Fitness

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. 

Physiotherapist and personal trainer Em Esslemont shares her quick and easy workout ideas to do on your next holiday. She's a fitness and food fanatic with the passion for helping others live a healthy lifestyle. She splits her time working on her health and fitness website, Wellbeing Worldwide and food blogging among many endeavors.

by Lucy Miller

A Fitness and Nutrition Expert

It's that time of year again and this is your year! You're going to lose that excess weight that’s been hanging around for like, forever. You're going to go to the gym every single day, no excuses...and eat nothing but lean meat, green vegetables and almonds. Great, that sounds good, but I'm sorry to say that's not the way to do it!

Tell us about the resort – what makes Kamalaya so special?

Having heard so many glowing reviews about Kamalaya, I was very excited to experience it myself and understand what makes it such a special place with such a high rate of repeat guests. From the beautiful location to the nurturing spa treatments and nourishing food, it’s impossible to visit Kamalaya and not feel instantly better in yourself.  

What is Ti Sana and who’s it for?

A quiet, rural health retreat just outside Milan, Ti Sana is a tucked away gem that I had the pleasure of visiting for a refreshing long weekend. This healthy hideaway specialises in detox, anti-stress and wellness holidays with a real focus on inspiring their guests with long-term, sustainable lifestyle changes. Ti Sana’s main clientele are those suffering from stress or focusing on weight loss. It is also perfect for those looking for a rejuvenating wellness break complete with delicious vegan cuisine, informative health, fitness and lifestyle advice and a range of classes, all delivered by the genuine, friendly and caring Ti Sana team.

The most important step for anyone dealing with sport related injuries or muscle strains and tears is recognising the warning signs from your body and knowing how best to respond to these stress signals. Ease yourself into the recovery process on a rejuvenating healing holiday where expert diagnosis and private consultations will guide you as you start your rehabilitation.

With Valentine's Day approaching, it's not too late to book a break away for a truly romantic and healthy getaway. We recommend our top five romantic and healthy holidays for couples this year.

There is a special magic at Kamalaya, an award-winning sanctuary and holistic spa carved into the hillside of the lush Thailand jungle and overlooking the aqua blue sea. It is the perfect setting, a delight for the senses and also the winner of the title of Thailand's best spa. My journey begins at Koh Samui airport where I am greeted with a cool towel and a warm smile, I am glad to arrive after an overnight flight from Melbourne via Bangkok and enjoy being driven from the airport in an air-conditioned 4WD, on approach my driver calls ahead to ensure there is a cool welcome drink and my check in is both efficient and calming, this is to set the scene for the rest of my stay.

What is Thanyapura and who’s it for?

Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort is a world-class facility with an extensive offering, ideal for anyone interested in optimising their sports performance, mental health or physical well-being. Perfect for a fitness or sports holiday, they now also offer a full range of health programs including detox, weight-loss and anti-ageing programs. Guests will have plenty of opportunity to meet other guests throughout their stay. However, there is no set meal times or set table for program guests so it would abe best to be a comfortable independent traveller.

What is Amatara Wellness Resort and who’s it for?

Tucked away in the quiet corner of Cape Panwa, you will find Amatara Wellness Resort. This luxury hotel was recently rebranded to focus on developing the resort as a wellness destination and now offers a range of comprehensive programmes. Suited to those wanting to escape and enjoy a destination spa holiday as well as those looking to take a serious approach to improving their overall well-being.

What is THE BARAI and who’s it for?

THE BARAI is a luxury spa and wellness destination in Hua Hin, Thailand, set across 4.5 acres of pristine beachfront land and now offering a range of healthy lifestyle programs, perfect for a solo wellness adventure, a luxury healthy honeymoon or even an active family escape as adjoining is the Hyatt Regency and guests have access across both properties. Watch my video review here.

Travel Specialist Samantha spent 72 hours at Phuket Cleanse and this is her snapshot review…

Less than an hour from Phuket airport is a health and fitness haven Phuket Cleanse, owned by husband and wife team Stanton and Melanie Proctor. The private retreat is situated on a private property with 18 rooms split across three blocks. Each room is air-conditioned and optimised for sleep and features either a king-sized or twin beds, bathroom, fan, towels, and organic toiletries.

Como Point Yamu is undeniably luxurious and sits in one of Phuket's more serene areas, just 25 minutes from the International airport. With the emphasis on wellness that the COMO brand is famous for, the vibe is electric and tranquil at the same time, expect top quality service with just 79 rooms, including 50 suites.

Here you can enjoy complimentary daily classes, as well as the luxurious Shambhala spa and cuisine if you choose or opt to dine on divine Italian fare or heavenly Thai cuisine. The perfect destination for a short break, a luxury healthy honeymoon or if you like to begin the day with yoga and watch the sunset over cocktails!

I was very excited about visiting SHA Wellness Clinic to rejuvenate and energise for a few days in Spain. It's making quite a name for itself and with regular visits from the likes of Kylie Minogue, Simon Cowell and Naomi Campbell, it seems everybody wants to reap the rewards from coming here.

Inline with the current trend for healthy holidays in exotic surroundings, Shanti Maurice has join forces with world class fitness and nutrition experts SP&Co to launch its first Health & Fitness week starting on 3rd June 2013. Over the course of seven days in June, guests will work with a team of health professionals, from Reiki masters and spa therapists to personal trainers and nutritionists.

Located in the untouched south of Mauritius, set in a tranquil bay on a curving lagoon of white sand Shanti Maurice is the ideal holiday destination to rejuvenate mind, body and soul. With a choice of many other luxury resorts in Mauritius, I considered myself lucky to have found this gem of a place.

Located in the untouched south of Mauritius, set in a tranquil bay on a curving lagoon of white sand Shanti Maurice is the ideal holiday destination to rejuvenate mind, body and soul. With a choice of many other luxury resorts in Mauritius, I considered myself lucky to have found this gem of a place.

From finding it challenging to pick the correct fitness activities for your health goals to wanting to up the ante on your workouts – there are many reasons to book a fitness retreat wherever you find yourself on the scale of regular fitness activity. With a huge array of options to choose from ranging from beginner to advanced, you’re bound to find the health and fitness holiday for you, your partner, your family or whoever you decide to take along with you on your adventures.

Our Top 5 Solo Friendly Healthy Holidays

There is often a stigma attached to travelling solo. People are afraid of appearing lonely and feeling unsafe and the issue of the single supplement can be off putting. But an estimated 15 million singles now live in Britain and many more people are choosing to bite the bullet and travel by themselves. Solo holidays are fast becoming a popular option because they allow for the exact type of experience desired. In 2009, as many as 5 million Brits took to the skies alone so they could enjoy holidays catering to their personal tastes and needs.

If you were to dream up the ultimate sporting playground and transport it to an idyllic setting among the palms and rubber trees of Thailand, Thanyapura Phuket should come pretty close to your vision. Thanyapura Phuket is a 23-hectare athlete's playground, catering to world-class competitors, weekend warriors, school children and everyone in between and it is well on its way to becoming Asia's premier sporting hub.