star eco hotel.

Arriving in Koh Samui, I was greeted by a friendly Absolute Sanctuary driver and taken to this healthy hideaway, located in a quiet part of the Island. Absolute Sanctuary is Thailand's premier detox and yoga resort and just five minutes from the airport, a stunning Moroccan-inspired boutique resort for those seeking a holiday to rejuvenate, unwind and lead a healthy lifestyle.

Having spent seven days in Thailand including a two night stopover in Bangkok, I was ready to begin my healthy holiday at Kamalaya in Koh Samui. Voted as Destination Spa of the Year in Asia and Favourite Spa in Thailand, I was looking forward to spending one week re-energising myself at this stunning Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa. 

What is Six Senses Kaplankaya and who’s it for?

Nestled in a secluded bay along the magnificent southern Aegean coast, the luxurious Six Senses Kaplankaya offers the ultimate private retreat. If you’re looking for a high degree of personal comfort, exceptional service and the chance to indulge in a relaxing wellness break then Kaplankaya is the place for you. This Mediterranean gem opened in May 2018 and is the perfect healthy holiday destination for both adults and children looking to relax and rejuvenate in the Turkish sunshine.

What is Marbella Club and who’s it for?

Before I arrived, I knew Marbella Club was going to be special, it’s one of those places where reputation precedes; a genuine “hall of fame” with a focus on tailor-made wellness programmes and excellent facilities. As soon as I stepped foot in the grounds, I got a sense of the infamous heritage, it was founded in 1954 by Prince Alfonso and grew into an exclusive beach club luxury hotel, and as I walked surrounded by palm trees, fresh air and sea blue waters, I could see why he created it. The architecture is beautiful, typically Spanish with beach and lavish gardens surrounding. Now, more than 60 years later the iconic Marbella Club has been visited by celebrities from across the world looking to escape the throngs of society whilst also indulging in luxurious exclusivity.

The Caribbean is known for its palm beaches, rum punches and all-inclusive hotels, but in St Lucia there’s a well-being resort which promises if you give them your body for a week they will give you back your mind, and if you really engage yourself in their healthy holiday promise it will happen. 

Words: Emma Gibson

I have a confession to make

I’m not very good at moderation in anything. So while I understand a little of everything is a great approach, I tend to holiday flat out. For me that could mean literally lying very still for a week, taking a few steps as possible between a villa and the beach, or it could mean getting as fit as possible, getting my heart rate as high as possible, for seven days straight. 

In today's fast-paced, frenzied society, increasing numbers of stressed out individuals are shunning their slick, mirror-tiled high-tech gyms to pursue yoga as a form of exercise. Not only does yoga produce a cardiovascular workout, but it can help to reduce blood pressure, heart disease, depression and stress as well as improving focus and concentration. And did we mention fun? Yes, yoga is a lot of fun. Holidays with yoga classes are proving more and more popular, especially as they help to enhance a holiday's wellness element.

Skiing is a fantastically fun and exhilarating sport, and certainly doesn't require you to be an elite athlete to enjoy it. The tree-lined pistes, fresh mountain air and, above all, the thrill of skiing are among the reasons why it is so popular. It can be enjoyed with the family, as part of a group or even on a solo holiday. But for many, a ski holiday only comes once every so often and the last thing you want is to feel so achy and tired that you don't enjoy it or make the most out of it.

From bootcamps to cycling breaks, a fitness holiday is guaranteed to help you shape up and get fit. Although you will be provided with all the advice and training you need when there, it is a good idea to prepare for your fitness holiday in advance. Working on your fitness levels and improving your diet before you head off will enable you to make the most out of your trip and ease into it without any problems.