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Our Program Isn’t Just For Losing Weight

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hiking in forestFitness vacations aren’t just for people needing to lose weight any more.  Mountain Trek hosts people from around the world, of all ages and fitness levels.

As the “Wellness Tourism” industry evolves to meet the needs of our stressed society, people are drawn to Health Retreats for a variety of reasons, with the most obvious being for those wanting to lose pounds, detox, break old habits and learn healthy new ones.

But the appeal of fitness vacations like Mountain Trek is a growing trend among athletes and health conscious people as well, that aren’t necessarily “fat”.  In fact, there are a rising percentage of guests that choose us because our Program matches where they’re already at in their health, lifestyle and attitude.

You may wonder how athletic people would benefit from attending a fitness retreat when they’re already fit and don’t need to shed pounds.  Some of the reasons these types of guests choose healthy getaways such as Mountain Trek include:

  • getting out of the office and back in touch with nature to breathe clean air
  • hiking in pristine nature through new terrain with other outdoor enthusiasts
  • training for an upcoming marathon, which their life back home didn’t allow time for
  • breaking out of their workout routine and getting re-inspired
  • detoxing from coffee, alcohol, and other habits that can creep up on us all
  • taking a much needed break from technology overload and career demands
  • enjoying regular bodywork, treatments and consultations from skilled practitioners all in one location
  • rewarding themselves after an achievement such as getting their degree
  • renewing and deepening their commitment to their health
  • enjoying an adventurous getaway with friends or a loved ones
  • indulging in down time by going solo, and feeling safe going alone in the supportive environment
  • meeting new like-minded people from around the world
  • tuning up before a wedding or other important life event    

We see it all here at Mountain Trek, and see people of all fitness levels have a blast pushing themselves beyond the limits of their comfort zones.  No matter what condition they arrived in, we consistently see guests go home feeling energized and 10 years younger, proud of their accomplishments and with a renewed commitment to their health.  

8 Ways to Make the Most of your Fitness Vacation

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hike3

Attending a Health Retreat or Fitness Vacation has far-reaching benefits that can impact a person for years. The idea of investing in a structured, healthy vacation, instead of the well-worn “all-you-can-eat” getaway is steadily growing in popularity; and is meeting the needs of millions of vacationers looking to revitalize their health.

Because, really, who wants to come home from a vacation with a larger waistline than when you left?

The term “Wellness Tourism” is something you’ll see more of in the coming years as active baby boomers and younger generations seek healthy adventurous and educational retreats to learn new areas of growth and self-improvement.

Structured programs, such as the one offered at Mountain Trek Fitness Retreat and Health Spa, go beyond the basics of a morning fruit smoothie and pool volleyball. Savvy guests are looking for services, treatments, and consultations that cater to all areas of health, and they see the advantage of an on-site group of therapists and practitioners with varied skill sets.

8 recommendations to look for in your next Fitness Retreat or Weight Loss vacation

These offerings will help ensure you get the most out of your stay. We at Mountain Trek offer all of these–and more!

  1. Private Yoga Sessions –Frustrated by inflexibility? Feeling lost in the crowd? Enjoy individual support and tailored advice outside the group dynamic.
  2. Kinesiologist Assessment – Suffering from poor posture, a weak core or shoulder, neck or back pain? Get an assessment and a personalized home program to help correct imbalances with stretching, re-training, and revitalizing techniques.
  3. Nutrition Consultation –Meet with a Registered Nutritionist to assess your eating habits, address any symptoms and receive recommendations. Learn new recipes and eating habits to meet your unique nutritional needs.
  4. Life Coaching – Make the most of a credentialed Life Coach to support and mentor you on your journey. With some coaching during and after your program, you can better overcome challenges and set realistic goals that are in alignment with your transformation. (Mountain Trek’s program director, Kirkland Shave, is an accredited Life Coach.)
  5. Spa Treatments – In addition to Swedish or Deep Tissue Massage, take advantage of treatments you’ve never had, and you’ll be amazed at how skilled therapists can heal what ails you.
  6. Reflexology – applied pressure to meridian points on the feet to promote the clearing of energetic pathways and deep relaxation for the whole body.
  7. Personal Counseling – whether you’re working through a life transition, relationship issues, depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, grief, addiction, or issues relating to self-image and self-confidence, these client-centered counseling sessions are an opportunity to slow down, become clear, and find ways to resolve current concerns or issues from the past that interfere with living fully in the present.
  8. Private Yoga Session – a personalized session focusing on creating your own take-home routine, or deepening your current practice.

