Ski and spa in Austria
Nothing rests the mind like exercising the body, so why not combine a vigorous ski trip with a relaxing wellness holiday at the Grand Hotel in picturesque Zell am See, Austria. The lakeside resort has a recently built spa centre on its top floor offering panoramic lake views. Seven nights including flights, departing February 8th, costs €1,118 based on two sharing.
topflight.ie
Barefoot fitness in Kenya
Find out why Kenya has all the best runners, and speed up your diet at the same time, with a two-week Revitalise course from WildFitness. Its residential Kenyan programme includes fighting (of the nonverbal kind, presumably), lifting and "wild running", plus workshops on movement, metabolism and nutrition. From £3,000 (about €3,556), excluding flights.
wildfitness.com
Go organic in Germany
The German Bio hotel chain is the biggest organic hotel group in the world. Stay at one of its members, the Hotel Sturm Garden and Spa in Mellrichstadt, in beautiful Bavaria, and enjoy all natural delights such as swimming in the pond and doing yoga in the garden, eating organic throughout. A seven-night stay costs from €523, including healthy breakfasts and dinners.
hotel-sturm.com
Bootcamps without the blues
Tone up your body and top up your tan at the No1 Boot Camp in Ibiza this summer. It's all about fitness by day and massage therapies by night to ease those aching muscles. Although it's a military style fitness regime, it includes workouts to a live DJ – well, it is Ibiza. From £1195 (about €1,416) for a week, excluding flights.
no1bootcamp.com
Stay fit not fat
FitFarms provides women-only weightloss programmes across the UK. Lose inches off your girth and walk just that bit taller. Four-night residential midweek courses start at £699 (about €830), including an aftercare programme to help you keep up the good work back home.
fitfarms.co.uk
Get to grips with your gut in Tenerife
Head to Tenerife's Oceano medi-spa to get intimately acquainted with the theories of late Austrian health guru FX Mayr – basically clean gut equals clean bill of health. A seven-day health programme starts at €967, with accommodation and flights extra. Those booking a three-week Mayr cure currently have to pay for only two weeks' accommodation. Well at least your wallet will be slimmer.
oceano.de
Soak up some silence in India
Tired of talking? Give your tongue a break, and your head some peace, with a silent retreat at Shreyas, a Relais & Chateaux hotel in Bangalore, India. Instead of scurrying around trying to do 10 things at once, focus on stillness as a portal to a path of self discovery – always assuming you'll like what you find. It costs from $2,540 (about €1,850) for seven nights in a single room – sure why would you bring anyone else?
shreyasretreat.com
Take a coach tour to wellness
Carolyn Curtis of Coach4Life runs wellness retreats at the San Antonio Hotel, in Lanzarote, right on the beach at Puerto del Carmen. Her week-long stays provide not only a restorative shot of sunshine but also guided meditation, holistic therapies and cheery company. Stay half board in a single room for €705, excluding flights, in February.
coach4life.ie
Salute the sun in Provence
Stretch your body and expand your mind with expert yoga tuition at a hilltop venue in the Luberon, near Aix en Provence, in France. Including practice, guided hikes, holistic treatments and vegetarian food, plus pool, it's apparently where John Malkovich goes to brush up on his downward dog. From £995 (about €1,180) for six nights in June.
kaliyoga.com
Surf's up for yoga in Portugal
Hang 10 and hang loose at the Karma Surf Retreat in Portugal, for a seven-day treat for mind and body. Combining daily yoga practice with daily surf sessions, it costs between €749 and €949 for a week, depending on the time of year, staying in a private villa on the slopes of Serra de Sintra, a half-hour drive from Lisbon.
karmasurfretreat.com
