12 Wellness Holidays to Make You Healthier in 2018

 

The New Year has just begun which brings more focus on health, fitness and well-being as you look ahead to a year of possibilities. Welcome the new year and make one of your resolutions to make time for a health or fitness holiday. Whatever your goals in 2018, Health and Fitness Travel, the wellness holiday specialists will find a break to meet your wellness needs; be it detox, meditation, yoga, sports or sleep, you can be as sociable or as solitary as you wish. With the support and assistance of experts available in some of the world’s most beautiful locations, choose a wellness holiday to make you healthier this year.

 

The Sports Performance Break – Palacio Estoril Sports & Performance, Portugal

Hitting an athletic plateau is demotivating, but unbelievably common. On the sunny coast of Cascais, luxury 5-star resort, Palacio Estoril, offers sports enthusiasts an opportunity to overcome physical and mental barricades, enhancing performance and refining skill. Utilising treatments such as physiotherapy and Chinese medicine, guests benefit from improved posture and well-being. In addition to an array of fitness classes, the programme focusses on nutritional performance enhancement, providing all the tools necessary to achieve athletic goals.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 5 nights at Palacio Estoril from £1,495pp and £2,100 for single occupancy. Price includes breakfast, programme, return flights and transfers.

 

The Luxury Beach Spa Break – Amanpuri Awareness Immersion, Thailand

Amidst palm-fringed, white sand beaches, and architecture inspired by ancient Ayutthayan culture, Amanpuri exudes timeless luxury. The awareness immersion programme, guided by a former Buddhist monk, is a meditative experience encouraging the renewal of internal focus, synchronising the mind, body and soul. Indulgent spa treatments such as cranial sacral therapy compliment the programme, along with unrivalled nutritional support. With spiritual guidance, a 5-star spa, and a private beach on your doorstep, Amanpuri is perfect for those looking for a luxury, yet authentic, beach and spa getaway.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Amanpuri from £6,210pp or £7,815 for single occupancy. Price includes full board with a choice of wellness programmes, return flights and transfers.

 

The Yoga Trip – The Retreat Costa Rica Yoga, Costa Rica

The Retreat is a Costa Rican haven set amid Quartz mountains and lush vegetation. Master the asana’s and find inner peace with daily private and group yoga practices. For beginners and advanced yogi’s alike, a week of seclusion and serenity will be beneficial both physically and mentally, improving flexibility, strength, and balance, as well as emotional clarity and stress. This healthy yoga escape also includes a hike, wellness workshops, a healing massage and a trip to a local farmers market.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at The Retreat Costa Rica from £2,960pp or £4,100 for single occupancy. Price includes full board with a yoga programme, return flights and transfers.

 

The Mediterranean Healthy Escape – Ayii Anargyri Healing, Cyprus

A boutique hotel amid a valley of mature trees in the village of Miliou, Cyprus, Ayii Anargyri promotes an idyllic location for a healthy healing escape. Restore well-being as you harness the time-tested, natural healing powers of the areas mineral-rich waters. Find profound calmness and tranquillity through hydrotherapy treatments such as underwater massage, and treat ailments in the phlebology, kinesiotherapy, and rheumatology pools. The healing waters are also utilised in spa therapies such as the indulgent mud therapy cocoons and massages.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Ayii Anargyri from £1,860pp or £1,580 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, a choice of healing programme, return flights and transfers.

 

The Family Sports Holiday – Forte Village, Sardinia

A Sardinian paradise for sports loving families, Forte Village will leave guests spoilt for choice. In addition to a plethora of activities such as cycling, football academy, basketball, tennis and boxing academy, fitness lovers can get involved in various activities from Zumba to yoga. Located next to the beach, water babies can also enjoy a range of water sports including paddle boarding, windsurfing, and diving. The kids club can also keep the young ones (and teenagers) occupied whilst you indulge in some ‘me time’ at the spa.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Forte Village Resort from £1,090pp. Price includes half board, return flights and transfers.

