A great spa can definitely jump start your fitness routine by way of inspiration and instruction. But, people who regularly work out at home often wonder how they can make it feel like a vacation, without neglecting their fitness goals?
After all, no matter how breathtaking the spa’s surroundings may be, it’s hard to tear yourself away from the massage tables if the prime fitness draw is just a heightened version of the sport or workout you do at home. The trick is to look for a spa that offers exercise options in stark contrast to your home routine.
Swap Your Fitbit for Qigong
If you normally have your workout plotted to the last footstep and precise pulse rate, a spa fitness program requiring you to get out of your head may be in order. Look for programs which blend Western comfort with Eastern teachings. Meditation and breathing practices, such as qigong, can open your mind — as well as improve workout performance. And in terms of really putting your body through its paces, check out spiral dancing workshops, or classes in unfamiliar types of yoga.
Trade Hills for Waves
Are you a rugged hiker on the weekends? Climbing mountains is undeniably a great all-body workout, but you’ll activate new groups of muscles, and open your mind in new ways, by opting for a seaside spa. Choose one that not only has an accessible beach for swimming and walking on the sand, but also offers canoeing the marshes, or kayaking the waves, as part of the included amenities.
Go from State-of-the-Art to Down-Home
If you spend most of your workout time in a high-tech gym with all the latest weight machines and cardio contraptions, it can feel good to get back to basics again. Look for a “boot camp” or “sports camp” spa package that focuses on back-to-basics drills with kettlebells and jump ropes, as well as old-fashioned pushups and crunches. This no-nonsense approach will likely be coupled with less structured but still active group sessions, such as line dancing, or ball games.
You’ll soon get your heart pumping and your sense of fun reignited, all at the same time!
