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CAN A
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HOLIDAY
REALLY HELP YOU LIVE LONGER? Turns out it’s not just the all-inclusive cocktails that put a smile on your face, after all. New research suggests holidays reduce stress and can even prolong your life. But any old break won’t do, as Alexandra Shakespeare explains…
hat does a holiday mean to you? Time to reconnect with your family? No email (cheer!) for a week? A chance to – finally – read that book everyone’s been raving about? Eavesdrop in any office at this time of year and you’d think our lives depended on those two – if we’re lucky – weeks away, as we count down the days, sighing that we’re ‘dying for a break’. But new research suggests that we might actually be on to something – while it’s long been assumed that stepping away from the daily grind is good for us, numerous studies now claim to prove that taking a holiday could actually lengthen, rather than simply enhance, our lives. ‘Not only do holidays feel good, they actually make us healthier,’ claims psychotherapist Christine Webber, who carried out a series of psychotherapeutic tests on 12 patients earlier this year as part of Nuffield Health and Kuoni Travel’s
w
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Healthy Holiday Experiment. ‘We sent one group – wearing heart monitors – on a holiday to either Thailand, Peru or the Maldives. The other group stayed at home. Afterwards, we gave both sets thorough medical and psychological tests and discovered that the holidaymakers’ ability to recover from stress improved by 29%, while that of the group that did not travel went down by 71%. The holidaymakers’ sleep quality and blood pressures also improved and, interestingly, the effects continued for at least two weeks after returning home.’ Christine’s findings echo the effects of holidays on cardiovascular health first brought to the fore by the influential US Framingham Heart Study in 1948. It followed 12,000 people over the course of nine years and found that those who took an annual holiday had a 30% lower risk of death from heart disease. ‘If that was the case back then,’ claims Camille Hoheb, founder of Wellness Tourism Worldwide
According to online trend-tracking tool nVision, more than 40% of the nation claim they find it hard to lead a healthy lifestyle. This, combined with a stalling healthcare system and recession-induced work stress means holidays that make it easy to nurture our mind, body and soul are undoubtedly appealing. Besides, who in their right mind would turn down a chance to solve their sleep problems, stress less and read that new novel in the sunshine, all in less than two weeks? Karen Canty, from trend forecasters Future Foundation, puts the popularity of healthy holidays down to our modern need to maximise every precious spare moment of our lives, not just in how we spend our money but our time too. She says, ‘Many consumers are starting to seek add-on benefits from every purchase – whereas before the recession, many of us may have indulged in luxuries for the sake of it, now we’re more and more looking for lifestyles, products and services that help us find an equilibrium and live more healthily. And travel is no different. The “best” holidays are fast becoming the ones that offer an added dimension of wellness.’ But do we really need a special type of trip to reap the benefits? What’s so wrong with a week on a sunlounger, a jug of sangria and the latest bonkbuster on your Kindle? After all, despite all their bespoke health and fitness plans, associations with celebrity gurus and designer fit kit hire with your baggage allowance in mind, aren’t the new breed of wellness retreats really just a five-star version of a no-frills bootcamp? ‘Wellness holidays teach you how to integrate the learnings into everyday life,’ explains Sarah Morgan, director of Health Matters 360. ‘At the start of your holiday, you could have a consultation with a nutritionist who might recommend certain dietary changes and the menus there will be geared up to supporting these messages. Or you may be offered cookery lessons so that you can take home and implement your new healthy eating habits.’ She adds, ‘They’re a great way to fully recharge, while a “fly-and-flop” holiday can leave our minds free to wander back to work worries on the sunlounger. At the other extreme, a detox break, diet retreat or J
‘WE NEED TO MAKE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO INVEST IN OURSELVES’
(WTW), ‘just imagine what’s at stake at a time when there are increasingly blurred boundaries between work and home life, and when economic meltdown is creating far more pressure and anxiety than ever before.’ That’s certainly the premise behind the new breed of wellness holidays now vying for our annual leave. In travel terms, it’s a super-trend – Mintel estimates that £270million was spent on health and wellness holidays in 2011 – a 100% increase on 2010. ‘Wellness travel is not medical travel and it’s more than just a basic spa experience,’ clarifies Camille. ‘It’s all about opportunities for transformation and experiences that provide meaning – think spiritual journeys and learning new skills, from meditation retreats to adventure getaways and volunteer trips.’ Boob job vacations in Poland do not qualify.
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a positive outlook and nurture good mental health, so really the question should be, “Can I afford not to go on holiday this year?”’ Anne adds. So, if seven days of downtime in these cashstrapped, time-starved and overworked times are more vital than ever before to our state of mind and future health, then perhaps the most important thing is to pick a holiday that really will relieve your every ache, pain or weight gain. Here’s what we prescribe… Tackle stress at Como Shambhala in Bali
YOUR HEALTHY HOLIDAY PRESCRIPTION
Doing voluntary work will help improve your self-esteem
IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP
mineral levels in the body caused by stress. The Stress Management holiday offered at Bali’s Como Shambhala estate includes relaxing therapies, wellbeing talks and outdoor pursuits. From £2,795pp (healthandfitnesstravel.com).
GET FIT
If you’re suffering from a general sense of malaise, take a break from all that introspection by choosing a volunteer holiday – turning the spotlight on those in need will improve your sense of self-worth. Why not help to preserve sea life in Thailand? Based in Phuket’s The Aleenta Hotel, you’ll help protect natural coral and release endangered leatherback turtles back into the wild. From £1,099pp (letsgo2.com).
