The holiday season is here. Gone are the days when vacation was all about feasting and lounging around. Nowadays, people look for ways to use their vacations for improving their spiritual, physical, or emotional well-being. As a result, the concept of a fitness holiday has recently gained popularity.

By 2022, the wellness tourism sector is expected to increase at twice the rate of global tourism, to nearly $919 billion. There are a variety of fitness holiday options to suit different budgets, skills, and exercise preferences, from yoga retreats to mountain climbing, detox camps to wellness retreats, there is little something for everyone.

Skip ahead to :

• 5 reasons to book a Fitness Getaway
• 5 fitness getaways to jumpstart your New Year

5 reasons to book a Fitness Getaway

American work culture is turbulent and testy, with nearly 38% of Americans citing lack of time for their personal lives. An average American takes less vacation, works for longer hours, and retires late. Fitness vacation can provide a much-needed break from the hectic American work culture. It can allow you to replenish your sanity, restore your spirit and improve your physical and mental wellbeing.

01. Get to know yourself and your body.

The human body is a miraculous instrument, it is capable of adapting, relearning, and changing. If you want to explore your body, spend some time in solitude, and know your inner self. Fitness getaways can provide you with the best escape.

02. Commit to something you can't put off.

If you have been promising yourself to get physically active but have been procrastinating, you must know that exercise vacations can help you kick-start your journey. Spending time on a fitness vacation can lay the foundation for a healthier life for you.

03. Challenge yourself

Fitness is all about pushing yourself to the limit and fitness retreat can help you test your limits. You can explore new things, push your boundaries and discover what your body is capable of.

04. Find Much Needed Support System

Fitness trip provides you with a ready-made support system. You get to meet new like-minded people, who have the same interest and goals as you. This encouragement and support will help you improve your performance. Other than that, you are sure to return with new friendships and connections from around the world

05. The Endless Options

The best thing about a fitness getaway is that there are plenty of options depending upon your interest and convenience. From trekking to a yoga retreat to circuit training, the possibilities are endless.

Now hurry up and plan your fitness getaway and to make things easy for you, Kenko brings you the list of top 5 fitness vacations that you and your studio members can take together.

5 fitness getaways to jumpstart your New Year

If you're a health freak who's vowed to get in shape and kick off the year with a fitness-focused getaway. Here's how to get started — and keep the enthusiasm rolling throughout the year because sometimes, all you need is a little push little push to get going.

1. Yoga Retreat
2. Walking Retreat
3. Surf Camps
4. Skiing
5. Fitness Camps

01. Yoga Retreat

A yoga retreat is a gathering of people who are joining together to practice yoga in a group, guided by a professional instructor. Yoga retreats are normally held in peaceful and tranquil surroundings and go on for up to a week.

A yoga retreat provides a great opportunity to meet people who are passionate about yoga and put your mind, body, and soul at rest, and rejuvenate. So, if you have the desire to spend time in nature or feel the need to explore who you are on a deeper level and channelize your life energy, you should go for a yoga retreat.

Many yoga retreat centers are operating around the globe, set up in different terrains and environments, but there can be nothing like going to India, yoga’s motherland for a retreat. India has many yoga retreat centers (ashrams), the Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Centre is set in the Himalayan mountain range in the picturesque village of Mcleodganj. Other than this, Bihar School of Yoga (in Bihar) and Kaivalyadhama Ashram (in Pune) are other good yoga retreat destinations in India.

Another option that you can find in the USA is Sachidananda Ashram which was founded in 1980 and is located in scenic Buckingham, Virginia. The ashram is open throughout the year and offers organic and gluten-free food to visitors. Feathered Pipe Ranch located at the heart of Rocky Mountain, the Pearl Laguna in California, Sedona Mago Retreat Centre in Arizona are among other popular yoga retreat centers in the USA.

Some other yoga retreat centers outside the USA are;

• Mountain Yoga Festival, St. Anton, Austria
• Sun, Sand, and Savasana Retreat, Mandrem, Goa
• Bornholm Yoga & Retreat Center, Denmark
• The Shreyas Yoga Retreat, Bengaluru, Karnataka

02. Walking Retreat

A walking vacation is an excellent approach if you want to know a place and its landscapes. It allows you to delve right under a country's skin, from mountains to coastlines, deserts to settlements. You can choose between guided group walking explorations and self-guided walking vacations.

You can wander through beautiful landscapes or walk through ancient monuments. Walking vacation allows you to explore wonderful destinations, discover new places and remain physically active, all at the same time. It can help you lose weight and build endurance also.

