Power of Play
Power of Play
Getting Your Health On While Traveling
In this episode of Power of Play, entrepreneur coach Kelly Clements, and president of Largay Travel Amanda Klimak, discuss options for healthier and more active vacations, and why you should give it a go. You'll also hear from travel experts, Ellen Goldman, who talks about her experience at Body Holiday in St. Lucia and Paul Largay, on his transformational experience at Sha Wellness Clinic in Spain.
Check out Largay Travel at https://www.pleasegoaway.com/
Connect with Kelly
Email - kelly@theentreprenewer.com
Website - https://www.theentreprenewer.com
Complimentary Free Trip Planning Guide - https://www.theentreprenewer.com/free-resources/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/EntreprenewHer/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_entreprenewer/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyclements/
Connect with Amanda
Email - amanda@largaytravel.com
Website - www.pleasegoaway.com
Schedule a complimentary 15-minute Travel Specialist Consultation - www.pleasegoaway.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pleasegoawaytravelcompany/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/virtuosotraveladvisor/?hl=en
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-klimak/
Hello Kelly. And here we are back at the power of play. Welcome everyone. Hi everybody. Welcome back. Kelly and I are broadcasting once again from the Island of misfit toys and we're going to talk about something that's super popular at this time of year. Yeah, that's health and wellness. Yes. TIS the season of resolutions, which are notoriously short-lived. Um, but health and wellness are always one of the more popular, um, focus this time of year, especially coming off the holidays. So we wanted to bring you guys into the conversation that we've been having about wellness travel. And so of course we have resident expert, Amanda with us. It's going to bring so much of her, um, destination knowledge. But Amanda, one of the reasons I was really interested in talking about this with you is, you know, it's funny, a lot of times people who, especially in business, if they do struggle with weight, business travel can be one of the reasons or one of the pitfalls that people struggle with because it's, you know, it's the late dinners. It's the, it's the extra wine. It's, you know, the, all the entertaining. It goes on. And so, um, particularly around business travel, it can be hard to maintain healthful habits, you know, whether it's a lack of gym or the, you know, the lack of health access to healthy food that people struggle with. Absolutely. And I think that one of the things that we all know, and I know this for myself is, is it a priority in your life? And especially when you're traveling a lot, you have very long days. Um, and getting to the gym is not always easy. So sometimes people want a jumpstart. And I think that health and wellness travel is an excellent way to do that. Um, now as much as I would love to be the expert in this, I actually have advisors on my team who are experts. So we're gonna reach out to them in a little bit and get their opinions. But there is a difference in the places and what you're choosing, how you choose and knowing what's included, what's not included. It's really important to know those things ahead of time cause you can really hit some huge pitfalls if you don't know what you're, what you're getting into. Yeah. That, that's the stuff that I'm really looking forward to diving into with you because you know, there's obviously so many health and wellness coaches and some of them have retreats and that can be a popular destination. So want to go around with a, you know, a personalized coach for a couple of days, but I know that there's also so many options in the resort feel that have dedicated experts on staff and this is what they do all of the time. And um, and so I wanted your input on how to be looking for that, what the differences between normal health and wellness retreat versus more of a, a medical or wellness spa that has dedicated experts on staff all of the time for this. Yes. And you know what, and I think that knowing what you're hoping for or hoping to come out of the stay with is just as important as knowing
Speaker 2:where you're going. Um, because any place that has a spawn, they list themselves as a health and wellness kind of place. But as we know, there are some hotels that just because they have a 5,000 square foot spa does not make them necessarily a wellness retreat. And so you want to make sure that you're setting, kind of getting an idea of what you're hoping for ahead of time, expressing that to your travel advisors so they can match you up with the right stay. Because just because there's a place to get a massage and a facial, maybe do some exercise doesn't necessarily mean that it's going to provide you with that health and wellness jumpstart that you may be looking for. Okay, sure. And this sounds like a really good opportunity to turn it over to some of those experts. We'll go take it out to your team and allow them to share some of their tips and tricks for anybody who might be interested in booking.
