Wellness

For nutritionist, author and wellness coach Jessica Sepel, destination spa COMO Shambhala Estate is "a health retreat like no other". Read on for her complete review:

Sydney nutritionist, health blogger and wellness coach Jessica Sepel loves healthy living and traveling and knows that healthy living whilst traveling can be quite challenging so here she shares her top tips for healthy travel with Health and Fitness Travel:

Known for its exotic flavours and tasty food combinations, Thai cuisine has massively influenced western dining during recent years. The chefs at Thanyapura have aimed to incorporate traditional Asian flavours in this sweet and sour dish. Aside from its creative, spectacular presentation in a hollowed-out pineapple, this recipe contains a myriad of nutritional benefits. The main ingredient millet is considered a ‘super seed’, helping to reduce the risk of cancer, detoxify the body and improve digestion. Colourful toppings, such as goji berries and pumpkin seeds, help to provide vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy functioning body. This tasty dish is sure to leave you feeling refreshed and satisfied.

Tell us about the resort – what makes Aphrodite Hills so special?

Aphrodite Hills Golf and Spa Resort is a luxury 5-star resort nestled in the hills above Paphos and overlooking the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. Aphrodite Hills also proudly boasts the best golf course in Cyprus, making it the perfect destination for a golf break.

What is Borgo Egnazia and who’s it for?

Borgo Egnazia is the perfect destination for anybody who wants to escape the daily stresses of life. From an award-winning spa and Michelin star restaurant, to stunning rooms and scenery, there’s no doubt that this luxurious 5-star resort will offer an experience like no other.

What is COMO Shambhala Estate and who’s it for?

COMO Shambhala Estate aims to improve physical, mental and spiritual well-being for every individual and the flagship retreat does exactly that. In a secluded setting within the breathtaking Balinese rainforest near Ubud, this wellness retreat is the perfect location for anyone looking to relax and rejuvenate.

Kamalaya in Koh Samui, Thailand was honoured with the award for Destination Spa of the Year: Asia & Australasia at the World Spa awards hosted in London last night.

The new Kamalaya Embracing Change programme will be Kamalaya’s 12th wellness programme (in addition to their detox, stress & burnout, healthy lifestyle and yoga options). The first of Kamalaya’s wellness programmes to focus on exploring your inner self, Kamalaya’s meditation & life enhancement mentors will tailor up to five sessions alongside carefully selected treatments to help support and ease life challenges and transitions.

Each person knows as well as the next that committing to a fitness programme and sticking with it is a tough challenge. Going to the gym, signing up for fitness classes, hiring a personal trainer or starting yoga or Pilates is the easy part. The hard part is staying motivated to stick with it! Of course, there's no one solution to this problem and it varies from person to person but with the following tips, hopefully you can continue to be motivated for many more months and be inspired to reach your health and fitness goals.

Now that the holiday festivities are over, there’s never been a better time to reassess your fitness goals and go on a healthy escape. This year, reveal a brand new you as you kick-start your metabolism on these fitness retreats set in the world’s most stunning locations. From a tropical paradise in Koh Samui to the breath-taking French Alps, these destinations are jam-packed with activities all geared to get you in great shape. Fill your schedule with a slate of outdoor adventures and exciting group classes and then refuel with mouth-watering healthy cuisine to complement your fitness journey. Cap off the day with some pampering at the spa or in-room massage for the ultimate recovery before dozing off in your very own private luxury villa.

Set in a secluded bay on the southern tip of Grenada, LaLuna is the ultimate island getaway. My seven-night stay at the luxury resort was just the escape I needed. The road leading up to LaLuna is unpaved and bumpy, but don't be fooled by the drive, upon entering the resort you will realise that you've tumbled upon a hidden paradise.

