Mindfulness

Pranayama is the 'Science of Breath', the control of the vital force (prana) in the air we breathe. It is a meditation technique that consists of slow, regulated deep breathing, which helps to calm the mind, balance the emotions and reduce stress and anxiety. It can be practised anywhere but it is advised that you meditate in a clean, peaceful place. It is most beneficial to do pranayama in the early morning or evening hours and playing appropriate soft music will also enhance your experience.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, it’s not too late to book a couples healthy holiday for a romantic wellness getaway. From Lake Garda and New Zealand, to Thailand and the Maldives, we recommend our top five romantic wellness retreats for Valentine’s Day.

Global Wellness Summit has predicted silence as the new luxury. In today’s highly urbanised society, the saying ‘quiet the mind and the soul will speak’ couldn’t be more relevant. Finding peace and quiet has become one of the most sought after commodity. Since the dawning of the information age, we have swiftly plunged into the rabbit hole of digital noise, filling most of our time shackled to the internet, checking our emails and social media almost every waking hour. We are now bombarded with unthinkable stress. In fact, roughly 75% of adults are reported to have moderate to high levels of stress in the past month and nearly half reported that their stress has increased in the past year [1]. Alarmingly, mental health (i.e. anxiety, depression) has ranked number two health issue currently impacting women 18 years old and above, just behind cancer ^[2].

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.

Steve Harvey

Steve Harvey is an extremely gifted holistic healer, life and relationship coach and energy therapist, with an established global reputation, who has treated the likes of Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lopez, Demi Moore, Donna Karan, and Bruce Willis to name a few. He is currently coaching at Zighy Bay in Oman where he helps his clients in maintaining the right attitude, in order to keep their lives, health, and relationships on track. His approach to wellness is through the body, mind, and spirit, and his understanding of Eastern and Western therapies have inspired many.

Are you looking for the perfect wellness holiday to care for your physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing? Following another bustling year filled with constant changes in today's fast-paced environment, the importance of taking a step back to prioritise our health becomes increasingly evident. As we eagerly anticipate the upcoming year, it is crucial to consider not only our personal wellbeing but also that of our loved ones. Recognising that a healthy mind and body are essential for sustained happiness and productivity beyond 2024, the focus shifts towards holistic wellbeing. 

Everyone needs a break every now and then, but the fly-and-flop holidays that involve nothing more than lazing around by the pool won’t provide you with the long-term benefits that your mind, body and soul really needs. You may have a relaxing break, putting the stress and strains of everyday life to one side, but as soon as you arrive back home you will soon feel these same stressors and tensions arise. Focusing on not only providing a relaxing holiday but the tools you need to lead a more balance lifestyle long-term, here we take a look at how a holistic holiday can offer healing benefits for both your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being.

Do you feel disconnected, stressed, or overwhelmed? In our fast-paced, technology-driven world, with little time to relax, it’s easy to see why. However, there are numerous ways to counteract this. Spiritual retreats are becoming increasingly popular to find solace, rejuvenation, and a deeper connection with oneself.  We will look at the many advantages of attending a spiritual retreat, particularly emphasising the benefits of your mental health and self-discovery journey.

Lucia van der Drift is a mindfulness and meditation teacher, working both with groups and one-to-one to support people developing their mindfulness practice and creating more clarity, resilience and focus in their lives.

Gardens aren’t just for green fingered folk, whether you’re a flower fanatic or just looking for a place to relax and unwind, holidaying amongst idyllic gardens and spectacular groves can provide the ultimate mindfulness break. The great outdoors provides the perfect escape from everyday stress and surrounding yourself with the beauty of the natural world can be incredibly beneficial for you both mentally and emotionally. Even taking ten minutes outside in a natural environment, particularly an aesthetic one, can have lasting calming effects and has been shown to drastically improve a person’s mood and reduce stress-related depression. 

Sometimes in life, it can all get just a little bit too much. You’re constantly trying to keep your head above water, battling with stressful situations, attempting to solve everyone else’s problems and all the while neglecting your own sanity. It’s time to stop. So relax, and take back time for yourself with our best healthy holidays for a mental detox.

For many of us, today’s fast-paced, high-intensity lifestyle induces self-neglect and lethargy. We all desire an opportunity to heal; regaining both mental strength and rebooting physical health can be life-changing. A rise of meditation retreats offer the tools and expert guidance to cope with stress and put to use practical techniques for staying present, balanced and calm. 

As the days grow longer and temperatures begins to rise, it’s time to jet off and enjoy the season before the arrival of the autumn equinox. When looking for summer holiday inspiration, we’re all searching for the perfect place to relax. Boost your health and fitness in spectacular destinations as we unveil the best summer holiday destinations for wellness travellers. From a back-to-nature active retreat in Menorca, to a bespoke mindful getaway in Sri Lanka; combine relaxation, wellness and an exotic location for the summer holiday of a lifetime.

The range of health and fitness classes available is so vast that many people don't know where to start and what each one entails. Having an understanding of what each class offers and how it will benefit us is a key component when formulating a fitness regime, because it is easy to get stuck in a class that's not suited to your goals. Here is a breakdown on some of the most popular fitness holiday classes from cardio to strength training and what areas of the body they target, strengthen and tone.

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.

With our father's stomachs slowly expanding and their backs gradually bending, Father's Day couldn't have come any quicker. The perfect gift this Father's Day is not only to express to our dads how much we care and how we actually do acknowledge their existence, but it is also the opportunity to encourage them to take more time out of their stressful routines and look after themselves for a change.

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.  

In support of ‘World Mental Health Day’ we’re covering the top 6 wellness centres that help guests balance their mental well-being and reconnect to their inner self. Our selection of mind healing holidays all focus on aspects of emotional rebalancing and use practices such as mediation, yoga and life coaching to help guide people on the path of mental wellness. Indeed, this is a great chance for anyone to step back from the stresses of daily life and realign to their true path.

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.

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.