Give your body a reboot with a health-focused holiday that’s results-driven and sustainable. Try the Optimal Health Programme at Grayshott Spa in Surrey – you’ll benefit from access to a range of experts including nutritional therapists. Seven nights all-inclusive from £1,125pp (healthandfitnesstravel.com).
TACKLE BODY ISSUES
If you’ve got an overloaded mind and a flagging body, personalised Eastern therapies such as acupuncture, cranio-sacral therapy and meditation can help you rebalance. Try the Harmonia package at The One&Only Le Saint Géran resort on the island of Mauritius. From £1,160 for seven nights (oneandonlyresorts.com).
Get to the core of your sleeplessness and calm a restless mind at Kamalaya, a holistic island wellness retreat set around a tiny cave temple in Thailand’s Koh Samui. Its sleep-enhancement programme includes a consultation, Ayurvedic massage, acupuncture and a body bio-impedance analysis. From £2,055 (thehealthyholidaycompany.co.uk).
IMPROVE YOUR SELF-ESTEEM
Fitness holidays don’t only mean low-on-luxury boot camps, as FitFarms holistic weightloss courses in Exmoor and the Peak District prove. These weekend, four-day or week-long getaways teach you how to eat, exercise and live well, in lush, country estate surroundings. They also offer women-only retreats. From £599pp for a weekend course (fitfarms.co.uk).
If you’ve got an expanding waistline due to lack of motivation and regular exercise, kickstart a new routine on a self-catering holiday that brings the fitness gurus to you in between sunlounging. Check into the luxe Villa K in Marrakech for a metabolic rebalance and order in a dedicated PT, yoga teacher and masseuse, as well as a pre-holiday nutritional consultation. From £4,175pp per week based on four sharing (thehealthyholidaycompany.co.uk).
TRY THERAPY
Chiang Mai in Thailand sets the chilled-out scene for a week of counselling designed to help you tackle life’s hurdles. You’ll leave with a clearer head and a 12-week bespoke plan for staying on top of issues. You’ll also have a chance to visit local temples and relax with a spa treatment. From £1,035pp including Life Change Program, airport transfers and five-star accommodation (thelifechangepeople.com).
MANAGE STRESS
Exploring alternative therapies in an authentic Eastern setting will inspire you to make positive lifestyle changes and redress the physical depletion of
INCREASE YOUR ENERGY
Photos Getty Images
‘DOWNTIME IS VITAL FOR A POSITIVE OUTLOOK’
Recharge with a week’s therapy at Chiang Mai in Thailand
Feel like you spend your life chained to your desk in a state of constant exhaustion? Stimulate your body and mind with a cultural tour based in the great outdoors. On Kuoni’s 10-day Ancient Thailand tour, you’ll visit the ancient kingdoms of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai and can hike through beautiful teak forests, enjoy an
elephant safari or climb to the Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep hilltop temple. From £1,852pp (kuoni.co.uk).
OVERHAUL YOUR BODY
REBALANCE YOUR MIND, BODY & SOUL
FIND LIFE-CHANGING INSPIRATION
The ‘yoga retreat at La Clairière Bio & Spa in France is a week of ‘moving meditation’. Daily classes of powerful postures and focused breathing, plus evening discussions, help to clear and calm your mind. Enjoy free reign in the spa, too. 4-10 August, from £1,207pp (healinghotelsoftheworld.com).
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fitness bootcamp can sometimes seem more of a short-term solution.’ And the trend for wellbeing breaks is already evolving. Rather than requiring you to sign up to a set programme with a week’s itinerary, the Healthy Holiday Company will bring the gurus to you, providing your pick of chefs and nutritionists, personal trainers and yoga teachers, as well as swimming or surfing coaches, alongside the freedom of a luxury villa stay in exotic locations such as Thailand and St Lucia. Great when you fancy honing your Downward Dog while your partner is more interested on hitting the sunloungers. Likewise, the new Discover Recover breaks recently launched by Health And Fitness Travel are perfect for those who want to get to know the local surroundings as well as themselves – the idea is that you can soak up sun and culture, say the Taj Mahal and the faded pink city of Jaipur for a few days, then check into a spiritual retreat in the Himalayas to work on more personal goals. Its consultants listen intently to the list of ailments, issues and aspirations of every customer before they diagnose and prescribe the perfect healthy holiday combination. ‘Actually, sometimes they seem more like counsellors,’ says Paul Joseph, co-founder of Health And Fitness Travel. So, should we start to redefine holidays as less of a treat or indulgence and more of a necessity? Camille certainly thinks so. ‘Skip a vacation because you think you don’t have time or money, and not only are you missing out on a health boost, but you’re denying yourself an opportunity to recharge and rethink aspects of your life.’ According to a recent report by WTW, 40% of those surveyed have made a lifechanging decision on holiday, such as starting a family or changing career (for more advice on doing this, see p42). ‘If you find yourself increasingly locked into an overtime work culture, it’s likely that regular exercise and vital time to connect with loved ones or your inner self have been squeezed out,’ says Anne Biging of Healing Hotels of the World. ‘We need to make a conscious effort now to invest in ourselves. Even if it’s just meditating in your garden, or choosing an outdoorsy holiday that allows you to tune into the healing powers of nature. ‘Downtime of this kind is vital to help maintain
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FIND MORE HEALTHY HOLIDAYS ZEST.CO.UK SEARCH: WELLNESS, TRAVEL
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