Speaker 3:All right. And our guest today is Ellen Goldman travel specialist from Largo travel. Welcome Ellen. Thanks Amanda. Nice to be here. Great. So today we're talking about health and wellness, and I know you do a lot of travel both for yourself as well as for clients and you have a favorite. Would you like to share? Oh, absolutely. One of my total favorite resorts for health and wellness or just great relaxation is the body holiday in st Lucia. Most people know I never go any place twice because I always want to explore new things, but I have been back to that property and brought friends with me and recommend it frequently. Uh, it's, it's just a delight. What is it about it as a resort, because I know there's different levels of health and wellness at resorts. Where do you kind of put body holiday in that level of how much wellness, how much health, and how much just entirely fun vacation is it? Well, I think the entirely fun vacation is, is absolutely true. So I've got to kind of discuss it for many different levels. Okay. So body holidays in this idyllic setting in a Cove in st Lucia, which I think is one of the most beautiful islands. I love the, the Verdun greens. The mountains. It just really, that kind of topography speaks to me. Um, it is not slick, minimalist, you know, hip have to dress a certain way. Um, very kind of old school Caribbean feel. Um, very comfortable. And so just the setting itself is perfect for any beach destination. Um, it's not a long stretch of beach, but it's a beautiful Cove in one sits in one's lounge with the flag and whenever, you know, we were thirsty, you just put the flag up and people come running and my friends still talk about can we put the flag up kind?
Speaker 2:That's kind of our[inaudible].
Speaker 3:Um, that is the way we judge resort. Can we sit there and put a flag up and have people come running because that's just the ultimate in luxury for us. Uh,
Speaker 2:so what's a day look like when you're at[inaudible]? The thing is, it's really varies
Speaker 3:spy person. What I love about it is that there's a full, full compendium of all the kinds of activities and some are very much traditional health and wellness, like the exercise classes, the yoga, there are more sunrise walks. Um, there are evening hikes and they're all at a very high level, which I really like. So I mean, yes, there are beginner classes, but if one is an experienced hiker really in good shape, very, you know, knowledgeable and experienced in plotting is they're not going to be bored. So they're really challenging and I love that. But then there's also things like golf, tennis, trap peas, um, banana boats. So fun stuff. Um, that's not at all, you know, physically daunting or just one of the would look for in any other resort. And then you add, you know, free flowing champagne, which is always my favorite. So when in terms of the health and wellness, yes. If one wants to really, you know, watch beyond their P's and Q's and only have incredibly helped the things that's, that's an option. Certainly not
Speaker 2:one which should I, you are up to so, and, and, and my friends to not eat or say, you know, it's kind of like, okay, choose, what do you want to do?
Speaker 3:And I, I really love that. It's not, you don't, you can be really active. You can get a great workout and then you can have lovely meals and wines and, and feel really relaxed. Um, we went, I've been with several sets of friends and one friend is like, they're, they're up at five in the morning and ready to greet this Assad and, and you know, hardcore, they need to work out at least three hours before they're allowed to have anything to eat or whatever. It's like, my goodness, that's so great. Go and enjoy yourself.
Speaker 2:Not even that. We'll see you, we'll see you for cocktails. And so
Speaker 3:I love that there's that, that it's not so, I mean, I suppose if you, if they do have special weeks devoted to yoga or body mind, body work, so if that's what you're looking for, that is available, but it's also more approachable if one just wants to have a really interesting vacation and then combine that with the one hour of spa treatment per person per day. That's included. I mean, absolutely. Yeah. Fabulous. Um, and then they have single rooms, which I think is amazing so that a person can go down, male or female, have a single room, not pay extra. They do have tables for singles of all ages. And this is not like meek market singles. This is like, just want to go hang out, chill, have nice conversation, and it attracts people from 20 up to 90. Um, and everybody's just very convivial and there's a cocktail party a few times a week. It's just a really low key chill, beautiful place with great activities. Awesome. Great. Thank you so much for sharing.