 

The Detox and Pilates Break – Amatara Detox, Thailand

With stunning views out over Cape Panwa, Phuket, Amatara is an idyllic destination for a relaxing detox and Pilates retreat. Following a juice cleanse and healthy eating regime, achieve optimal well-being with treatments such as colonic hydrotherapy, coffee cleansing, manual lymphatic drainage, and detoxifying ayurvedic massages. Gain strength and flexibility with mat Pilates and private reformer Pilates in stunning surroundings. This healthy holiday will give you the chance to experience your most energised and most radiant self.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights with Amatara Detox from £2,845pp or £3,485 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, a detox programme, return flights and transfers.

 

The Trip of a Lifetime – Ultimate Around the World 1 Year Wellness Trip

The Ultimate Around the World Wellness Trip is an unbeatable opportunity, both in terms of experience and luxury. Enjoy yoga on private island ‘parrot cay’ one week, then scuba diving in The Great Barrier Reef the next. Other highlights include ayurvedic therapy in India, hiking in Utah and a guided tour of Istanbul’s architecture. With over 20 stops on this year-long voyage you will become both vastly cultured and a master of your own health and fitness.

Pricing starts from £156,000pp with Business class flights for 12 months around the world wellness trip. Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com)

 

The Tennis Holiday – Pine Cliffs Annabel Croft Tennis Academy, Portugal

Whether your dreaming of Wimbledon, or simply getting the ball over the net, the Tennis Academy at Pine Cliffs in Portugal is guaranteed to improve your game leaps and bounds. With five group tennis lessons throughout the week, all of which utilise the professionally developed ‘movement and repetition method’ expect to see advances in skill, stamina, and style. Guests also receive an invigorating sports massage, the perfect way to unwind after a morning on the court.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Pine Cliffs from £1,325pp or £1,055 for single occupancy. Price includes breakfast, a tennis training programme, return flights and transfers.

 

The Safari and Yoga Break – Karkloof Safari & Yoga, South Africa

Combining passions for yoga and nature, this wellness holiday takes you to one of the most exceptional and unspoilt areas of South Africa. During the Safari & Yoga programme at Karkloof Safari Spa, guests experience two game drives, observing wildlife such as giraffes, rhinoceros, and a plethora of bird species. With daily yoga classes, mountain biking, fishing, and guided hikes, finding your connection with nature and developing inner peace has never come more naturally.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Karkloof Safari Spa from £4,650pp or £4,770 for single occupancy. Price is all-inclusive, with a programme, return flights and transfers.

 

The Sleep Retreat – Lefay Sleep Well, Italy

Regain control over your sleeping pattern on an invigorating sleep wellness retreat overlooking beautiful Lake Garda. Find relaxation and pure bliss with a selection of indulgent, pampering, and holistic spa treatments. Improve your sleeping patterns as you are guided by the energy flow of Chinese medicine combined with locally grown healthy cuisine as you are taken through a journey to better health and peaceful state of mind, ensuring you get a good night's rest.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Lefay Resort & Spa from £2,155pp or £2,640 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, with a sleep programme, return flights and transfers.

 

The Winter Sun Fitness Holiday – BodyHoliday Fusion Fitness, St Lucia

If you’re looking for winter sun, it’s a struggle to comprehend a destination more perfect than St Lucia with an activity for every type of active traveller. From 7am beach workouts to 8am yoga along with daily spa treatments, enjoy a personalised Fusion Fitness programme designed for you. Achieve optimal well-being with a choice of private activities from tennis lessons, bike rides and sports weight training to ocean sports, Tai Chi, Pilates and meditation.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at BodyHoliday from £2,790pp or £2,810 for single occupancy. Price is all-inclusive, with a Fusion Fitness programme, return flights and transfers.

 

The Short-haul Health Booster – Six Senses Kaplankaya De-stress & Reconnect, Turkey

Give your health a well-deserved boost this year as you enjoy a selection of indulgent spa treatments including massages and body wraps at Six Senses, Kaplankaya. Disengage from the stresses of daily life as you find your calm with sunrise yoga or a morning coastal walk, then work out your tensions in an invigorating personal training session. Whether it’s a quick break or an extended getaway, this Turkish stay is guaranteed to help you take a step back, finding clarity in the process.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Six Senses Kaplankaya from £1,380pp or £2,300 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, with a wellness programme, return flights and transfers.

