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The Fit Crowd: Body Tonic Retreat Review
January 24, 2020
Overseas fitness bootcamps were amongst the most popular summer travel trends of 2019. The Executive Magazine visited the French Riviera’s most high end health experience, Body Tonic, to find out more.
Mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the most obsessive image junky of them all?
The answer may surprise you as, even in the age of millennial social media addiction, in the UK it’s financially successful men aged 30-45 that care more about their image than any other demographic. They just don’t want anyone to know this.
Naturally, The Executive Magazine investigated further.
Studies have shown that, contrary to how successful 30-45 year old men in business like to present themselves as secure and confident beings, they are actually the group that secretly looks at their own reflection more than any other, and who are most likely to believe that personal presentation is “critical to career success”. It’s with good reason, too, as it’s proven that the healthier we are the more we earn, and the more career progression we have – bonuses and promotions are the reward for that healthy glow.
Because of this they’re also the people spending more on luxury fitness travel than any other, so The Executive Magazine headed off to the South of France to see why getting out of town to get into shape is more effective.
The answer may surprise you as, even in the age of millennial social media addiction, in the UK it’s financially successful men aged 30-45 that care more about their image than any other demographic. They just don’t want anyone to know this.
Naturally, The Executive Magazine investigated further.
Studies have shown that, contrary to how successful 30-45 year old men in business like to present themselves as secure and confident beings, they are actually the group that secretly looks at their own reflection more than any other, and who are most likely to believe that personal presentation is “critical to career success”. It’s with good reason, too, as it’s proven that the healthier we are the more we earn, and the more career progression we have – bonuses and promotions are the reward for that healthy glow.
Because of this they’re also the people spending more on luxury fitness travel than any other, so The Executive Magazine headed off to the South of France to see why getting out of town to get into shape is more effective.
Body Tonic is the luxury fitness retreat hosted at Château Lou Casteou, located in a green and pleasant nook on the Côte d’Azur.
Just a short transfer from Nice, the stunning château looks out across the crystal blue waters of the Mediterranean on one side and the stunning Esteral mountains the other, with the original 1904 features lovingly recreated by the owner and entrepreneur behind its successful restoration, Morag McLaren Baxter.
If the idea of working out hard in shaded courtyards, sculpted gardens and ornate French hallways sounds like a somewhat unusual fitness experience, then that’s exactly what it is, but McLaren Baxter’s vision has created a place perfect for recalibrating and recharging your personal health.
Fitness consultations start in advance of travel, so by the time The Executive Magazine team arrive the personalised plan is ready, alongside individual menus from the outstanding full time chef.
Over welcome drinks we meet the fitness team, led by the knowledgable and hard-pushing David Higgins. We are also introduced to the dozen or so other people on the retreat, who are also seeking big results, as well as time to enjoy the glorious weather and surroundings.
Just a short transfer from Nice, the stunning château looks out across the crystal blue waters of the Mediterranean on one side and the stunning Esteral mountains the other, with the original 1904 features lovingly recreated by the owner and entrepreneur behind its successful restoration, Morag McLaren Baxter.
If the idea of working out hard in shaded courtyards, sculpted gardens and ornate French hallways sounds like a somewhat unusual fitness experience, then that’s exactly what it is, but McLaren Baxter’s vision has created a place perfect for recalibrating and recharging your personal health.
Fitness consultations start in advance of travel, so by the time The Executive Magazine team arrive the personalised plan is ready, alongside individual menus from the outstanding full time chef.
Over welcome drinks we meet the fitness team, led by the knowledgable and hard-pushing David Higgins. We are also introduced to the dozen or so other people on the retreat, who are also seeking big results, as well as time to enjoy the glorious weather and surroundings.
It’s then into lunch, and a chance to review our personal programmes. It’s noticeable how much time and effort have gone into making this count for each person’s goals and needs, but also how cleverly crafted the activities are to make it as enjoyable and motivating as possible.
Despite the spectacular location, the programmes rely mainly on equipment you’ll find in any gym, or simple activity you can easily recreate outdoors in your local park. The mixture of personal and group workouts also provides options to keep things interesting.
And then so starts a five day programme that is pitched quite carefully at being hardcore enough to see real results.
Highlights included kettle bell classes in the footsteps of the mountains, boxing classes in the courtyard garden, and hikes to the beach, where we took out kayaks across the sometimes choppy bay. Evenings were kept fresh and moving through the inspired idea of including an excellent salsa teacher within the fit team.
