Beauty blog retreat
Health and beauty blogger Catherine McCurry takes a look at fitness retreats
THE IDEA of a holiday involves plenty of lounging around in the sun with drink in hand and plenty of exotic and foreign foods to sample.
However, it seems this view of a holiday is changing for many people and the preference now lies with fitness retreats that is filled with yoga, pilates and jogging.
But what is the huge attraction behind these fitness retreats and we are so many people swapping flip-flops for trainers on what should be a relaxed week or two.
Holidays are used as a break away from working life and exercising. We usually spend a month or two working out frantically to shed a few pounds prior to our holidays. But now those heading away on breaks are packing their Lycra’s and protein shakes.
Recent research reveals that the number people from across Ireland and the UK choosing these holidays have doubled in the last year.
According to the research, one in three people want to get fit while on holiday.
Reading through the endless options of holiday retreats, some of the offers do sound appealing.
One involves a week-long exercise regime in the French Alps that involves trail-running through rolling terrain. It does sound good if you’re into that kind of thing.
The two fitness retreats that appealed to me was the sea swimming in the Mediterranean and the tennis in Cyprus.
Throughout the swimming course, participants swim long distances in open water. The days kicked off with a 200m swim followed by a number of other swims throughout the day.
It involves swimming in crystal clear waters, staying in a beachside villa and in the end building upon your confidence as a swimmer.
But it’s the cost that would sway my decision to take part in this. For seven nights it costs £815. A very expensive swimming lesson.
Time spent at the tennis retreat will see participants put through high-tempo drills at an academy set in a sunny resort.
It’s not just all about tennis though – there a fitness centre and weight-training classes and a spa with an infinity pool.
It’s described as a peaceful and stress-free location and with a price tag of £945 for seven night – which includes breakfast, complimentary group classes and return flights – it’s another expensive active holiday.
Fitness retreats are unquestionably on the increase, from learning to trapeze in St Lucia, beach bootcamp training in Ibiza, Nordic walking in the Alps and Aerial yoga in Asia, it’s all at your disposal.
Paul Joseph, co-founder of Health and Fitness Travel said: “Gone are the days when people want to return from holiday feeling sluggish with waistbands that little bit tighter. People don’t want to sit on a beach sunning themselves for 10 hours a day, they want to return home with lasting benefits, long after the tan’s faded.
“A health and fitness holiday can be a great way to reset the body, learn a new approach and develop good habits to bring home.”