These are just some of the ways to augment your Fitness Vacation program and start your road back to excellent health.

What is Mountain Trek?

Mountain Trek is the health reset you’ve been looking for. Our award-winning retreat, immersed in the lush nature of British Columbia, will help you unplug, recharge, and roll back years of stress and unhealthy habits. To learn more about the retreat, and how we can help you reset your health, please email us at info@mountaintrek.com or reach out below:

Best Get Fit Retreats In and Around The US

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four people hiking on a british columbia trail

Executive Travel magazine chooses Mountain Trek as one of the best get-fit retreats in and around the USA.  Along with Mountain Trek in British Columbia; Miraval in Tuscon, AZ, Kalon Surf School in Costa Rica, Maya Tulum in Mexico, Red Mountain Resort in Utah, and The BodyHoliday in St. Lucia were also named.

Guests to Mountain Trek are not only getting more fit after a week but the escape from the concrete jungle has incredible restorative abilities for the mind too.

“People are tired of sitting on the beach with a Mai Tai,” says Kirkland Shave, program director at Mountain Trek Health, Fitness & Weight Loss Retreat. He sees more and more business travelers using their time off to do something healthy—like hiking trails in the awe-inspiring mountains of British Columbia. While part of what retreat guests love about the Mountain Trek experience is their shrinking waistlines, Shave says the restorative power of nature is equally powerful. “A week without hearing a car,” he says, “can blow someone’s mind.”

Executive Travel Magazine Writer – Caitlin Drexler

What is Mountain Trek?

Mountain Trek is the health reset you’ve been looking for. Our award-winning health retreat, immersed in the lush nature of British Columbia and featuring daily sunrise yoga and night-time restorative yoga, will help you unplug, recharge, and roll back years of stress, anxiety, and unhealthy habits. To learn more about the retreat, and how we can help you reset your health, please email us at info@mountaintrek.com or reach out below:

It’s More than Just Transformation

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Deborah Stone joined us for a week of health and fitness last summer. As with most of our reviews, transformation is the key idea, as she experienced the quick shift into health and renewed vitality .

It's all About Transformation

It’s all About Transformation

She also describes the daily rhythm of exercise, delicious meals, reflection and learning; what’s unique about her review is this:

I believe the setting and situation removes barriers, allowing individuals to open up more readily. The hikes, though sometimes arduous, were always rewarding because of the scenery, the companionship and the sense of accomplishment that participants felt upon completion.”

This quality of connection is something we notice with each group; by sharing challenge, introspection and success, a real bond forms among guests. Each person arrives with their own goals and starting point, and each person is supported to achieve their best.

Read her review to get the full picture.

Spas of America Lists Best Canadian Spas

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Top 50 Canadian Spas

Top 50 Canadian Spas

 

We’re pleased to announce that Mountain Trek was one of the Top 50 Spas in Canada for 2012, as rated by Spas of America, an online spa and retreat finder.

“Spas offering escape, rejuvenation and wellness in beautiful outdoor settings continue to prove popular with spa consumers,” says Spas of America, Relationship Manager, Dagmar White.

Well, we’re happy to offer all of these, and there’s no shortage of beautiful outdoor settings in our neighbourhood. We’re honoured to be in such strong company.

Passport Magazine – The Fitness Vacation

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Paul Horne on the Kokanee Hike at Mountain Trek last summer.

Paul Horne on the Kokanee Hike at Mountain Trek last summer.

 

Passport men’s magazine has featured Mountain Trek as part of its Fitness Vacation article in the February 2013 issue. In visits to 5 of the top fitness retreat spas in North America, Paul Horne joined us for a week long ReBoot; here’s an excerpt from his article:

This assignment is one I had wanted to do for years: visit the hottest fitness “boot camps” and share my experience with Passport readers. I was determined to find out if a single week was enough time to significantly impact one’s overall health.