Speaker 2:I'm here now with Paul arguer who is my business partner and the CEO of a large gay travel. Welcome to the show, Paul. Thank you Amanda. A pleasure to be here. I'm curious how this is going to take a turn as an interview because I know you've been to many different health and wellness resorts over the years and you have been recently too shy and I wanted to get your opinion about it and have you talk about that.
Speaker 4:Let you know what Amanda, a lot of the other places, um, like Miraval and Canyon ranch, uh, that was for a casual tuneup, uh, just to sort of marginally reshaped your, uh, coordinates health wise and psychologically, socially, spiritually would Shaw is a much I like in shot to a frame up restoration and[inaudible].
Speaker 2:So first talk about where is shot and how did you get it?
Speaker 4:SHA is in, in Spain. It's right outside of Valencia. It's an absolutely magnificent, uh, area of Spain. And the facilities are extraordinary. And what I really loved about showers at the front counter, they had their slogan that said, health is not everything, but without health, everything is nothing. And, and they take that to the nth degree. This is not a casual reset. This is really a deep dive. And, and that's a wonderful thing for those people that are really looking to transform their lives and ideally their health. Uh, it's not for somebody, uh, that wants to go there and lose a couple of pounds and get a nice massage, um, and do a Zoomba class or something. This is really for someone who wants to take, um, the left fork of a road that they previously have been on the right fork from[inaudible]. They have everything from STEM cell replacement, uh, to complete nutritional resets. Uh, they'll whiten your teeth. They do LASIK surgery. They do. I mean, it is, it is a, it reminded me much more of a almost medical facility, uh, that people could leverage their insights and their experience to make a major transformation in their life. But it's not, it's not something you go there as a destination. It's not something that you take a trip to five other places in Spain and say, I'm going to breeze in there for a couple of days, uh, to maybe get myself back on track. Well, what I love about this, as you say that is that's what you did. And I think what I found interesting was you hadn't researched a lot about where you were going and what you were getting yourself into. So talk to me a little bit about that. Because I know as travel specialists, we're constantly really trying to fish in to find out what is someone trying to get out of their trip. And you haphazardly had gone there not knowing what you were getting into. Well, and when I checked in, they asked me if I wanted to be on the 500 calories a day, 800 calories a day or 1100 calories today. I said, I usually have that with breakfast, not for the day. And then I looked at my choices, and again, I say it somewhat comedically, uh, but it's, um, the majority of people walk around in their bathrobes for a lot of people go there for a minimum of five days, but there were people that were checked in there for weeks upon weeks. Wow. Um, and, and they get, um, a designated, uh, medical professional who completely debriefs you and peels back the onion of all of your, uh, physical and nutritional pursuits. And then they sit there and they examine every element of your existence. And, uh, this is this, there's no place to hide there. Yes. And so if someone was interested in taking this kind of, um, you know, this kind of tribe, uh, frame-up restoration, it's Epic. There are, it's probably one of the foremost, uh, authorities on life transformations in the world. Um, and I mean the facilities are extraordinary. The professionals, the staff, the service. Uh, I can't tell you that cuisine was extraordinary cause I didn't eat enough of it. You just needed more. One morning for breakfast, they gave me what looked like a thimble with fruit in it. And I said to them like, Oliver, twist please, HSA, I have some ball. Well you would've thought that I set fire to the place. The manager came over, uh, the, the assistant manager came over and said, what is it that you want? I should something to eat. God damn it. And, and I was only there for two days and um, it felt like a lifetime. Oh my goodness. Well, thank so much for sharing
Speaker 2:it. Thank you for being on the show. Thank you. All right. And now I'm back with Kelly and we're going to wrap up this episode. But Kelly, it's interesting because I think that's sometimes, you know, we don't pick a health and wellness destination or holiday because we're uncomfortable that maybe we won't be as good as everyone else or we're not in enough, you know, in the best shape to be there. Um, I'd like to talk about that cause sometimes getting your foot in the door is the hardest part.
