“TEMPERATURE can be your friend or your foe”, says coach Rick Parcell as I plunge into a swimming pool on a chilly morning in the Spanish countryside.
When the shock wears off, I feel alive!
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After a turbulent few months in my personal life, I decided it was time for a reset. And where better than a celeb-approved fitness and wellness retreat at a stunning villa in rural Andalucia?
While the idea of a traditional ‘boot camp’ conjures up images of army-style drills and harsh discipline, The Body Camp is an entirely different proposition.
High-energy workouts combined with a mindfulness programme empower guests both physically and emotionally.
A focus on mental strength and eliminating negative self-talk uses a tried-and-tested Inner Technology workbook.
So-called ‘Weasel Words’ such as ‘can’t’ are banned. After a tough session, instead of ‘sore muscles’, we have ‘sexy muscles developing’. You get the picture.
To the uninitiated, it sounds cringey. But there is no room for that here, I soon learn. Several days later, I would be hiking in a bright yellow tutu skirt searching for toy dinosaurs!
A sign reading ‘You are exactly where you need to be’ greeted my companions and I upon arrival at the spectacular rural estate, which boasts panoramic views of the surrounding El Torcal mountains.
The property, around 40 minutes from Malaga, features ten lush country house bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms. As I sat down for our first dinner that night, I was admittedly nervous about what I had signed up for.
The concept of working out with, and baring your soul to, a group of strangers for seven days is enough to make even the most uninhibited person shiver.
But non-judgment is a recurring theme over the week, and you quickly find your walls coming down as you connect with people of all shapes and all walks of life.
Whether navigating divorce, bereavement, illness or parenting difficulties, we all share the same common goal: to improve ourselves and cultivate good habits going forward.
In a very artificial world, the whole experience is refreshingly stripped back. There is no make-up, no phones at the table, no alcohol and no TV — just genuine human connections.
Every mealtime, our name cards were shuffled around, allowing us to sit next to someone new and get to know them better.
A mixture of high-intensity interval training, boxing, hiking, circuits, resistance sessions provided the perfect opportunity to push ourselves out of comfort zones.
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Coach Rick’s unfaltering energy and support had me constantly reaching far beyond the physical barriers I thought my body could handle.
At one point, I found myself running laps of the villa in a weighted vest, feeling like an SAS soldier training in the Brecon Beacons.
It’s undoubtedly hard work, but the programme’s ‘full-immersion’ ethos means participants engage in the workouts to the best of their ability — and we are all each other’s biggest cheerleaders.
Exercises can suit all fitness and mobility levels, but are still challenging enough to get your blood pumping.
Most of all, we were consistently reminded by founder Kate Whale that it is supposed to be FUN.
Dance teacher Cass, whose infectious energy has you grinning from ear to ear, put us to work releasing our inhibitions during a dance cardio session as we learned choreography to the iconic 1980s hit “Lambada” by Kaoma.
And coach Rick cheered us on during an entertaining Arnold Schwarzenegger ‘Muscle Beach’ inspired weight training session under the pleasant heat of the Spanish sun.
While the mornings are primarily reserved for sweating it out, the afternoons at Body Camp are dedicated to stretching, yoga, and mindfulness.
During a guided meditation, I even managed to lie still for 20 minutes, listening to the soundtrack of birds chirping and trees rustling in the breeze.
GO: ANDALUCIA
GETTING THERE: EasyJet fly direct to Malaga from Glasgow with prices from £18.99pp. See easyjet.com/en.
STAYING THERE: The Body Camp’s seven-night full board transformational retreats from £1,895 (based on triple-share room) until the week commencing September 20 and seven-night full board Deep Calm rest recovery retreats on May 31, June 28 and August 16 from £2,200pp, (based on triple share room).
Not including flights or transfers. Use code SUN10 to get 10 per cent off if booked between May 25-June 1. See thebodycamp.com.
We were in safe hands with the wonderful Rosie, who reassured us that yoga is not about mastering fancy poses, it’s about listening to your body and what it needs.
And after burning thousands of calories a day, what your body most definitely needs is the correct fuel to maximise your performance and aid recovery.
Ben Whale, The Body Camp’s head chef, ensures that set menus are gut-healthy, nutrient-dense, and balanced with the right combination of protein, carbs and fats.
There is a common misconception that healthy eating means green, bland, rabbit food — an idea that was swiftly quashed by our first sit-down meal together.
The culinary offering at Body Camp is delicious, colourful, and filling, featuring dishes such as Thai green curry, protein pancakes, chia pudding, and homemade ‘Snickers’ bars.
A daily staple of three meals and two snacks a day means you are never too far away from your next feed. It’s a far cry from the toxic diet culture that dominated the noughties, with no scales in sight.
Caffeine is limited to breakfast only, and as someone who drinks coffee like it’s going out of fashion, I found I coped remarkably well keeping hydrated with flavoured teas and water.
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The team ensured we had scheduled downtime every evening for relaxation, while group activities had us all in fits of laughter as we tried to work out what unit of speed a computer mouse is measured in — it’s a mickey.
There were tears, too. What started as a mishmash of strangers making small talk turned into group therapy by the week’s end.
During one exercise, we all sat in silence, writing a letter to ourselves that reinforced all the positive affirmations we had learned during the week. These letters will be posted to us in six months’ time.
The Body Camp really allows you to take stock of your life in the best way, while challenging the limiting beliefs you hold about yourself.
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It reminds you how capable you are in the moments when you feel like throwing in the towel, and I left feeling toned and energised, with a bunch of new pals.
My advice: take the plunge and book a week at The Body Camp!
