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The wellbeing travel sector is expected to hit a whopping $919 billion by 2022, according to the Global Wellness Institute, meaning retreats are likely to be even more on everyone’s radar next year.
They offer the perfect opportunity to disconnect from city stresses and reboot your body and mind. Finally a holiday where all of your hard work and training doesn’t go out the window.
But with so many to choose from, it can be tricky to pick the right one for you – it’s always somewhat of a gamble, and let’s face it, it’s not always the cheapest way to holiday. Will you have a good teacher? Will it be a nice crowd? Will you know anyone?
Thankfully solving that problem for you, a number of London’s boutique fitness studios are now offering their own retreats, and will send their top instructors to some dreamy destinations in 2019 to ensure you have a week of optimum wellness.
BXR Daios Cove, Crete
The five-star hilltop Cretian resort Daios Cove has teamed up with London’s original boutique boxing concept BXR for what has to be the coolest looking fitness retreat on Instagram.
A fully-functional outdoor BXR gym has been built to offer the studio’s signature boxing and strength and conditioning classes, and will also be available to hotel guests. A typical day will also include sunrise and sunset yoga, cardio games, hiking, biking, pooltime and daily recovery massages at the hotel’s spa. Meanwhile guests will enjoy a nutritious menu from holistic nutritional consultant Sarah Safarian, as well as tailored protein shakes to keep you going.
Retreats will run throughout the year and will be available to book from January 2020.
When: various
Price: from £2,000
BLOK, France
In summer 2020 Blok will return to Bordeaux, France, to host its second ever fitness retreat. Set in the stunning rural setting of Maison de la Vaure, a 16th century former cognac estate, guests can expect sustainable cross-training, skills-based workshops and bespoke 1-2-1 fitness classes led by their favourite Blok instructors. By night, expect to share plant-based meals then soak off a hard day’s training in one of the property’s beautiful roll-top baths.
This year, the retreat also features the Asana Lab, private, tailored yoga sessions focussing on form and alignment, and they’ll also throw in some complimentary therapies, like massage, too.
Pre-sale spots go live on January 11 for subscribers. To register interest, email retreats@bloklondon.com. The rest of the spaces will then be released on January 18.
When: August 22-29
Prices: from £1,415
Digme, Crete and Sicily
Next spring Digme Fitness will make its foray into the retreat space hosting its first in Crete, Greece, in April and a second in Sicily in October.
Led by Digme’s head instructor Paul Gascoyne and wellness coach Hana Sediva, the 7-day retreat will involve cycling, running, hiking, yoga, gyrokinesis and swimming in the sea, naturally.
Booking is now open for the April retreat, and spots for the second will open up in early 2020.
When: Crete April 17-24 and Sicily 2-9 October
Price: from £1,100
ARTAH by Psycle founder Rhian Stephenson, The Pyrenees
OK, so it’s not technically a studio retreat, but close enough for us. Having launched Artah this year, Psycle founder, naturapath and nutritionist Rhian Stephenson will host a full calendar of retreats throughout 2020 at Can Terrades, a stunning residence set at the foot of The Pyrenees surrounded by rolling hills and vineyards – and it looks seriously lush.
Artah meaning ‘purpose’ in Hindu philosophy, will offer four to seven day programmes which combine fitness, plant-based nutrition, pre- and post-supplementation, daily hikes, twice daily yoga, cooking demonstrations and workshops, as well as Natura Bisse spa treatments, facials, LED Light therapy and daily infrared saunas. Food will be prepared by Michelin starred restaurant chef Kate O’Shea.
Currently two programmes are offered: the Signature Reset, an ‘active detox’ programme, and the Deep Dive, which is a more intensive programme focused on full body transformation.
When: April 22 – 26, May 1-4, 6-10, 23-30, June 3-7, 17-21, June 27-July 4, July 25-August 1, August 8-15, 19-23, 27-31, September 9-13, 23-27, October 3-10, 15-19
Price: from £2,950
Watch this space for updates as Hotpod Yoga and Third Space have both also confirmed to the Standard that they will be hosting more retreats in 2020 – details to follow.
