Yoga

Veer Singh

The brainchild of young visionary Veer Singh, Vana Retreats is a manifestation of his belief in wellness, his respect for nature and keen interest in design and hospitality. Veer who was born in New Delhi, India spent a number of years in England and Spain. A man of varied interests, Veer grew up wanting to become a sportsman, a musician, a physicist and later a farmer. He plays tennis, enjoys archery, swims, dabbles with percussion instruments and endeavours to lead a more sustainable, balanced and mindful life. Veer has set himself the ambitious goal of making Vana, Malsi Estate the most iconic wellness retreat in the world.

Stress is the ultimate 21st century syndrome. It can creep in at any moment and can be caused by almost anything in your life, whether it's work, family or your social life.  Although stress is perfectly natural it needs to be kept under control as excessive amounts can be harmful not only to your body and mind, but can also lead to unhealthy habits, such as over eating and smoking.

Angie Newson

Angie Newson has been in the health, fitness and well-being industry for over 21 years and over that period has taught all aspects of fitness. She is fully qualified to teach Pilates with The Pilates Foundation UK and is a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher. Angie is the author of Get Fit for Free with Yoga and Pilates published by The Reader's Digest and she is also the Pilates presenter on Sky's Fitness TV. As a health and well-being writer, she writes regularly for the national press and many women's magazines and is The Sunday Telegraph's Stella magazine's Yoga/Pilates 'expert'. Angie regularly travels overseas to teach classes and retreats and now hosts an exclusive Yoga & Pilates holiday at Longevity Wellness Resort in Portugal. Her classes appeal to all ages (her oldest client is 84!) and she adapts her sessions to suit her students of all levels. www.exploreyogapilates.com

Are you looking for a luxury wellness holiday, dedicated to improving and deepening your Pilates practice? Then you won’t want to miss COMO Pilates Retreat, held at Como Shambhala Estate in Bali this October.

What is Six Senses Douro Valley and who is it for?

Six Senses Douro Valley is a true wellness haven, suitable for anyone looking to spend some time ‘away from it all’ sounded by lush green vineyards and blue waters. It’s the ideal place for anyone looking for tranquillity and a place to reconnect with themselves. The epitome of luxury and wellness where you can focus on both body and mind but also indulge in a glass of wine without feeling any sort of guilt.

Fitness holidays with partners or friends encourage team-work and constant support between one another, a key component of a healthy relationship. Having a partner around is also a great idea for motivation; if you're feeling a little tired one day then the other will motivate you to reach your optimum performance, much like being their personal cheerleader. Release endorphins and de-stress together, and learn to lead a healthier lifestyle when you return home.

If you like yoga and would like to book a yoga holiday, you might just love Aerial Yoga! This craze, also known as AntiGravity Yoga, has swept the globe, with celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Gisele Bündchen and Kourtney Kardashian advocating it.

The past several days have brought no shortage of perfect physiques to our screens. The fine form and outstanding achievements of the Olympic athletes are enough to make anyone feel guilty. But don't despair- many of the sports we've seen are easily accessible to everyone and it's never too late to start working on your physique, so why not try getting fit Olympic style?

"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease." The World Health Organisation

With our fast paced, digitally-induced lives leaving us little time to breathe, let alone think straight, it’s little wonder that stress is are becoming a modern day pandemic.

When we experience stress or anxiety, our sympathetic nervous systems are automatically triggered; our heart beats harder, our brow and palms perspire and adrenaline pumps around our bodies as we enter fight or flight mode – an innate, primal response to aid our survival.

Up the ante from the predictable box of chocolates this Mother’s Day and treat mum to the gift of wellness with our rejuvenating European BodyBreaks. Whether your mum is a yoga guru, fitness fanatic or spa enthusiast, she will love the opportunity to tailor-make her wellness break with a range of activities, group exercise classes and luxury spa treatments. From a Cretan getaway overlooking the Mediterranean, to the lush mountain region of Lake Garda in Italy, these healthy European escapes will be just the break Mum needs to revitalise her mummy mojo.

