I’m raving about Ibiza
(But not why you think!)
AWORK hard and play hard lifestyle had left me in desperate need of pressing the reset button. Then I discovered that an ideal place to do just that is Ibiza. Yes, you did read that correctly. The white isle usually conjures up images of late nights, wild parties and indulgences of every kind – the last place on Earth you’d go to recharge your batteries.
But it turns out there is a sanctuary in San Juan, in the north of the island, that paints a completely different picture and promises ‘a holistic lifestyle transformation’. Welcome to The Body Camp.
The first thing to say is this is NOT a bootcamp – the team here believe ‘innercise’ is as important as exercise. Give them a week and they promise you will leave in better mental and physical health.
So at 6am on day one I was dancing to Balearic beats, downing shots and watching the sun rise. But this is how we start the day at The Body Camp, not how we finish the previous one. And the shots, by the way, are lemon, pineapple and ginger.
Kate is the brains and Rick is the brawn behind this retreat, and on the first day they conduct the ‘stat attack’. They assess your BMI, weight, metabolic age, and body fat, then do it all again at the end of the week.
Then there is the fitness assessment involving a bleep test – you run at a continuously increasing speed until you can’t run any longer – and do as many sit-ups and press-ups as you can in two minutes. Goals are then set for the next seven days. You are ready to start the week.
No day is the same – Rick our trainer brings the LA mind, body and soul vibe to our schedule. The first half of each day focuses on physical activity – before breakfast we go on a walk through the surrounding countryside with the camp mascot, Rebel the chihuahua. The views are breathtaking and it is a fantastic way to start the day.
Then there is a dance class with Ali Robbins, a real pocket rocket who was once Madonna’s body double. She was also a choreographer for half of the world’s mega pop stars.
After breakfast there is a circuits class that sees us running around the grounds to punch, jump, squat or lift weights. And because we are on a party island, this is all done to club beats and in fancy dress. It’s surreal but enormous fun. Laughter really is the best medicine.
Pool games swiftly follow – it’s surprising how much hard work goes into racing on inflatable lobsters. Other days involve a hike to the local market where a chance to shop is our reward.
These group exercise sessions really help create a bond with your fellow campers – you are encouraged to come solo but you leave with a great new group of friends.
I’m still in touch with my fantastic lot and our WhatsApp group helps us keep up the good work back in the real world.
THE second half of the day is all about mind and soul – time for some sunbathing by the pool, or unwinding in the hammock with a book. A life-coaching session takes place on the sun-drenched terrace, while advice on nutrition reiterates just how important good food is for our physical and mental health.
Surprisingly, I found this the most rewarding part of my trip. The Body Camp encourages you to make new habits. With cooking lessons from resident chef Ben Whale and a daily menu of locally sourced, raw, natural, fresh produce, it honestly made me look at food differently and form new and healthier habits. I love food so I was really worried that meals would be unexciting and I’d be left hungry. The lesson here is not to judge people by my own unimaginative cooking standards.
From vanilla, date and pecan pancakes for breakfast, to apple and beetroot salad with lentils and feta for lunch, and prawn laksa noodles for dinner, each meal was so flavoursome and filling I honestly wasn’t hungry once.
Throw in twice-daily treats such as chocolate orange protein balls or banana and blueberry ‘ice cream’ and we were begging Ben to bring out his own cookbook.
Early evening involves yoga and meditation with Kate Winslet’s yoga guru, Ayda, plus a chance to enjoy a massage or reflexology before dinner. We then enjoyed an outdoor film screening or games before bed around 9pm, tired but happy.
At the end of my seven days I’d lost inches and bad habits, and found a new mindset and a great new set of friends. A trip to The Body Camp is a different kind of holiday – one that gets you back to your desk on Monday without those holiday blues feeling happy, healthy and with a new-found love of tofu. Who knew?