Speaker 1:Yeah. And you know what, I would even say that maybe it is even not even just, you know, that doesn't even hold us back in wellness travel. It might be travel in general. You know, maybe you don't want to take trips because you don't want to be in a bathing suit at the pool with the, with the, you know, the ones who are fitter, healthier, leaner, you know, you don't want to go on, they have on the hiking expedition because you feel like you might be holding the group back. And what am I girlfriends actually called me on this cause like I've been pretty open about the weight that I've gained in the last year. And, you know, one of my girlfriends came to me and she was like, you know what, like I get it for whatever reason I get it. And like, you know, where's the Kelly that like always wore the sparkly clothes? Like what, what's with all the black and you know, the flowy stuff. Like where's the bright, vibrant Kelly? Like you don't have to be overweight and boring.
Speaker 2:It's so true. I go it just like this. I've got to be plain so nobody notices maybe. And it's so funny cause it's like, who are we fooling, you know, and got a thing. Yeah. Well, but I have to say that, you know, there have been times when I've had opportunities to go to a health and wellness and because I'm not in that mindset, I may not take that leap, but when I have, it's amazing how it really can change your mindset and only in a couple of days. So it's not like you have to go, um, you know, to the fat farm for two weeks or a month or something like that. Just getting there and being around other people who have that same mindset can kickstart you. And I think that's what we have to remember is, you know, getting around other people that support our cause.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean? Or that is so important and no amount of willpower can overcome environment. And I think getting out of our environment and into an environment where they're, you know, it's so health and wellness centric, there's a remembrance. It's like, Oh yeah, Oh yeah, I forgot. Like if this is, this is naturally who I am, but for whatever reason, if we get sucked into the environment of the business, travel or whatever, whatever our natural home environment is, that is not supporting a wellness lifestyle. Getting just for a couple of days. To your point, getting back into that remembrance of, Oh yeah, I forgot. Yeah, I forgot that this is actually who I am. It makes it so much easier to bring those habits back home to integrate.
Speaker 2:Yes. Well, and, and I, I, one of my, um, past experiences that really helped me on my journey. At one point in my life, I was working with dr Alison Miller, who's a life coach and she said, you need to look in the mirror and say, I'm an athlete. I'm an athlete. And we always talk about fake it till you make it. Sometimes this is one of those things that you really do have to reconvince yourself. There is an athlete in there or there is a skinny person that's living in your body or that healthy person that makes healthy choices. And, um, I think getting away and especially when you get away with your significant other, um, it gives you both a goal to go forward together. It can really change your relationship when you have two people who are really working toward the same direction.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. The confidence increases in both of you. The connection, the support, the encouragement, it's, it's definitely one of those bonding exercises and especially when you're aligned in it together. So yeah, you know, it not only helps ourselves, it helps our relationships, our family, of course, our kids benefit when we're more active and energized, energetic for them. And, and the business, you know, like there's, there's a very strong connection between our physical health and wellness and our financial or business success. You know, those two are very closely correlated. So you know, there's a business case for this type of travel as well.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Well, what I'm going to do is I would had, as I was kind of researching a little bit for this episode, um, and talking to my advisors here, um, we pulled together some articles from past virtuoso articles on health and wellness, some top 20 destinations, things like that. And I think people really would be interested in. So I'm going to post that up on our Facebook page, which is power of play podcast as well as on our website, which is please go away.com/podcast so you can access that information. And then if you want to see
Speaker 1:schedule some in health and wellness, let us know. We'd be happy to help you. Amazing. Thank you so much, Amanda. Awesome. Have a great day. Bye bye everyone. Bye guys.