A Vacation Where You Actually Get Healthier?

[jbischke]

My girlfriend and I are planning a trip around the end of the year. It's becoming apparent to me that lately most people's vacations cause them to get less healthy rather than healthier (e.g., eating too much, not exercising, stressing because they have to wait in line at Epcot ). We're contemplating turning our vacation into a "health retreat" and I'm looking for some ideas. Some possibilities include:

#1 - A yoga retreat - The thought of doing 4 hours of yoga a day is really appealing to me. Have never done more than a couple of hours and would love to see how my body opens up.

#2 - A cleanse/raw foods retreat - I've done cleanses before but would love to do something where someone else prepares the food for me.

#3 - A spa with interesting treatments - The luxury-type spas that combine high prices with semi-useful massages aren't really my speed. But a place that combines a cool atmosphere with stuff like deep tissue massage, rolfing, reiki, etc. would be really cool.

I'd love any ideas or suggestions for places. We live in Los Angeles and would love to be in a warm climate on our trip. Places like Hawaii, Costa Rica, etc. would be great. Thanks in advance for any help on planning a trip to our health!

[Angela]

I've had some pretty healthy vacations at Club Med, believe it or not! Cancun is my favorite, but there's one at Ixtapa, too, that's less expensive and closer to L.A.

They have an incredible array of healthy food available for pretty much any time you want it, and they'll fix stuff for you if you have special needs. I would wake up and run out to the tennis courts for lessons, then run over to the sand volleyball court, then run over to the pool for water aerobics (and avoid the stupid sunny signs thing they do at noon), take a quick mid-day nap in the sun followed by a salsa dance class, run over to the kayaks and paddle around, then run back to the hard court volleyball. Somewhere in there I would try to fit in the trapeze and a swim or two in the ocean.

Then just before dinner there's another salsa class (in evening clothes under soft lights!) on the hard volleyball court, yummy dinner, take a dip in the pool which you have all to yourself because everybody else is doing those stupid signs and some stupid theater thing, then deep sleep. Wake up and do it all again tomorrow. Repeat.

[seeker5]

Good question. I don't have an answer for you, but I find it funny that people (especially in America) expect you to go somewhere when you take a vacation. I'm about to take a 4 day (6 days when you count the weekend) vacation from work, and when people ask me where I'm going, I'm kind of stumped, because I'm not going anywhere! I just want time off from work to relax, and make progress toward some of my goals.

[Ilya]

The best rest that made me healthy was closer to mix of #1 and #3 from your list, plus the mental trainings. Usually, to take a rest, people tend to stop doing one thing and start doing another. For example, stop mental work and start doing something physical. While this switch is better than just sleeping and eating through vacation, it is not optimal.
The greatest effect is achieved when we do a little bit of everything but in a balanced way. When mind work recharges body, and physical work recharges mind. It is just upward spiral, when you come back from a busy vacation and is full of energy to go on in all parts of your life. I guess you can find something like that in your area.

[ed36]

Club La Santa in Lanzarote is great, been twice. lovely year round sunshine and 4 hrs flight from UK. (not sure about USA )

When we go on holiday we always come back fitter - depends on your priorities and motivations to look after your health. Nothing better than going for a run on the beach, knowing that the rest of the day is yours to relax. (well maybe another evening run.....)

Ed

[Dan.Linehan]

10 day vipassana.

[Ilya]

Originally Posted by Dan.Linehan

10 day vipassana.

Powerful stuff. Not for the feint of heart, though.
Oh, this reminds me of another thing. Blind retreat. Not sure if anyone organizes them in US, but that is one hell of a personal development exercise.
Basically you get blindfolded for 24 to 48 hours and lead a normal life with the help of your partner. The energy surge is unbelievable.

[Scipio]

I went on a four month vacation to Thailand this summer where I trained muay thai two times per day. Training that in the heat will get you healthy--you'll be training as much or more than professional athlete.

I don't think you have to do all that hippy stuff on your list, if it doesn't interest you. For example, plenty of people take cycling vacations where they ride across their state or multiple states. It's a great way to actually see the places you travel. A lot of normal vacations include exercise, even if the intention is to relax. Swimming and snorkeling every day in Mexico or surfing in Hawaii is a great example.