 

For advice, guidance and booking visit www.healthandfitnesstravel.com or call 0203 397 8891

 

 

About Health and Fitness Travel

Health and Fitness Travel is a global luxury wellness travel company that originated in the UK in 2010 and is committed to providing healthy holidays that enhance and change lives. Created by Paul Joseph and Adam Heathcote as a result of their passion for health and fitness travel and offering bespoke holidays to improve people’s well-being to lead happier and healthier lives.

 

Health and Fitness Travel offers clients a tailor-made seamless service with the very best health and fitness holidays, handpicked by its expert team, together with exclusive and added value packages with the best deals. As leading specialists, Health and Fitness Travel has also created their own collection of trademark healthy holidays in various destinations which include Fusion Fitness™ BodyBreaks™ and Discover Recover™, offering clients the best value and holiday experience. For more information visit: www.healthandfitnesstravel.com

A lot of people want to get fitter these days, but so many of them go about it in the wrong way. The real trick to getting fit and staying fit is to take up some sports. These are amazing for developing your body and keeping you healthy. And, as a bonus, they are enjoyable, competitive and social. You need to realise that sport is the best way of keeping fit.

So, with that in mind, here are a few of the best sports you could take up. These are all essential for getting you fit and healthy, and keeping you there. Of course, it can’t hurt to take up gym classes as well. But, you need to ensure you understand the benefit that these particular sports can have for you.

Football

Football is one of America’s best-loved sports, and the Super Bowl is maybe the most watched sporting event globally. It’s also a sport that’s excellent for your fitness levels, so you need to try to take it up if possible. Of course, you’ll need to make sure you have all the right gear and equipment before you start. Getting a new set of football cleats this season will help you train and play properly. This will improve your fitness levels, and cut down on the risk of injuries. When you play football, you will be doing a lot of running, tackling and throwing. You’ll work all your muscle groups and improve your stamina.

Squash

Keeping fit when playing sports is often about movement. And one of the most active sports you can do is squash. This is a sport where you are constantly running around, as well as having to hit a ball. As such, you will build up and develop incredible stamina, as well as improving leg and arm muscles. You might find squash to be a struggle to begin with because it takes a lot out of you. But, after a while you will get used to it, and it will become much more enjoyable. You’ll be amazed by how fit you will get from playing squash.

squash

Image Source

Track

Running track is essential if you want to become fitter. Of course, you don’t just have to limit yourself to an actual track. Running can be done anywhere, and that’s the beauty of it. It’s important to make sure you exercise on a regular basis, so try to do it as much as possible. You might even think about getting a HipZIPP to make your runs more practical. This way you have no exercise not to get up every morning and go for a run. Set yourself fitness goals as this will make the process more enjoyable.

The key to staying fit and healthy is to make sure you take up regular sports. Now, certain sports are better than others for keeping you fit. But the beauty is that you have so many choices these days. So, take a look at the suggestions on this post, and use them to try to keep as fit as you can as often as you can!

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LEADING SPORTS AND REHABILITATION EXPERT OPENS ONE-STOP SHOP DEDICATED TO WELLNESS   
Toronto, ON (October 20, 2015) - Top Toronto sports and rehabilitation expert, Dr. Sapna Sriram announces the opening of her new clinic Integra Health Centre, Toronto's most comprehensive corporate boutique health clinic located in downtown Toronto's financial district. This unique one stop health service clinic offers patients a variety of services ranging from family medicine to sports medicine to cosmetic medicine to chiropractic, naturopathy and much more.
Having established herself as a leader in the sports medicine industry, Dr. Sapna's clinic Integra Health Centre integrates her 15+ years of experience to cater to the needs of Toronto urban and business communities all under one roof.
"Integra Health is not your typical doctor's office, we are a new boutique health clinic and we are reinventing how we take on your health." says Dr. Sapna, Sports and Rehabilitation expert. "Our goal is to cultivate an environment where patients can benefit from a variety of services at one convenient location using an integrative team based approach with top rated professionals. We have put together a team of industry professionals that will ensure our patients receive the best treatments and rediscover a healthier life"
Spanning 5000 square feet, the space boasts 18 treatment rooms, a rehab room, a comfortable private lounge, and presentation room. Integra Health offers the most comprehensive services under one roof, with top rated practitioners and top of the line state of the art technology and services.
 For more information about Integra Health Centre, please visit www.integrahealthcentre.com
About Dr. Sapna
 
