Healthy, Wealthy and Wise

If you're joining the large number of people heading abroad on a fitness holiday then read on to find out more about this growing trend...

Getting healthier in 2015

Getting healthier in 2015

With the trend for fitness holidays seemingly on the rise, (this year, almost 50% of you want to incorporate some form of fitness into your holiday!) we decided to investigate to see how accessible they really are.

We found that aside from the fitness boot camps favoured by celebrities, there’s a huge variety of ways to work on your fitness abroad without breaking the bank. We’ve had the pleasure of working with Faya of Fitness on Toast, and together we’ve found some of the best alternative ways to get fit abroad.

Have you tried trapeze training in Bali? Read on to find out more…

How fitness holidays are shaping up in 2015

Over a third

Over a third

of Brits are prepared to spend upwards of £500 on a fitness holiday

No. 1 goal

No. 1 goal

for a fitness holidays abroad is to tone up: 28% of people

More men

More men

than women headed abroad last year on a fitness holiday

Yoga retreats

Yoga retreats

over 20% cheaper abroad than in the UK

1) Stockholm - Long distance ice skating

Melt away the pounds in 2015 with long-distance ice-skating in Sweden. It's not only a great way to take in Sweden’s stunning frozen scenery, but also happens to be a terrific calorie torcher.

Training for ice skating: Staying upright for a long period on a slippery surface isn’t easy. A slouched posture will yield back pain at the very least. Faya recommends The Plank to improve your overall strength, which in turn will help you to control your balance and stability.

A basic 5-6 hour introductory skate costs around £110 with ICEguide Stockholm. 1

Tip: Maximise your time and see as much of Stolkholm whilst you're there: a one-day travel card in Stockholm costs £9.40.

1) Stockholm - Long distance ice skating

2) Venice - Yoga and culture - the dream duo

In Venice, rooftop yoga workshops are run all year round, high above the bustle of the canals. With the added benefit of being in a European cultural centre, there are plenty of things to see and do when not on the mat.

Faya has a lot to say on the benefits of meditation - get some practice in before your trip so you can reap the benefits whilst your there.

Private yoga classes at the YogaMio studio in Venice cost around £35. 2

Tip: It's practically mandatory that tourists take a Gondola when in Venice but it's also a great way to take in views of the city. Costs start from £20.

2) Venice - Yoga and culture - the dream duo

4) Morocco - Hiking through the Atlas Mountains

Just a short hop across the Mediterranean, the Atlas Mountains are both picturesque and bursting with Moroccan culture. Hike through the epic scenery whilst burning an impressive 550 calories an hour.

Faya recommends lunges as a great way to strengthen leg muscles, which receive the most strain during hiking.

A guided two day expedition with Atlas Trek Shop will come to around £115. 2

Tip: After you've climbed the Atlas mountains head to Marrakech and indulge yourself at a Marrakesh hammam (spa) - costs start at £1!

4) Morocco - Hiking through the Atlas Mountains

4) Tanzania - Altitude hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro

Tackling Mount Kilimanjaro is an incredible form of altitude training that would also be an unforgettable experience. It's not one for the faint-hearted!

HIIT (high intensity interval training) is the perfect way to prepare for a challenge like this. Elevating the heart rate through intense activity, followed by brief active recoveries, followed by elevating the heart rate again, forces the cardiovascular system to handle the stress of of limited oxygen.

Full climb packages with RMI Tours start at £4,000.4

Tip: Tanzania offers some incredible scuba diving opportunities so don't miss out! Costs for diving off Mafia Island start at around £40.

4) Tanzania - Altitude hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro

5) Bali - Trapeze training in paradise

Improve your balance and coordination and get a great full body workout with something out of the ordinary: trapeze training set on a dreamlike island.

Faya advises spending some extra time working on your back and shoulders – pull-ups are a great exercise to strengthen the back using your own body weight. Weighted dips will also improve your deltoid/tricep strength, required to lever yourself around when flying through the air!

A 75 minute lesson costs £25 and if the high bar isn’t for you, Bali offers up copious water sports adventures that will be sure to get the heart racing.5

Tip: Another way to get your heart racing in Bali is to try white-water rafting, with costs starting at approximately £30.

5) Bali - Trapeze training in paradise