Top five romantic healthy holidays

Have you decided what to do on Valentine's Day yet? We've got some great ideas for healthy holidays for couples and it’s not too late to book a break away for a truly romantic getaway. These holidays are designed to ensure you board the plane home not only relaxed but rejuvenated too and include all sorts of vitality-boosting activities, menus and treatments for the ultimate health and fitness romantic experience.

1. Ladera & Cap Maison Peak to Beach – St Lucia

Discover the best of St Lucia with this exciting adventure package at two romantic resorts. Experience the majesty of the dramatic Pitons during your stay at Ladera, the famous open-air hotel in the southern rainforest, followed by the rest of your holiday at the fashionable boutique hotel, Cap Maison, located on the northernmost tip of the island. Healthy meals, spa treatments, water sports, snorkelling and soft adventure programs to include zip lining, horseback riding, rainforest hikes and a Gros Piton Climb are available for you to experience.

2. Chewton Glen Luxury Spa & Fitness Break – Hampshire, England

A luxury country house hotel and spa set in 130 acres of Hampshire countryside on the edge of the New Forest National Park is just a few minutes' walk from the sea. Relax and unwind overnight with this spa health and fitness break at Hampshire's finest hotel. Enjoy a spa treatment of your choice with a private yoga lesson, use of the leisure facilities, three course dinner, luxury accommodation and complimentary sessions in the dance and aerobics studio.

3. Ayii Anargyri Natural Healing Spa – Cyprus

This boutique hotel in Cyprus is perfect for couples looking to boost their body and mind. The stunning spa has a natural spring lounge which offers non evasive natural therapies using healing waters. The cardio fitness concept contains the well-equipped fitness centre and the total Experience suite offers a rich hammam style environment where your body is soothed and cleansed. Other spa offerings include sulphur inhalation and aquatic bodywork therapy, volcanic stone baths, sulphur mud therapy and Vichy showers. Meditation and yoga classes are also available. Enjoy traditional healthy Mediterranean cuisine at the gourmet Cava romantic restaurant.

4. Zitahli Ayurveda Retreat - Maldives

At Zitahli Spa Resort you will find warm Maldivian hospitality ensuring a memorable health and wellness experience. Arrival by seaplane will totally take your breath away; the beautiful spa provides a decadent array of organic therapies in opulent pavilion style treatment rooms. Complete with plunge pools, herbal baths, luxurious relaxation lounges and dedicated to a holistic approach to health and well-being, guests will delight in this bespoke Ayurveda Program consisting of yoga, Pilates and eight Ayurveda treatments.

5. LaLuna Wellbeing Rejuvenation – Grenada

Enjoy this wellbeing rejuvenation program at a laid back, chic island and romantic hideaway in Grenada, which offers guests an opportunity to open their minds to the ideas of yoga, Pilates, and meditation. Your Inner Batteries will be recharged to allow you to face the reality of your daily schedule without so much stress. This romantic holiday includes Balinese massages, three complimentary scuba dives, a spiritual hike in the rain forest and daily yoga and Pilates classes.

- Paul

Becoming a centenarian

We are living in a time where life expectancy in the UK is continuously improving, and reaching 100 years in age will become more common. Being 50 can hardly be considered old; it will soon mark the halfway point in many of our lives. But why are we all going tolive longer?

According to the latest research nearly 20% of living people in the UK will reach the milestone of 3 figures in age. Improvements in healthcare is a large factor in the extension of life and it is thought that in 35 years time there will be in excess of 200,000 centenarians in the UK.

Research shows numerous ways of prolonging the twilight years:

- Maintaining a lifelong physically active lifestyle
- Minimal alcohol consumption
- A non-smoking background
- A purpose in life – something to strive towards every day
- Keeping mentally active
- Sustaining a healthy weight - not being overweight

Studies reveal that 100 year-olds have strong social connections with family and friends, are able to maintain positive outlooks, and are not adverse to change of routines.

Eating a healthy diet containing anti-oxidants – found in fruit and vegetables – is another great way to diminish the chances of developing cancers and heart disease.

Combining all these lifestyle traits can help you march on to the big 100 and enjoy many more years of excellent health, fitness and wellbeing.

- David

The Body Holiday

TheBodyHoliday gave me the ultimate health and fitness experience

What a fantastic way to kick off the year by flying to the beautiful island of St Lucia and staying at TheBodyHoliday, LeSport to get healthy and fit. On arrival I was given my schedule of spa treatments at the health and wellness centre and my BodyAware program for the week. I had just enough time to watch the beautiful sunset go down with a fruit punch on the beach.

I spent my first day joining a morning Hatha Yoga class, followed by a one on one personal training session in the gym. I then sat down to eat my healthy breakfast and enjoyed a Thai Massage at the award winning spa after. As the day went on, I joined a Tennis lesson and Neil the resident coach helped improve my technique as I was so rusty, I also had an elementary golf lesson and then it was time for lunch at the deli and a Mango Tango Smoothie.

By day 3 I had done more yoga to include Ashtanga, Kudalini and Vinyasa Flow. I had also tried a Pilates and BodySpin class on the bikes but the Body Burn class was my most challenging, however I felt great afterwards from working up such a sweat. I decided to put my name down to go diving and snorkelling at the Pitons, yes I was trying to pack in a lot of activities but I wanted to try as much as I could. I even attempted an Archery lesson and introduction to fencing. I always endeavour to try out new activities I’ve not done before.

I really enjoy watersports and participated in a windsurfing and waterskiing lesson, followed by kayaking. An Elemis body scrub, LA Therapy facial and a Marma Massage in the Ayurveda wellness centre had me feeling so refreshed and energised by day 6. I joined in with water and beach volleyball most days if I had time and the food was just divine. I particularly liked dinning at Tao restaurant, the best steak and fish I have ever eaten.

I had also signed up to The BodyAware program with a holistic health coach called Rob from London. I really did get the one on one attention I needed to improve my health and wellbeing. The program started with a lifestyle consultation and health and fitness assessment. I received a detailed nutrition and exercise plan during my stay, activities included a beach boxing session and TRX Suspension training which is the new body weight training session to target your core muscles. I was also given 4 personal training sessions with on-going support throughout my stay along with posture analysis.

If I had more time, I would have signed up for some of the soft adventure programs off resort which include Zip lining, a Gros Piton Climb for those who love a challenging hike with beautiful views of the island and for extreme adventure the River Doree Rappel is serious adrenaline.

Their mission statement - if you give us your body for a week, we will give you back your mind and TheBodyHoliday does exactly that.

- Paul