Lifestyle, Spas and Healthy Living

This is the section where you come to improve your work/life balance. We now live in a time and place where the modern lifestyle often takes its toll on both body and mind. Gyms, spas and wellness centres are no longer ordinary places to exercise. While travelling, it is important to note that in most countries you will have to pay for treatment when you fall ill, so travellers are strongly advised to take out private health insurance. We cannot predict our future but there are things we can do to keep a sensible work/life balance. There are several options available and they all include aspects of healthy living, from healthy eating to spas and retreats, revitalizing your life to managing stress.

Spas Spas come in all shapes and sizes. They range from destination spas, hotel spas, and health spas. (See Executive Traveller Autumn 2005 issue). A Health Spa is a peaceful sanctuary where guests go to revitalize their soul. Some health spa destinations have curative waters. The luxury facilities include softly lit holistic therapy studios, indoor heated swimming pools, spa bath, sauna and a gymnasium with a range of fitness equipment from cross trainers and treadmills to free weights. Usually, there is also a bar/lounge area to relax and chill out after enjoying the spa facilities.

Most centres offer a range of health and beauty treatments for men and women and these can be pre-booked in the studios where qualified therapists use sophisticated products to create a greater sense of calm and well-being. They generally follow themes reflecting moods or seasons. Programmes include facials and massage as well as various body exfoliating treatments and wraps. Manicures, pedicures reflexology, Indian head massage, Thai massages, relaxation massages and other treatments.

Learn to take time out

For many of us, especially female executives, our evenings consist of getting home from work and apart from recovering from the day we’ve had, we may also have to deal with sorting out dinner, by which time we may feel there is very little time left to do anything. Before you get tempted to sit down in front of the TV, crack open a beer or a bottle of wine – convincing yourself that you have earned it after hard day’s work; this reward for the day you have endured is also dangerous which will become a habit and rather less of a treat to yourself.

If you find yourself in a hotel try to take your anger or stress on a gentle workout and then soak yourself in a well-earned bath. If you are home, the treatment can be divine because you can select your own bath oils from a wide range of therapy treatments or spa products and dictate the pace of your workout.

A few tips to help you to stay healthy while travelling:

• While you’re on holiday or travelling try to eat a healthy balanced diet. A healthy diet contains lots of fruit and vegetables; is based on starchy foods such as wholegrain bread, pasta and rice; and is low in fat (especially saturated fat), salt and sugar.
• Another risk is heatstroke or sunstroke. Don’t do anything too energetic during the hottest part of the day, usually between 11am and 3pm, and make sure you keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of non-alcoholic liquids.