REVEL THEN REBOOT!
The festivities will take their toll — so book a trip to get you back in shape
CHANGE OF OUTLOOK
BRaND new spa euphoria lounges beneath the Byzantine fortified town of Mystras on the Peloponnese in Greece. This is ancient Sparta but the programmes here are the antithesis of Spartan, blending the sybaritic, the scientific and even the spiritual. The goal is ‘meaningful life change’ so expect some navel-gazing alongside a mash-up of chinese and ancient Greek philosophy with your weight loss, fitness or detox package. DETAILS: From £ 1,685 for a five- day programme from Healing Holidays . See healingholidays.co.uk and euphoriaretreat.com/en GRIT FACTOR:
LUXURY SPA
Back in the Middle ages you’d have been lowered into the thermal gorge by rope and left to stew for a week.
Nowadays, the waters at Grand Resort Bad Ragaz in Switzerland are pumped into a superglitzy resort with two spas, a medical centre and a clutch of five-star hotels.
The Hof Ragaz is old- school (slightly faded) luxe, while the new Spa Suites tower is serenely modern with bathrooms akin to your own mini spa — private sauna, super- shower, Jacuzzi and colour therapy light show.
If you need to be shocked into a reboot, the Health check programme is stern with doctor consultations and high- tech diagnosis. Make time for a sauna at Tamina Therme spa. DETAILS: From £1,895 for a threenight Health check programme (staying at the Hof Ragaz) from Healing Holidays. See healing holidays.co.uk; healthragaz.ch GRIT FACTOR:
WOMEN-ONLY
IF the idea of a reboot scares you, check in to Body Retreat in Somerset or Devon.
Both are kind, down-to-earth and women- only. They are all about forming new habits, so everything on retreat (from the food you’re served to the targeted exercise routines) leads into an easily followed athome regime.
The hypnotherapy sessions are a highlight and their body workers are superb. DETAILS: From £ 750 for a kickstart your Health and Fitness weekend, the body retreat.co.uk GRIT FACTOR:
MIND OVER BODY
all the benefits of an ayurvedic cleanse at ayurveda Parkschlösschen in Germany, without the long-haul flight to India.
This is detox divine — the food is artistic and delicious ( if unorthodox; you eat your pudding first) and the treatments decadent — four hands massaging you through a constant river of warm spiced oil. Yoga and meditation up the ‘Om’ factor.
You can dip in with a weekend cleanse or plunge in for the full panchakarma (the erstwhile province of Indian princes). DETAILS: From £1,460 for a fournight programme. See ayurvedaparkschloesschen. GRIT FACTOR:
TOUGH LOVE
ReBOOT Fitness in Dorset is the gung-ho boot camp with a heart of gold.
Pre-breakfast workouts with names such as War Zone casualty evacuation and Battle PT set the tone.
It’s no place for designer sportswear or delicate sensibilities. all ages (16-70+) and all levels of fitness are welcomed, and 70 per cent of the exercises have a team/partner element to boost motivation (or provide a shoulder to sob on). DETAILS: From £495 for the fiveday signature boot camp. See rebootdorset.com. GRIT FACTOR:
FIGHT THE FLAB
THe seven-day Health Regime at Grayshott Health Spa in Surrey focuses on healing the gut via a nutritional programme (think paleo with added sauerkraut) allied with no-nonsense naturopathic treatments (castor oil compresses, abdominal massage, hydrotherapy baths).
There’s a whiff of boarding school with lectures and bonding at the communal dining table. Some of the treatment rooms are cupboard-like but overall it’s jolly. DETAILS: From £1,950 for the seven-day Health Regime. See grayshottspa.com. GRIT FACTOR:
BRING THE FAMILY
YOu can bring the children here at Paradis Plage in Morocco without feeling like a pariah. Bolt together your own package (choose a mix from Slim, Yoga, Surf, Spa) and take full advantage of the childcare and clubs.
Sunset yoga in the beach shala is hard to forget and the spa has great therapists.
Food is organic and while you go virtuous with fresh fish or juices, fussy children can chow down on burgers.
DETAILS: From £544 for a five-night stay for a family of three (B&B). a five-day spa and yoga package from £ 450, paradisplage.com GRIT FACTOR:
JUICE UP
THeY’ve been running juice fasts in this wild, hippy-dippy valley in Moinhos velhos, Portugal, for 30 years. Suspend all disbelief — after a few days you’ll be holding hands and chanting ‘ommm’ over your juice — and the DIY colonics will be a piece of cake.
Go full- on mystic with yoga, gong baths, therapeutic dancing and Hindu releasing ceremonies, or just chill out by the pool with your headphones on. DETAILS: From £1,400 for week juice detox, moinhos-velhos.com GRIT FACTOR:
WEIGHT LOSS
RuN by former Olympic runners, ex-army instructors and kickboxing champions, 38 degrees North in Spain and Ibiza is the place to improve (rather than kickstart) your fitness — if you can’t comfortably walk 5km at a sharp click, it’s not for you.
Optional DNa testing beforehand means you don’t waste your energy on ten-mile runs when your body is built for short sharp HIIT bursts ( highintensity interval training). DETAILS: From £1,399 for a fourday Body Reset retreat (evening meals not included). See thirty eightdegreesnorth.com GRIT FACTOR:
FEEL THE BURN
DOlPHIN- SPOTTING on Bamburgh Beach might take your mind off burpees and shuttle runs during sunrise workouts at Northern Bootcamp in Northumberland, but don’t count on it.
This friendly, no- nonsense camp caters for all levels of fitness and, beyond the standard circuits and kettlebells, you can plunge into kayaking, bodyboarding or other ‘adventures’.
Best of all, it lets you dip a toe in the water with a one- day taster before committing to a full course. DETAILS: From £90 for a one-day bootcamp. For more details, see northernbootcamp.co.uk GRIT FACTOR: