Lifestyle

Grab your soul sisters and shake up your weekend with a girls trip to a luxurious spa escape to reset, recharge and reconnect with your best friends. We’ve gathered the best short-haul healthy holiday destinations to tempt even your busiest gal-pals into a short stress busting vaycay. Boost your fitness during heart-pumping fitness classes before indulging in various spa treatments at one of our handpicked wellness getaways. Together with your best friends, experience the benefits of a wellness getaway and return home with a vibrant holiday glow and memories that will surely be one for the books!

Visiting a spa may not be every bloke's cup of tea, but massages and facials aren't only for women. Are you stressed and need some rest and recovery? Looking for a quick getaway to be pampered or need a good detox? Why don't you pop into a spa and be restored.

After all the stress and time spent Christmas shopping, it is no wonder that most of us over-indulge during the festive period to compensate. The inevitable New Year's resolutions will then be made, and the majority revolve around trying to live a healthier and more exercise orientated lifestyle in the forthcoming year.

Scientists have been researching the theory that short periods of fasting could benefit our health and help with weight problems. We are constantly being fed contradicting evidence regarding what is good and bad for our health, but could this new research actually prove to be revolutionary? A BBC reporter took to investigating the idea of intermittent fasting to discover the benefits and whether it actually worked, and the results were surprising.

Ever wanted to go on a detox holiday but wondered how you would survive without your morning dose of coffee? To help you get through the initial fears, gain the greatest benefit from the detoxification and truly purify the body, we have come up with our top tips for surviving a detox.

Wouldn't it be nice to avoid feeling as bloated as the Christmas turkey this year? Escape the Christmas chaos and jet-off to paradise for a relaxing and healthy holiday. We round-up our top 10 Christmas healthy getaways this year, so you can have a festive holiday to remember and return home feeling rejuvenated and alive.

Looking for the perfect place to recharge yourself?If you are one of those whose New Year's resolution is to get fit, why not find inspiration and motivation across the globe on a health and fitness holiday? One of the best ways to ensure that this year's resolution becomes a reality is to kick-start 2012 with an active break to an exotic destination.

The benefits of yoga are endless; improve your flexibility, strength, balance, posture and breathing. Whether you are trying to relax, recuperate from an injury or tone up, yoga is very good for your mental health, overall fitness and also helps to control weight.

If you're looking to watch your weight there are so many healthy drinks that can help aid weight loss, simply by drinking them you can feel fuller than if you had drunk a fizzy drink, which can help stop snacking during the day.

Shining the spotlight on one of the biggest foodie breakouts of the last few years, we share why an alkaline diet is so good for you and how you can begin your own journey in to this healthy lifestyle.

Whether you’re turning 30 or 50, a wellness break is undeniably a great way to mark your coming of age. Kick-start the upcoming decade by rewarding yourself with a soul enriching milestone birthday getaway. Swap the hustle and bustle of daily life with some much-required peace and quiet. Celebrate amidst the peaceful Himalayas or fulfil your childhood dream of mastering the game of tennis at BodyHoliday in St. Lucia. Go solo or with family and friends but be assured to immerse yourself in a holistic and rejuvenating experience, leaving you with unforgettable memories.  

Societies’ reliance on fossil fuels has captured peoples’ attention as heating oceans, melting glaciers, and rising sea levels, are making their way into the daily news. Here at Health and Fitness Travel, we take this issue as a serious matter and are proud to connect you with eco-friendly retreats whilst providing a few simple tips to achieve an eco-friendly holiday.

by Steve Halsall

A Celebrity Personal Trainer

The Holy Trinity of energy (good sleep, food and attitude) is underpinned by the one thing we all love most; that being a good night's sleep. Good sleep is something every human being deserves, no matter what age you are, and having a good night's sleep allows for better decision making in all areas throughout the following day. Getting your head down and sleeping well is one of the most important things in anyone's life.

Take your passion for healthy eating a step further and indulge in one of our top nutrition holidays for healthy foodies. Learn more about how to better your insides with nutritional talks and consultations as you enjoy breath-taking surroundings and world-class treatments that will leave you with a spring in your step. Make the most of fresh detox smoothies, Asian cuisine, healthy twists on classic junk food staples and much more. There are also plenty of opportunities to work on your outsides too with complementary access to group classes such as yoga, Pilates, meditation and general fitness. These retreats truly are a healthy foodies’ heaven!

We have uncovered our top wellness travel trends for 2012. We are always researching and forecasting what are going to be the next big trends in health and fitness travel and making sure our clients are always in the know with the latest and most up-to-date information.  Here are our latest predictions for 2012.

When it comes to improving heart health, there has been an abundance of research and development into preventive measures for cardiovascular disorders, including fitness activities and a variety of heart-friendly nutritional regimens. Great ways of lowering blood pressure and reducing strain on the heart, there has been an undeniable rise in specialist wellness holidays offering the health, fitness and nutritional guidance needed for revamping bad habits and unhealthy lifestyles in the pursuit of staying or becoming heart healthy.

Traveling is a unique learning experience and packing plays an important part. Instead of losing your sanity on thinking on what to bring on your upcoming trip, just shift your focus on what NOT to bring – and we promise you won’t miss a thing! Here is a list of things you should consider not packing on your next travel.

Natasha Corrett

Natasha Corrett is a self-taught gourmet vegetarian chef and founder of Honestly Healthy¸ a leading alkaline-based food company which offers cleanses, cooking classes, food deliveries and tips for living a healthy lifestyle. The co-author of two best-selling cookbooks, Natasha’s passion began at the age of 16 when she spent the summer holidays with her father in the kitchens of Le Boudin Blanc, France. Having introduced the concept of “alkaline eating” to the UK, she now has a large celebrity following.

Our co-founder Paul Joseph gives his reasons why holidays are so healthy for us and how a break away can offer more health benefits than you may realise.

A holiday is far better for your health than you might think. Naturally, being the co-founder of Health and Fitness Travel, I strongly believe in a holiday's power to give you benefits which outlast your tan. You not only have the chance to escape from the stresses of daily life, but you can stimulate your mind with a new culture and learn healthier habits. It's a great chance to not just relax, but also to improve your physical and emotional well-being, and return home with fantastic memories.