by Debra Bokur

Treating yourself to a retreat with a strong fitness component is a great way to jumpstart a new regimen, fine-tune an old sport, or try a brand new one.

1. Coastal Trek 7-Day Health, Hiking & Fitness

Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada

At Coastal Trek Health & Fitness Resort, the emphasis is on customized retreats that work for each individual’s lifestyle once they’re home in the real world. Seven-day retreats include meals, accommodations, and guided hiking throughout central Vancouver Island’s alpine terrain, valleys, and mountains. When you’re not enjoying treks through the great outdoors, options include yoga and fitness classes, strength training, two therapeutic massages, and healthy cooking demos. (250) 897-8735, www.coastaltrekresort.com

2. Chiva Som Fitness Retreat

Hua Hin, Thailand

Maybe an exotic locale is just what you need to kick your workouts into high gear. At Chiva Som, fitness retreats include an in-depth health and wellness consultation to assess your current fitness levels and help you design a program to meet your goals, three spa cuisine meals daily, choice of daily massage per night of stay, use of the property’s Water Therapy Suite, lectures, and a wide selection of fitness classes. Retreats range in length from 5 to 21 nights, with rates dependent upon length of stay. Offered October and December of 2008, and January of 2009, with additional dates for 2009 available at the resort’s website. www.chivasom.com

3. Women’s Quest Wine Country Adventure Retreat

Healdsburg, California

From May 3 – 8, 2009, you can cycle, kayak, run, and hike your way through Sonoma Valley, while experiencing the renowned wines and gourmet foods of this region. Other guided fitness retreats regularly offered by Boulder, Colorado-based Women’s Quest include horse camp adventures in Colorado, cycling in Italy, hiking in Vermont, yoga in Hawaii and Mexico, and mountain biking in the Rocky Mountains. (303) 545-9295, www.womensquest.com

4. Round Hill Hotel & Villa 5-Day Sweat, Surrender & Serenity Retreat

Montego Bay, Jamaica

Offered several times each year, including twice in November 2008, these five-day yoga retreats in lush Jamaica are part of the Inward Bound Core Program, and are led by Inward Bound instructors. Retreats include daily breakfast and dinner, afternoon tea, and oceanfront rooms in the resort’s Ralph Lauren-designed Pineapple House. Tennis, walking, jogging, a fully equipped gym, daily fitness classes, and non-motorized water sports round out activity choices. Retreat fees include taxes, private airport transfers, shopping shuttles, and shuttles to nearby Tryall for golf. (800) 972-2159, www.roundhilljamaica.com

5. Canadian Mountain Holidays Heli-Hiking & Spa Relaxation

Banff, Alberta, Canada

Lace up your favorite hiking boots and head north. Journeys begin with a two-night stay at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, with two treatments at the Willow Stream Spa. Next, you’ll head to a wilderness lodge for three days of altitude hiking along the slopes of ancient glaciers. You’ll be delivered to remote trailheads via helicopter. Wind down at the end of the day with a gourmet meal and a relaxing glass of wine beside a cozy fire. Offered on select dates year-round, the retreat includes accommodations, airport transfers, most meals, guided hiking, and the use of heli-hiking equipment. (800) 661-0252, www.canadianmountainholidays.com.

September/October 2008

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