More than just a fad diet, eating gluten free is in fact vital to individuals suffering from a condition called coeliac disease. A lifelong autoimmune disease in which the small intestine reacts with hypersensitivity to gluten, this reaction leads to difficulty in digesting food. According to Coeliac.org.uk, this disease is affecting approximately 1 in 100 people with over 80% of this number remaining undiagnosed. With an increasing demand for nutrition friendly retreats offering gluten free cuisine we share our top 5 gluten free healthy foodie holidays, opening the doors even wider to a world of gastronomic globetrotters.

by Justine Glenton

An Ashtanga & Zen Yoga Teacher

Keeping a healthy gut is vital to our quality of well-being and yoga is a perfect practice to maintain and assist this area in our body. The relationship between stress and the stomach is a complicated one, but most people notice some change in their bowel habits when they are under stress. Practicing yoga, meditation, prayer, or any other form of stress reduction can greatly benefit the gut.

We all love a good holiday, who doesn’t look forward to that precious time to reset and recharge. But let’s be honest not all holidays are created equal. Sometimes we end up coming home a little worse for wear and more worn out than when we left. While staying healthy might not always be the first priority on your mind when you are vacationing, it is pretty essential, after all how will you enjoy your time away if you fall ill?

Get a much needed healthy break this Easter with our top travel offers in luxurious destinations around the world. Catch these special added value deals including discounts and complimentary nights to up your healthy holiday experience. Combine a carefree surf life with yoga and meditation or simply unwind and get away from the stresses of everyday life with a spa destination retreat. Book your healthy holiday now while our exclusive offers last.

Start your New Year the right way by jetting off to an exotic destination on one of our healthy holidays. From a yoga, spa and surfing holiday in Morocco, to a detox holiday in Oman; you’ll be able to keep active and boost your fitness levels on one of our tailor-made healthy holidays over the New Year, while your body reaps the rewards. Alternatively, if you’re simply looking to improve your health, why not try a weight loss holiday in India or a detox holiday in Oman to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul? All of our healthy holidays feature luxury spas complete with a range of therapeutic treatments and expert wellness therapists to ensure you’re able to relax and unwind on your New Year wellness getaway.

Choosing to go away as a couple can highlight more than ever a clash of interests between partners. Whilst women generally enjoy relaxing on the beach, yoga and Pilates, followed by pampering in the spa, men prefer to embrace and enjoy the sport and fitness facilities available, be it the 18 hole golf course, the PADI scuba centre or the chance to learn a new fitness skill in Kickboxing. A hobby holiday could be the perfect solution to this dilemma, offering a dose of something to keep everybody happy. With the real promise of saving your relationship, partners can both enjoy time away doing what they want as opposed to sacrificing their own preferences.

One year today and only 366 days to go until the London Olympics 2012! Be inspired by the Olympic Games, a legacy that compels a majestic dive into a journey to transform into a quicker and healthier contender for any challenge. Escaping on a fitness holiday has never been so important for upcoming sporting champions, where fitness packages are tailored for enjoyment as well as supportive training. If you desire activities such as football, kayaking, cycling or even acrobatics, then choose one of the many energetic breaks to get you passionate about shaping up, just in time to be part of British competition history.

Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world. It treats patients by inserting thin needles into acupuncture points in the skin and is based upon the same belief as reflexology; that energy, or Qi, flows through the body in channels, called meridians, and if disrupted can cause illness. When the needles are inserted into the appropriate points it is said that one's flow of energy starts to be brought back into balance and therefore relieves the patient of their illness. Acupuncture is used to treat a wide range of health conditions but is also used as a more general healing method.

by Angie Newson

A Yoga and Pilates Expert

Pain - physical or emotional? We've all visited both places I'm sure. Physical pain caused by injury can be incredibly frustrating to those of us who work out or practice every day. Not to be able to do our usual regime which is such a part of our lives can sometimes make us angry and short with ourselves and others. We may become low and depressed if the injury persists for longer than a couple of days, and then we start to feel unfit and lethargic - a possible vicious circle.