With research repeating year after year that many of us fail to stick to fitness goals set in the New Year, LaSource Grenada, the Caribbean's "holistic all-inclusive" resort has unveiled a bespoke fitness programme designed to address why we fall off the fitness wagon and break the cycle. Aimed at anyone who has tried and failed to keep the promises made to their favourite pair of jeans, the MindBodyReformer programme, offers the missing elements in traditional boot camps that focus predominantly on the physical aspects of fitness and weight loss.

What makes Grayshott Health Spa special?

Grayshott Spa is a truly traditional English spa with a primary focus on well-being. Set in a rural location within 47 acres of National Trust land, its unique, peaceful, stress-free environment centred around therapeutic spa treatments, exercise and healthy cuisine is unlike any other spa in the UK. The caring, personal service and sincerity of the staff means it's a great place to unwind and recuperate.

What is Shanti Som and who’s it for?

Shanti Som is a serene health retreat in Andalucía’s breath-taking Sierra de Las Nieves valley. Tucked away in the mountains, it’s ideal for anyone looking for peace and quiet, escaping the bustle of city life and hectic schedules. This boutique wellness retreat focuses on yoga, health, detox and weight-loss, offering time for total rejuvenation. 

Not just for the classroom and certainly not just for the children, learning is a rewarding pursuit we can all benefit from throughout our lives. Our learning holidays are ideal for families looking to encourage an active lifestyle and enjoy cultural adventures together. Offering so much more than a stagnant family holiday of hours spent lying on the beach; use your valuable family holiday time to learn new skills as a family. From horse riding in coastal Croatia to yoga classes in tropical St Lucia, discover new passions or develop existing skills on our healthy family holidays.

Chronic pain can disturb your life, restrict you from daily activities, and can be difficult to manage. It can also affect your mental health, making you anxious, frustrated, and depressed. Some of the most common chronic diseases are backache, nerve damage, arthritis, and migraines. Painkillers can temporarily mask the symptoms of pain, but they do not address the underlying problems that make them persistent. Treatment like surgeries, implants, steroid injections can have long-term side effects on the body. But there are natural treatments available, going on a wellness holiday may be a solution for you. Health and Fitness Travel offers a range of retreats to combat ongoing chronic illness. Each retreat uses a holistic approach that includes physiotherapy, Ayurveda therapy, Pilates, yoga, massage, acupuncture, hydrotherapy and more to treat the underlying problem from its root. You will not only learn how to manage the chronic pain but will be able to relax on the retreat, leaving you confident in addressing and managing chronic pain. Here are just a few of our bespoke retreats:

Countries around the globe are opening to the LGBTQ community. With Australia being the latest example to legalise same-sex marriage, many other countries used the past years to work on a more open-minded environment to make LGBTQ travellers feel welcomed and secure.

Patrícia, Spa Manager of EPIC SANA Algarvesince May 2017, joined the team as Fitness Instructor in 2013 and has helped build one of the leading resort fitness programs in Portugal. The resort offers a gamut of classes and workout programs, as well as Pilates and other activities in the resort’s green areas, while emphasizing the critical importance of diet, nutrition and lifestyle to attaining peak fitness.

I started my eight week internship with Health and Fitness Travel at the beginning of July and it couldn't have been more worthwhile. This experience has been incomparable to the other internships I've done, where filing and clock-watching were main activities. Here, I've really been made to feel a part of the small and friendly team, carrying out a variety of different tasks and with some real responsibility.

Have a go at island life with these top 5 spas in the Caribbean. There is no better place to unwind than a stunning island and with these such a wide range of luxury spa treatments at your disposal, a relaxing moment of wellness is never far away. Indulge in a comprehensive selection of soothing daily spa treatments that cater to the diverse needs of all guests. Whether it be shiatsu in Turks & Caicos, a shoulder massage in Antigua or a seaweed body wrap in Jamaica, our island spa holidays have something for everyone’s wellness needs.  Be sure to have fun and improve your personal fitness with professionally led daily classes such as beach volleyball in St Lucia and nature hiking in Antigua. Island life is sure to leave you feeling relaxed, refreshed and beaming for more wellness heaven.