Dr.Sapna, DC, R.Ac, Dip. Med. Ac, CSCS, ART®, FMS/SFMA, MBA is a Toronto born sports and rehabilitation expert. Graduating from McMaster University with an Honours Bachelor of Science in 2003 and a degree from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 2007 (where she graduated cum laude), Dr.Sapna also holds a Masters of Business Administration specializing in health industry management from the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto. 
 
Dr. Sapna also holds a certificate in Contemporary Medical Acupuncture (Dip. Med.Ap) from McMaster University, a certified Active Release Techniques Provider, ART®, a Strength & Conditioning Specialist from  the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is also a certified personal trainer.  Dr. Sapna also holds dual licenses from both the College of Chiropractors of Ontario and The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario.  For more information, please visit www.DrSapna.com
 
 Facebook: Dr Sapna
Twitter: @DrSapnaSriram

 

 

Thank You @gatoradecanada #keepsweating

Gatorade

 

Did you know that losing >2% of body mass through seat has been shown to impair athletic performance? Hydration is so important! and Gatorade helps with that.

 

I came home the other day to a giant box delivered to my concierge. I lug it all the way upstairs and open it up to find a giant gatorade water jug filled with Gatorade products.  Some I knew existed and others I didn't. Who knew that gatorade made protein bars. Not only are they packed with 20g of protein but they are delicious. Every single flavour. Im a fan of the caramel one myself. They also gave me a towel for sweat while I workout and an arm band to keep my iPod in while working out. There was every flavour of Gatorade, g2, Gatorade protein shakes, a water bottle, and even information on the Gatorade Sport Science Institute. The GSSI has worked with athletes from NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, MLS, NASCARR, WTA, CHL, Ironman, NCAA football and even professional soccer. www.GSIweb.org/en-ca

The Train It Right household will be happily hydrated by Gatorade over the next few weeks! Thanks again Gatorade Canada! #keepsweating

Standard Apparel brings leading modern outdoor lifestyle clothing and sustainable line, Nau, to Canadians
Toronto, ON – Standard Apparel is proud to announce it will exclusively distribute thePortland-based apparel and accessories brand Nau to retailers across Canada. Starting in February, fashionable, eco-conscious Canadians will be able to pick up pieces from Nau’s spring/summer 2014 collections at their favourite stores.

Nau makes modern, stylish and sustainable urban and outdoor performance apparel and accessories for men and women. With a commitment to reducing their carbon footprint, Nau focuses on using premium, eco-friendly fabrics and fibres like organic cotton, wool, tencel and recycled polyester. Nau also donates two per cent of every sale to its humanitarian and environmental partners for change, where consumers choose which partner to support with their purchase.

Without logos, pieces feature a simple, clean and timeless aesthetic with well-crafted silhouettes that were built to move with the elements, but still look sleek when worn in the city.

I know Canadians will love wearing and supporting Nau – and we are thrilled about bringing this brand to our local retailers. Nau creates well-made, tailored outdoor performance apparel with sustainability and the environment top of mind,” said Jeremy Logan, president of sales and marketing, Standard Apparel. “Nau pieces look stylish when worn on city streets and the eco-friendly fabrics feel incredible, but all pieces are also made to perform well in the outdoors, which is a huge bonus for adventure lovers.”

Some of the company’s hottest men’s items for the season include the Genus polo ($80), Mutha Pucka shirt ($85) and the Succinct trench ($315).

Genus polo and Mutha Pucka shirt
For women, top looks for the season include the Illume tee ($70), Repose stripe dress/skirt ($105), Compleat dress ($110), Mojave Dez shirt ($105) and the Poncho Via ($315).
 
