Latest news with #TheBodyCamp
Scottish Sun
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I visited celeb-approved health and fitness retreat with energising workouts, delicious food and stunning scenery
NO SPAIN, NO GAIN I visited celeb-approved health and fitness retreat with energising workouts, delicious food and stunning scenery Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) '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! Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 11 The celeb-approved fitness and wellness retreat is located in rural Andalucia Credit: The Body Camp 11 The spectacular estate comes with a swimming pool for cold dips Credit: The Body Camp 11 The property boasts panoramic views of the surrounding El Torcal mountains Credit: The Body Camp 11 The Body Camp allows guests to prioritise body and mind Credit: The Body Camp 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. I spent three days at a sleep retreat - these are the top 7 things I learnt 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. 11 Coach Rick Parcell provides unfaltering energy and support Credit: The Body Camp 11 Set menus are gut-healthy, nutrient-dense, and delicious Credit: The Body Camp 11 Group activities had us all in fits of laughter Credit: The Body Camp 11 The villa features ten lush country house bedrooms Credit: The Body Camp 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 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 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. 11 We used the tried-and-tested Inner Technology workbook Credit: The Body Camp 11 It turns out yoga is not about mastering fancy poses Credit: The Body Camp 11 I coped remarkably well keeping hydrated with flavoured teas and water Credit: The Body Camp 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. 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!
Daily Mail
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE How Josie Gibson treated her medieval health condition with celebrity-adored holistic retreat after shock diagnosis
Josie Gibson shocked fans when she revealed she had been diagnosed with a medieval health condition - but the scare was a motivator for the star. The This Morning presenter, 40, revealed on Tuesday that she was suffering from gout after filming a travel show where she sampled first class air travel, living a life of luxury. After filming Channel 5 travelogue Around The World In First Class, Josie went for a health MOT ahead of her next TV challenge The 1970s Diet, where she was told she had gout. She told Bella magazine that she was 'embarrassed' when she received the shock diagnosis and thought only medieval royalty and old men were at risk of the condition. But it inspired her to embark on a health kick for herself and her young son Reggie, and she is now feeling better than ever. 'I got a bit of a health scare while filming this show [The 1970s Diet] so it knocked me into submission a bit,' she said. Josie said that her busy life as a travelling TV presenter saw her getting just four to five hours of sleep a night, but after prioritising getting the recommended eight or nine, she feels 'like a totally different human being'. 'I've said no to a lot of work for my own health benefits,' she said. 'I'm spending more time at home and I'm prioritising my son and my health.' Amid her health kick, Josie headed to Andalucia, Spain, to spend time at The Body Camp's newly-launched retreat there. Joining a group of other health-conscious reatreaters, Josie spent a week hiking, doing yoga, meditation and practicing mindfulness. Her personalised diet whilst at the retreat included a virbant plant-forward menu whilst she started her day with dawn yoga sessions and sunrise hikes. Sharing a clip from her week in the sun, Josie wrote: 'Beautiful time reconnecting with myself at the @thebodycampofficial a big thank you to @misskwhale @benwhalechef @rickparcellnow @ they have just launched in Andalucia and the scenery is absolutely stunning. 'Big thank you to my lovely body camp group. What an uplifting inspirational group of people. 'One week of training, hikes, yoga, and eating the most gorgeous nutritious food, mindful coaching is just what I needed. What an Easter treat!' Since launching in Ibiza in 2015, The Body Camp has run fitness and wellness experiences in Mallorca, Bali, Morocco and rural Somerset, with two new destinations for 2025l Thailand's Koh Samui and Andalucia. Guests receive fitness training and coaching, personal development and NLP (neuro-linguistic programming), yoga, meditation, breath work, nutritional education and mindfulness in a bid to feel healthier. The retreat Josie jetted to in Spain took place in a secluded rural hideaway, set in a serene Andalucian valley, offering 360 degree panoramic views of the captivating El Torcal mountains - perfect for dawn yoga and guided meditation. There are miles of on-the-doorstep hiking and cycling terrain - including the famous Caminito Del Ray - as well as a vast outdoor swimming pool surrounded by lush landscaping and a shaded poolside training gym and circuits set up. Gout, a type of arthritis that causes severe pain and swelling in the big toes, feet, wrists and ankles, affects an estimated 1.5million people in the UK. Cases are on the rise, with the number surging by about four per cent each year. TV personality Josie said her toes had been hurting her throughout filming for Around The World In First Class, which is available on 5's streaming service and sees Josie take 12 first class flights and private jet trips and stay in rooms worth more than $20,000 per night in the likes of the Middle East and the Caribbean. She said of her diagnosis: 'I thought gout was only for old men but I have been living quite a lavish life. 'Before I filmed this show, I caught a lot of flights, I drank a lot of champagne, I ate a lot of rich food and I had little sleep. That's how I ended up getting gout.' Josie had been enjoying the enviable lifestyle of drinking champagne and tucking in to rich food in Michelin-starred restaurants. Blood tests gave the shock diagnosis, after spending weeks living in luxury. Gout is often associated with wealthy historical figures, including Henry VIII and Benjamin Franklin, who were known to enjoy alcohol and red meats, both of which are high in purines which cause the illness. More recently, actor Jared Leto was diagnosed with gout after rapidly gaining more than four stone (26kg) for the role of Mark David Chapman in the film Chapter 27 in 2007. Comedians James Corden, 46, and Jack Whitehall, 36, are also among celebrities who have suffered with it in recent years. Josie confirmed she is now gout free after returning to a less lavish diet. 'As soon as I stopped catching all the flights and started drinking a bit more water and less champagne, it levelled itself out,' she said. The star has fluctuated between size eight and 22 over the years, but admitted she feels her best when she can fit into size 12-14 clothes. Josie said that she would not consider taking weight-loss jabs, despite lots of her friends using them. Josie told MailOnline in December that she wanted to get 'back in the gym so she can enjoy herself at Christmas' and said her recent weight loss had been down to being busy at work. 'I've said no to a lot of work for my own health benefits,' she said. 'I'm spending more time at home and I'm prioritising my son and my health' The star (pictured, left, in August, and right in 2022) has fluctuated between size eight and 22 over the years, but admitted she feels her best when she can fit into size 12-14 clothes Josie has said she's finally feeling happier. when it comes to her looks. She said: 'I have literally been so busy. I've been here, there and everywhere, I'm working. But I've got to fit the gym time in. 'I'm working up to the 21st, but all next week I'm putting a dedicated time to get that bloody gym and get myself in just so I can lose a little bit of weight to enjoy myself for Christmas. 'I've been, you know, over the years, you put so much stress on yourself - like I'm never happy, never happy. 'But now I'm just really busy, but I would like to lose a bit of timber, but I'm happy with myself. And that that's the main thing, 'It's like a home renovation, your body, isn't it? So I always need a little bit of progress. I always need to paint a room.'
