Yoga

With many people short of time or simply eager to get on with the fun part of exercising, the importance of stretching before and after a workout is all too often overlooked. Again and again, it is drilled into us the importance of stretching correctly before and after physical training, yet still many of us suffer unnecessary injuries as a result of putting it off.

Those in search of purifying freedom from daily life will find absolute rejuvenation at any of our yoga holidays across the globe. Yet, for the ultimate yogi experience, take some time out and travel to the birthplace of yoga with our luxury retreats in the majestic country of India. We have created the ultimate Yogi Travel Guide for this rich and vibrant nation, where you can experience the ancient spiritual release of healing your mind, body and soul.

Arriving into the small airport of Dehradun via Delhi, I was greeted by my personal driver and taken straight into an air-conditioned 4x4 for the short 45-minute journey up the mountain towards Ananda. The journey itself was an experience, from seeing monkeys, cows, and goats up the windy uphill roads and a more impressive view at every turn. Ananda means peace - and my seven day stay was a purifying experience of just that.

Phuket Cleanse and Who it’s for?

After opening its doors in 2012, Phuket Cleanse has very quickly become the go-to place for an all-encompassing fitness and detox holiday. Unlike other detox retreats, Phuket Cleanse has a strong focus on complementing a raw food or juice detox with fitness and organic supplements. Designed to be structured, everything is laid out for you so you can do as many of the activities as possible. With a strong social dimension and health-oriented guests, it’s a fun and friendly atmosphere. Guests are aged between 25 to 55, and have either health issues to address or are looking to kick-start or enhance their well-being, whilst catering for everyone whether you are fit or unfit.

Well, where do I begin? Let’s start at arriving at Verona airport in Italy. The bags arrived promptly within 20 minutes of landing. As I walk through to the arrivals lounge, my driver from the hotel is there waiting for me and I am driven from the airport to Lefay Resort & Spa in complete comfort and luxury – this sets the tone for the whole trip from now until I come back to this airport in a weeks’ time.

Multi award-winning Ananda in the Himalayas is once again recognised as one of the world's BEST destination spas, this time being voted 'Number One Spa in the World' at the Conde Nast Traveller Readers' Spa Awards 2012, held in London's Corinthia Hotel last night.

Overlooking the majestic Himalayas and hidden away from city life, Ananda provided me with complete escape from the world. At first I was sceptical about trying to relax near the bustling capital city of Delhi, but upon arriving to this magical paradise, I knew that my doubts would easily be put to rest. At Dehradun Airport, I was greeted by an Ananda chauffeur whilst on our way to the resort, passionately described the quaint villages that we passed on the way to the palace so I could get an overall feel for the destination.

With the fit and active 'baby-boomer' generation now reaching 65 years plus, they are making a big impact on the health and fitness travel sector and it's set to continue. More than 10 million people alive today will live to be more than 100 years old. The older generation are seeking holiday destinations which encourage more physical and mental activity. Having that spending power to go on holiday, baby boomers consider holidays no longer an indulgence but a necessity of life for their well-being.

by Aleenta BARRE

Congratulations on your decision to make yourself a priority and commit to a regular workout routine. The addition of physical fitness into your life requires hard work, but yields great rewards. Now, which for of fitness should you choose? With the vast choice of fitness workout options available today, it can be overwhelming to know which one is right for you.

Add some vitamin D and sea salt to your yoga practise on an exotic yoga and beach holiday that will leave you sun-kissed, rejuvenated and with a feeling of total wellness. Rather than a fly-and-flop beach holiday, give yourself the gift of sunrise yoga performed on white sandy beaches, supplemented by exhilarating water sports and indulgent spa treatments. Welcoming yogis of all levels and under the guidance of expert tuition you can choose to start learning yoga on holiday, or focus on strengthening and developing your existing practise. Whichever path you choose, you will return home re-balanced, rested and restored.