Compleat dress, Mojave Dez shirt and Poncho Via
The Nau spring/summer 2014 collections will be sold at Canadian retailers including MEC (locations across Canada), Sporting Life (locations across Canada), Ad Hoc (Penticton, BC), Raindrops (Toronto, ON), The Outside Store (Sudbury, ON), Awear Boutique (Collingwood, ON), Campers Village (Calgary and Edmonton, AB), Red Bike (Edmonton, AB), Rogue (Calgary, AB), Ladyfern (Abbotsford, BC), Not Just Pretty (Victoria, BC), Shaughnessy (Vancouver, BC), Two of Hearts (Vancouver, BC), Still Eagle (Nelson, BC), Wearabouts (Salmon Arm, Vernon and Revelstoke, BC), Black Fish Apparel (Kelowna, BC) and Coast Mountain (Whitehorse, YT).

About Nau:
Nau (pronounced “now”) is a clothing company based in Portland, Oregon. They design, make and sell modern urban and outdoor apparel—integrated designs for the active mobile lifestyle. Nau is committed to the power of business as a force for positive change, seeking to balance the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit. To learn more about Nau, please visit www.nau.com.

Twitter: @NauClothing
Facebook: NauClothing

About Standard Apparel:
Standard Apparel is the exclusive Canadian distributor for leading international brands including Fred Perry, Oliver Spencer, Hudson's Bay Co., Aigle, Filson, Mads Norgaard, Sunspel, Rivieras and Nau. Located at 87 Wingold Avenue in Toronto, Standard Apparel's showroom offers an environment consistent with its brands' aesthetics in which retail buyers and media can view the unique collections that retail in over 200 stores across Canada.www.standardapparel.ca

Twitter: @StandardApparel
Facebook: Standard Apparel

Why Elite Athletes require Strength & Conditioning Coaches?

Alicia Bell

With the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics just a couple of weeks away let’s take a look at one aspect of getting to the highest level in a sport, Strength training. While yes a vast majority of sport specific coaches have a decent understanding of strength training the truth is their expertise is the specific skill and tactical development of the sport which is why athletes need an additional component to their support staff, Strength and Conditioning Coaches.

Using track and field as an example, the main staples that 90% of track coaches program for their athletes are:

  • Power Cleans
  • Partial Range Back Squats
  • Barbell Flat Bench Press
  • [insert random abdominal exercise here]

As a strength coach I have to look not only at what will improve performance by making the athlete faster (stronger to improve stride length) but also what will prevent injury and the biggest injury in the sport is a hamstring injury, but yet not one of the above exercises addresses the issue of ensuring the hamstring is sufficiently strong to prevent being overpowered by the quadriceps and glutes and then leading to a strained/pulled hamstring. This can then be extended to every sport and the specific strength qualities related to them whether its acceleration/power, speed, strength, endurance, strength endurance.

Strength Coaches study and are better equipped than sport specific coaches to find various imbalances and then using the tools in our toolbox, scientifically formulate a program to reduce the discovered imbalance to reduce injury risk and improve athletic performance whether that’s running speed, jump height, racquet speed or punching power. This requires another approach to periodization training and even mini periodization within a specific training cycle/block to maximize the effect of training to translate onto the field of play. Just in a program this includes:

  • Exercise selection
  • Variation of exercise selection (Range of motion, implement, grip, angles)
  • Specificity to sport skills, tasks and movements
  • Taking into account physical and emotional demands of practice
  • Taking into account physical (metabolical, hormonal, neurological) and emotional demands of training session (repititions, sets, intensity/load, tempo and speed of movement, rest intervals, range of motion)
  • Nutritional demands and status of athlete

Elite athletes need to have a strength coach in their support staff to help to ensure they are physically ready to perform at their highest level, to be their strongest/fittest for competition. Take a look at every NCAA collegiate program, they have a department dedicated to strength and conditioning for this very reason.

To perform at the highest levels, elite athletes require their training to be catered and specific towards them. This gives the added NEED to have an additional coach who specializes in strength and conditioning training to ensure the athlete is at their best when in competition and able to handle the rigors and demands of day to day practices and come out of it healthy.

- Tony Risling

Check it out

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Jamal Crawford Breaking ankles as a Clipper Already

The Utah Jazz's Derrick Favors trains it right by focusing on big plyometric box jumps as he continues to build to higher-intensity work in his P3 routine.