It would be remiss to also not focus on the sensational food served across the week, with a first class team delivering fresh local food in a series of highly creative menus, providing the protein and energy needed to maximise results, but never at the forfeiture of taste.
However, this kind of break is about quality of experience and results, and Body Tonic excels here. Significant weight loss, muscle mass and definition, and cardio improvements were all achieved in the timeframe – with enough time spent with understanding why these occurred, to ensure programmes could be taken home to create long term change.
Body Tonic is a leader in European sunshine luxury fitness breaks for a reason, and whether you’re seeking a life changing fitness experience, or a chance to press the reset button on your health we couldn’t recommend it highly enough.
Despite the spectacular location, the programmes rely mainly on equipment you’ll find in any gym, or simple activity you can easily recreate outdoors in your local park. The mixture of personal and group workouts also provides options to keep things interesting.
And then so starts a five day programme that is pitched quite carefully at being hardcore enough to see real results.
Highlights included kettle bell classes in the footsteps of the mountains, boxing classes in the courtyard garden, and hikes to the beach, where we took out kayaks across the sometimes choppy bay. Evenings were kept fresh and moving through the inspired idea of including an excellent salsa teacher within the fit team.
It would be remiss to also not focus on the sensational food served across the week, with a first class team delivering fresh local food in a series of highly creative menus, providing the protein and energy needed to maximise results, but never at the forfeiture of taste.
However, this kind of break is about quality of experience and results, and Body Tonic excels here. Significant weight loss, muscle mass and definition, and cardio improvements were all achieved in the timeframe – with enough time spent with understanding why these occurred, to ensure programmes could be taken home to create long term change.
Body Tonic is a leader in European sunshine luxury fitness breaks for a reason, and whether you’re seeking a life changing fitness experience, or a chance to press the reset button on your health we couldn’t recommend it highly enough.
This article originally featured on The Executive Magazine
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Set on the edge of a pine-tree filled national park near Fréjus, just inland from France’s Cote d’Azur, an hour’s drive from Nice airport, Lou Caste is owned and run by tennis-loving Morag and Chris, this is the dream trip for tennis players who love the sport’s accompanying socials as much as they get off on a sweetly-struck cross-court forehand, and for those who want luxurious, homely accommodation (en-suite bedrooms, pool, terraces, lounges, sea and mountain views) rather than pack-em-all-in-inclusives. For the five-day stay, around 20 players descend on the chateau for morning and afternoon sessions, lunches on the poolside terrace, dressed-up aperitif hour and family-style dinners set in the various vast rooms. If you’re lucky to book in on the April session (there are only a few of these holidays a year here, and spaces sell out fast), it also includes a day trip to the Monte-Carlo tennis masters, one of the ATP Tour’s most spectacular tournaments where the sport’s elite battle it out on the red clay with the Mediterranean shimmering in the background. We were lucky enough to see Djokovic, Sinner and Medvedev — all three in this year’s Wimbledon semi-finals — in one impressive sitting. Back at the hard courts at the charming Golf and Tennis club of Valescure near the chateau (they’re hoping to add some clay courts by next summer, for lovers of the red stuff), the tennis might not be of the same level, but the group’s enthusiasm is equal. Coaching is headed up by James Rose, former director of tennis at La Manga Tennis Academy, and David Tropes, head coach at Valescure. The five hours of tennis a day might sound daunting to anyone who plays irregularly, but it flies by in a flurry of drills, games and mini competitions. The schedule is loose too, allowing people to skip some sessions for guided coastal walks, trips to St Tropez, Fréjus or Saint Raphael, or even an afternoon lazing by the sleek pool. With everyone else at tennis, including owners Morag and Chris, you’ll largely be lounging in total peace. There are a variety of levels, from post-beginner to strong club players learning all aspects of the game: from taking the ball early on the approach shot to knifing slice backhands and gaining extra power on the serve with wrist snap to moving more effectively as a doubles pair. The biggest take-away was that the most crucial thing in tennis is choosing the right shot at the right time. Universally, we left feeling more confident with our shots and tactics and more comfortable lasting out on a sun-beaten court for longer than a five-set Wimbledon final. The tennis is only a part of this dreamy experience though: the breakfast, lunches and dinners put on by the visiting Italian chef couple Matteo and Silvia were the perfect mix of gourmet and homemade. French pastries, fruit, omelettes and strong coffee fuelled you in the morning, lunches of poached salmon, salads and pastas sustained you through the day (a glass or two of Provençal rose helped rather than hindered some people’s games) and big evening feasts with fine wines were a boisterous release, often ending up with a midnight pool competition in the games room downstairs.
