It’s no secret that wellness has taken the mainstream by storm — from restaurants serving up nutritious fare, to resorts that offer mindfulness workshops — there’s no shortage of options if you’re looking for a holiday that’s good for you. If all your friends have embraced the trend, and you’re feeling the pressure, why not join in and try the latest craze? Fitness retreats, also known as ‘fitcations’ are on the rise, the world over. Go on, try something new — you might just surprise yourself!
Get Your Zen On
If your idea of a holiday involves plenty of chill time, why not try a yoga retreat? Throw in a beautiful location, and you can’t go wrong. India is a good place to start, and you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to professional centres offering good-quality instruction, many of which include meals and accommodation. Bamboo Yoga Retreat in Goa was voted one of the top ten yoga retreats in India by Conde Naste Traveller magazine last year, and offers guests the chance to practice yoga and meditation with gorgeous sea views. Dinner on the beach, vegetarian brunches, and boat trips to watch dolphins will make you forget you’re actually on a fitness break!
Catch A Wave
Even if you’re fully committed to working up a sweat on your next holiday, there’s no need to sacrifice a little beach time. Pointe Break, located in beautiful Costa Rica, offers something quite unique — a combination of surfing and ballet fitness. The retreat offers daily surfing lessons and ballet fitness classes with a focus on strength, stability, agility and flexibility. The classes are a real physical challenge, and paired with organic meals and post-workout smoothies (plus a little poolside relaxation, of course), you’re sure to feel strong and rejuvenated.
Get Serious
Opt for a retreat that promises time with a qualified trainer, and you’ll certainly have no excuse to slack off! The Brenners Park Hotel and Spa in Germany offers a detox programme that includes a consultation with a detox specialist, personal training sessions, and a range of treatments like lymphatic drainage and massage. There are also group fitness classes like aqua fitness, yoga, and core workouts available. The Lime Wood hotel in the UK also runs a fitness retreat — they’ve partnered with one of the country’s leading personal trainers, Matt Roberts, to create one and two day fitness breaks that include intense personal training, massage, nutritious meals and a cooking demonstration. Plus, the accommodation is top-notch, so you’ll be able to rest your tired muscles in comfort!
Join A Group
If you’d love to get that perfect bikini body, but find the thought of a fitness camp intimidating, try a retreat that’s suited for all fitness levels. Fit Goddess Retreats runs fitness vacations for women only — while the programme is packed with classes and bootcamp activities, the focus is on providing an encouraging, nurturing space where self-confidence is valued just as much as a physical transformation. Based in beautiful Bali, the retreats include functional training, pilates, boxing, and a wide range of other activities.