Add some vitamin D and sea salt to your yoga practise on an exotic yoga and beach holiday that will leave you sun-kissed, rejuvenated and with a feeling of total wellness. Rather than a fly-and-flop beach holiday, give yourself the gift of sunrise yoga performed on white sandy beaches, supplemented by exhilarating water sports and indulgent spa treatments. Welcoming yogis of all levels and under the guidance of expert tuition you can choose to start learning yoga on holiday, or focus on strengthening and developing your existing practise. Whichever path you choose, you will return home re-balanced, rested and restored.

Add some vitamin D and sea salt to your yoga practise on a coastal yoga holiday that will leave you sun-kissed, rejuvenated and with a feeling of total wellness. Rather than a typical fly-and-flop holiday by the coast, give yourself the gift of sunrise yoga performed on scenic coastlines, supplemented by exhilarating water sports and indulgent spa treatments. Welcoming yogis of all levels and under the guidance of expert tuition you can choose to start learning yoga on holiday, or focus on strengthening and developing your existing practise. Whichever path you choose, you will return home re-balanced, rested and restored.

Experts are urging mums to take a break and go on what they now call a Mumcation, a kid-free holiday spent solo or with friends or other mums who are in dire need of me time. Taking a healthy retreat from your kids can have some serious benefits for your overall well-being. Whatever your idea of wellness is, from a spa-filled holiday in Bali to a fitness boosting retreat in Thailand, these Mumcation retreats offer the right combination of pamper time and activities to make your time away with the kids all worth the trip. Whether an outdoor aficionado or spa connoisseur, you can find everything you need to cultivate calm and channel a more balanced motherhood mindset.

Bali is a world-renowned well-being destination that provides an oasis of peace for those who visit. It attracts many people from all over the globe for its relaxed atmosphere and exotic landscapes. Its unique combination of natural beauty and culture makes it an idyllic destination for healing and self-discovery. Discover 5 of the best Balinese yoga retreats for your next wellness adventure that will allow you to combine leisure travel with wellness living. From the serene seascapes of Nusa Dua to the fascinating rice fields of Ubud, yogi lovers can enhance their practice across Bali on our transformative yoga holidays.

Buccament Bay is becoming the most talked about place in the Caribbean, a luxury five star resort with outstanding facilities which I got to experience myself. The new resort on the little island of St Vincent has exceptional facilities for the active traveller; these include a Liverpool FC Soccer School, a Pat Cash Tennis Academy, a performing arts centre with classes led by West End professionals, fitness centre and a spa. Scenes from one of my favourite movies, Pirates of the Caribbean were shot nearby.

by Angie Newson

A Yoga and Pilates Expert

Yoga offers us wonderful benefits: simply put - improved flexibility, enhanced strength, defined body tone and the chance of relaxation - even if it's only ten minutes' peace and quiet at the end of a class (and for some, a little snooze time!) However the more you practise, the more you'll learn that yoga is so much more than this. Yoga, amongst many other things, can help build self-esteem and confidence and is a brilliant tool to cultivate inner calm and peace, self-acceptance and self-worth.

It is a common misconception that yoga is not fast-paced enough to rid you of those extra pounds. However, you don’t have to look very far to find numerous testimonies of passionate yogis who swear by yoga, declaring it an extremely effective weight-loss technique. So, although to an outsider, yoga may appear to be just a series of light stretches and deep breaths, rendering it too low intensity to be an effective way to lose weight; for those of you who have already practiced yoga, you know that this is a severe misconception.

Charlotte Dormon finds a delicious way to detox at the Absolute Sanctuary Retreat in Koh Samui.

After battling through another cold winter and the stress of London life grinding me down, I decided it was time to recharge the body, relax the mind and book in some well-deserved 'me time'.

Deepak Rawat

Deepak Rawat, Spa Manager at Shanti Maurice, Mauritius shares with us the health benefits of practicing yoga and Ayurveda on our mental and physical well-being, as well as explaining how the healing practice of naturopathy can naturally assist with chronic illness and stress-related symptoms.