Europe offers one of the best destinations to go for walking retreats. You can experience the Alpine splendor of Austria or Switzerland or experience the rich culture of Italy or Spain. Trek the stunning coastline of Ireland or explore the geological marvel of Iceland. You can even go trekking in Serbia or Montenegro.

The USA offers a wide range of destinations for trekking and hiking. You can choose to walk through the dramatic and mesmerizing Appalachian Trail or explore the abounding Rocky Mountains of Colorado, a walking holiday in the USA is sure to be an unforgettable experience. Lush green forests that blanket the mountains of New England and Washington State or desert terrain of Utah’s Canyonlands or California’s Death Valley, there are a plethora of venues to experience the natural majesty of the States.

Some other walking retreat centers outside the USA are;

1. High Tatra, Slovakia
2. Sibillini mountains, Italy
3. Historic Bavaria, Germany
4. High passes of the Valais, Switzerland
5. Path of peace, The Balkans

03. Surf Camps

Surfing is an exciting, fun, and challenging sport that will add value to your life. There are many health benefits of suffering, both physical and mental. It helps you maintain a healthy mental state and a positive attitude towards life. Additionally, you get to enjoy the outdoors, the beach, the ocean, meet new people, and have fun.

If you want to spend your vacation near the beach learning to surf, surf camps fit the bill for you! There are surf camps for beginners, intermediates, and advanced levels are available in several top-rated surf areas across the world. Throughout Europe, South America, and Asia, some of the top surf camps in the world can be found.

A few of the most sought-after surf camps in Europe are - Koala Surf House at Hossegor, France which is located right in the center of two water-pumping waves, La Nord and La Graviere, and has one of the best waves in Europe. Other than this, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands is another surfing destination where oceans meet the desert and desert meets big hotels.

In the USA, Richard Schmidt Surf School Inc. in Santa Cruz, California, and South Padre Surf Company in Texas are two of the best operational surf camps. Other prominent surf camp schools around the world are ;

1. Lapoint Ericeira — Ericeira, Portugal
2. Hollow Tree’s Resort — Mentawai Islands, Indonesia
3. Sri Lanka Adventures — Ahangama, Sri Lanka
4. Surf Maroc — Taghazout, Morocco
5. Surf Cruise — Maldives

04. Skiing or Snowboarding

Skiing and snowboarding can be some of the best ways to enjoy your winters. It is not only a fantastic exercise but also heaps of fun. If you want to go somewhere with your family or friends, then snowboarding can be a great way to spend some quality time with them.

From places in Europe, including France, Austria, and Italy, to resorts in the USA, Canada, and other countries. There are plenty of options to go for skiing. Some famous ski resorts in North America are Whistler Blackcomb in Canada which is a favorite of freestyle skiers and boarders. The resort has five diverse parks covering 99 acres of snow and is designed for all levels of freestyle, from easy jumps and rails to the Nintendo Terrain Park and an Olympic-sized pipe. Colorado’s Vail Mountain Resort is another option that has nearly over 5,289 acres of skiing served by 31 lifts. Aspen snow-mass in Colorado is another popular ski resort in the States.

Other notable mentions where you could go for a skiing retreat are'

1. Val d'Isere and Tignes in France
2. Zermatt in Switzerland
3. Courchevel in France
4. Niseko in Japan
5. Cortina D'Ampezzo in Italy

05. Fitness Camps

Other than yoga retreats or walking holidays, there are other wholesome  activities you can engage in during holidays like fitness boot camps, HIIT, boxing, and Pilates. You can choose to strengthen your body doing Pilates or build your endurance doing HIIT, there are plenty of options available.

Pilates is a low impact exercise developed by Joseph Pilates. It is best for people who want to improve their posture, beat stress and increase body awareness. A few famous Pilates retreat centers are Lily of the Valley Sport in France, Palacio Estoril Golf & Spa Hotel Fusion Fitness in Portugal, and Absolute Sanctuary Pilates Reformer Bootcamp in Thailand.

HIIT which has become quiet popular with young population is another activity you can commit to. You can register for one of HIIT boot camp  if you enjoy highly intense workout and want to push your limits. WanderFit Retreats which offer facilities in Portugal, Costa Rica, and Bali, and 38 Degree Retreat in Spain are good options. If you enjoy Kung Fu, you can sign up with KungFu retreat which operates from Thailand. There are many options and you can choose depending on your preference.

Overall, if you are a fitness enthusiast, the options cease to exhaust and you can find something depending upon your preference, interest and budget.

It's time to pack your bags and get fit

Vacation time presents an opportunity to mark a few things off your bucket list, try something new and exciting. Fitness getaways can be a much-needed stress buster for you. End your vacation feeling revived and replenished and start next year with much-needed.

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