Fitness vacations

19 Oct 2016

Recent research has revealed that more than a quarter of Aussie travellers have taken an overseas ‘activity’ holiday, or a ‘sweatication’, to boost their health, fitness and wellbeing – with many over 60s now considering more active holidays as a preventative way to delay ageing and disease. With this in mind, Health and Fitness Travel are offering a Spring/Summer guide to planning your ideal sweatication – with options for low, medium or high-intensity travel, group or solo travel.
 
“Healthy holidays are on the rise,” says Samantha Lippiatt from Health and Fitness Travel. “We’re seeing more and more people come to us wanting to make their holidays about their wellbeing, and it extends beyond yoga classes and juice bars in hotels. We’re seeing an increase in the over sixties in particular wanting an active holiday as a form of preventative healthcare.”
 
Of course, before tackling your first sweatication adventure, it’s a good idea to be prepared by:
• Talking to your doctor about the activities you’re planning to make sure you’re going to do yourself some good, not harm.
• Getting holiday fit. If you are planning doing an activity that you don’t usually do, get into a bit of gentle training a few weeks beforehand. That way you won’t spend half your holiday stumbling around on sore muscles.

Where to go?

Health and Fitness Travel’s Director Samantha Lippitt recommends the following adventures for active retirees:

Australia: Freycinet Experience Walk

A true balance of adventure and indulgence, the Freycinet Experience Walk provides the ultimate in relaxation and revitalisation. Guests can enjoy walks among the pink granite of Hazard Mountains, lush forests, and pristine beaches of Tasmania’s Freycinet Peninsula. This four-day, 37km walk on the East Coast offers a choice of physical exertion levels ranging from challenging climbs to leisurely beach walks.

Thailand: Chiva Som Natural Renewal

The award-winning luxury health and fitness retreat, Chiva Som, is dedicated in improving overall wellbeing through a holistic approach to health. Begin with a wellness consultation followed by your choice of holistic health treatments and activities suited for your fitness level. Rediscover your inner-calm with meditation and diffuse any deep-set tension with a session of stress release therapy.

Malaysia: The Banajaran Rejuvenation

Set around natural hot springs that lie on the edge of a rainforest, The Banjaran is a holistic retreat for the mind and body. Restore calm and energy back into your system with a menu of rejuvenating treatments supported by activities like yoga, meditation, Qi Gong and Tai Chi. Nourish yourself from the inside out with healthy spa cuisine. Equally, the culturally-rich surroundings will provide food for the mind and aid in the expanding sense of holistic wellbeing.