Over the summer Paul lost a total of 25 lbs, so his mission was a success. Way to go Paul!

 

 

 

Passport Magazine 7-Days-to-a-Better-Body Introduction

7-Days-to-a-Better-Body Introduction

Paul's review of Mountain Trek.

Paul’s review of Mountain Trek.

 

 

I did finally reach that cabin on the peak, where the exhilaration of the experience was matched by literally the best 360-degree view I’d ever seen. I believe my exact words were “Who needs Switzerland?”

 

 

Gear Patrol – Gifts for Guys

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Mountain Trek’s Adventure to Machu Picchu was the culminating gift in this 2012 Gift Guide for men by Gear Patrol.

The Athlete – Gear Patrol Gift Guide

Gear Patrol Annual Gift Guide for Guys

Gear Patrol Annual Gift Guide for Guys

The fitness fanatic is the man that puts in a quick 5K before the rest of us have even tossed the beans in the burr grinder. His body fat is measured in fractions, and biceps in feet. His dinner conversations involve things like basal metabolic rate; his pecs flex, noticeably, when he passes the pepper. He has endless amounts of energy, a good work ethic, and an army of free weights hidden in his office.

He might be your best friend, or brother, or both. He may even be the man you want to become, or your better (slimmer) half. One thing is certain, though: trying to track down a gift that will release the right amount of endorphins can be as exhausting as training for an Ironman…

Peru Mountain Fitness Trek

You could reward your exercise efforts with a trip to the sun and sand, but the included mojitos and muy grande meals will lay waste(line) to all of your hard work. The Peruvian Mountain Fitness Trek is an eleven night hiking hiatus designed for fitness fanatics of all levels. Led by Mountain Trek’s head honcho, groups are small and broken out into equally paced pairings. Beginning in Cusco and touring through the Sacred Valley, the trek ascends the Andes via the Inca trail into the history and mystery that is Machu Picchu. A gift that truly embodies the spirit of adventure, this is an experience that should be on every man’s list. Just don’t forget your camera.

Check out the full article for more gift ideas.

Abandon the Heels for a Heath Retreat

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Cynthia Dial Alpine Lake

Cynthia Dial shares her health retreat vacation experience at Mountain Trek

Full disclosure:  I was a daily walker, not a hiker.

 

Give me a pair of Jimmy Choo’s with 4 ½ inch heels and the directive to cross Manhattan’s Midtown and consider it done.  But put me in a pair of hiking boots and I’m out of my element… would I be able to keep up, or would I be the “one” out of her league?

The bottom line is I needed a tune-up and was ready to graduate from morning walker to all-day hiker.  However, a statement on the spa’s site sealed the deal: “If you can climb four flights of stairs without stopping and walk on undulating ground for a minimum of two hours, you can do this program.” Sold.

Here, my friends, are the details…

What is Mountain Trek?

Mountain Trek is the health reset you’ve been looking for. Our award-winning health retreat, immersed in the lush nature of British Columbia, will help you detox, unplug, recharge, and roll back years of stress and unhealthy habits. To learn more about the retreat, and how we can help you reset your health, please email us at info@mountaintrek.com or reach out below:

Mountain Trek: The Transformation Vacation

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Ready to hike into a whole new you?

Kokanee Trail “Got the Nordic poles? Check. First-Aid kit? Check. Bear spray? Yup….And we’re ready to go!” our hiking guide proclaims. “Do you mean ‘bug spray’?” I ask, with slight trepidation in my voice. “No, I meant ‘bear spray’….But don’t worry – it’s usually just a precaution”. And so, another group of urban professionals vacationing at Mountain Trek – a high-octane fitness resort nestled in southeastern B.C. – realize that we’re not in proverbial Kansas anymore. As we depart for a four-hour hike up an altitude heretofore seen only from the tops of office skyscrapers, we feel secure under the supervision of our fearless leader. Read more of Lynn Burshstein’s Mountain Trek experience.