A snippet of the review - "Have you ever marvelled at the swan-like performances magically served up by celebrity dancers on Strictly Come Dancing only two or three weeks after having initially dribbled about like headless chickens? Practice makes perfect and dance is no different. I know we’ve all wanted to trip the light fantastic and impress our partners, family, onlookers or even just our own selves but above hubristic recognition is the universally accepted fact that dance is a joyous and uplifting activity. One hour of salsa dancing is guaranteed to release all the right endorphins to combat stress most effectively and boost your mood and senses. Now what if you could learn to salsa or improve your skills at a gorgeous luxurious holiday retreat in Cote d’Azur with lessons from top professionals, complementary fitness classes to keep you in good shape and the experience further embellished by the most exquisite food and drink in the South of France and an extra dollop of a bunch of lovely people who share the passion for dance but also know how to have a lot of fun. The heady mix of sun, fun, food and dance is the Salsa retreat at Château Lou Casteou, an hour’s drive away from Nice and forty-five minutes from Cannes. It is an immaculately luxurious home-away-from-home run by the lovely couple of Morag and Chris. They offer innovatively packaged experiences variously also focused on tennis and fitness along. Dances covered during the salsa retreat include Cross body salsa, Cuban salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, Chacha, Semba, Merengue, Regaetton, and Funaná! Once bitten, most visitors can’t wait to get back, year on year, to the sheer pleasure of the communal experience at Lou Casteou. It is a destination accommodation with a lovely swimming pool, ensuite bedrooms, wondrous terraces, cosy lounges, and glorious surroundings that boast both sea and mountain views. The charm and grandeur of the property coupled with the owners’ hands-on approach has transformed it into a multi-purpose building which is even available for ‘Shoot & Stay’ rentals with Simon Cowell having used it as the X-Factor ‘Judges’ home in one of the earlier series as well as weddings and special events."
Lou Casteou's charm and character made it the perfect location for filming France TV's stunning period drama 'Romance'.
Lou Casteou are delighted to announce dates for October's Let's Salsa luxury dance retreat. Join our award-winning team in this fabulous château set in the south of France from the 8th to the 11th October 2020.
Indulge in some fabulous R&R at this stunning property just 35 minutes from Cannes. An exquisite turn-of-the-century château that has been tastefully and luxuriously restored to blend traditional design with contemporary touches. Coming up in 2017 you could be ne-tuning your backhand at the Tennis Academy, getting into the groove at the Let’s Salsa retreats, or just indulging in some pampering Côte d’Azur-style with the Body Tonic break.
Замок Lou Casteou элегантно вписывается в спокойный холмистый ландшафт Валескюра рядом с горами Эстерель. Его архитектонический грандиозный внешний вид отражается в духозахватывающей внутренней декорации: каждый предмет медели — ода ремесленному искусству прошлых лет.
Elegant schmiegt sich das Château Lou Casteou in die ruhige Hügellandschaft von Valescure in den Ausläufern des Estérel-Gebirges. Sein architektonisch grandioses Äußeres spiegelt sich in der atemberaubenden Innendekoration wider; jedes Möbelstück ist eine Ode an die Handwerkskunst vergangener Zeiten.
Château Lou Casteou sits elegantly amidst the quiet hills of Valescure, its architectural grandeur matched only by the stunning interior décor, each piece of furniture an ode to the exquisite craftsmen of a bygone era. By Cassandra Tanti of the Riviera Times.
Mark Hodson, editor of 101 Holidays, gives his verdict on Lou Casteou's Body Tonic luxury retreat.
Lifestyle magazine reports Château Lou Casteou’s ‘Let’s Salsa’ retreat combines all the rhythm and sparkle of Strictly Come Dancing with good exercise, great company and delicious food.
© Lou Casteou 2020
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Lou Casteou
850 chemin du plan Guinet 83 600
Frejus , Côte d’Azur, France
850 chemin du plan Guinet 83 600
Frejus , Côte d’Azur, France