The tan lines may be fading, but my recent holiday in Thailand has left me forever more calm in the mind, adventurous in fitness and creative in the kitchen. Like the millions embracing the rising trend of ‘productive’ or ‘learning’ holidays, I look to every getaway as an opportunity to reflect on life back home and how I can further enrich it with clearer values and renewed passion. And if the place I’m staying happens to have a badass pool, all the the better for it…

Pool play

Looking out to the sea and horizon beyond, regular dips in Six Senses Samui’s serene infinity pool were a necessary compromise when temperatures hit 35 degrees and above. Tough going, I know!

An average swimmer at best (one of the only barriers delaying me from entering my first traditional triathlon – although I think it’s time for that to change), I was thrilled when I managed 25 50m lengths in a half hour. Including a few stops to admire the view, naturally. I started with 15 and added a length or two daily. I’m all for sunbathing, but pair a powerful hit of vitamin D with some post-swim endorphins and colour me ecstatic. And having realistic, incremental goals is a great way to enjoy fitness on holiday and set healthy routines for your return home.

Stay til sunset

One thing I wish I discovered sooner in the holiday (though better late than never): sunsets are better enjoyed twice. Once in the sky. Once in the pool’s reflection. Come 630pm, Six Senses’ poolfront becomes the visual equivalent of surround sound immersion. Think the final ‘Om’ in yoga class. The euphoria of crossing the finish line of a race having surpassed your PB goals. The butterflies that flood your stomach when you take on a challenge that seriously scares you. These sunsets were all the best things in life rolled up into one incredible all-natural nirvana.

Unwind in the spa

Let the bliss continue at the hands of Koh Samui’s most skilled spa therapists. The Six Senses resort offers guests a complimentary 30min foot massage, and the management team are no fools. We were back for more. Twice. I was hitting it extra hard during gym sessions just for an excuse to book another massage in the sea view treatment villas. Muscle release, more energy-lifting lemongrass scents and the restorative gong of the ‘singing bowl’ meant every treatment transported me to a subconscious state I arose from with reluctance. In fact, I found the Thai singing bowl sound so therapeutic I’m now on the hunt for one to serve as a centrepiece in the house and become part of new yoga and bedtime unwind rituals. Know where I can get one? Please drop me a line or leave a comment below this post! I will be forever grateful!

Sun, sweat, sculpt

It wasn’t all pampering. I spent an hour at least every other day in the air conditioned gym, mopping up sweat with refridgerated lemongrass scented towels – the perfect motivation to squeeze in another rep or round! I posted an example of my favourite holiday workouts last year – check out my sun lounger circuit if you missed it.

I typically combine HIIT wiith full-body conditioning because I don’t know when I’ll next have access to a gym while travelling, but this time we stayed in the same resort for 10 days so I went back to training splits. Legs day. Upper body and core day. Sprints and abs day. Complemented with lots of resort activities like cycling tours around the island, Muay Thai lessons, yoga classes, stand-up paddleboarding and monkeying around the outdoor gym. Dumbbells carved out of tree trunks? If it was 10 degrees cooler and there weren’t so many unknown insects circling, my husband wouldn’t have been able to pull me away.

Pause for meditation

While I train to maintain physical fitness on holiday, I always try to increase the time I dedicate to ‘checking in’ with my state of mind. When I stumbled on this ‘Silent Zone’ – an untouched beach shaded by palm trees and furnished with hanging swings – I made a commitment to spend at least 5 minutes every day meditating on the year so far.

Having made the big decision to leave a full-time career in journalism and copywriting this January, there has been a lot of change and upheaval in my life. Not to mention a pretty steady flow of nervous energy. But giving myself time to reflect on how much I’ve achieved in 4 months reminded me to trust my path and follow my heart. I won’t pretend I make time for daily meditation at home, but I do notice how making space for weekly reflection reinforces those positive thoughts and helps to hit any doubts on the head. I felt lighter every time I came away from this serene little spot and have a renewed appreciation for creating a personal ‘silent zone’.

Thai night every night

Tucking in to the local cuisine was hardly a chore. My go-to guilty pleasure at home is a Thai takeaway, and on top of eating my bodyweight in Pad Thai I couldn’t miss the opportunity to take a cooking lesson with one of the local chefs. I learned to make a spicy cabbage salad (after which I had to convince our chef that 5 chillies really is far too much for a single starter!), Massaman curry and prawn & raw veg spring rolls. I’ve already made the curry twice since returning home – it didn’t come out the same enticing creamy red but it tasted like the real deal!

Bean on the beach

If you visit Koh Samui, don’t miss a trip to the Fisherman’s Village. The pedestrianised shopping, ambling and dining street gives a taste of authentic Thai culture, albeit a little diluted from the sleepless streets of Bangkok. There is one particular stop-off I can’t recommend enough. The only thing I love more than a swing on a tree is a beanbag on a beach. Add some super cool throwback tunes, the smell of shisha in the air (I don’t smoke it, but I love the fruity fumes!), cocktails in quirky containers, surf and sand mantras and an eclectic mix of locals and tourists. Yep, this backpacker-beloved recipe makes Coco Tams undoubtedly the coolest bar in Koh Samui. Barefoot dancing til midnight? Don’t mind if I do!

Want a do-anywhere exercise programme for healthier travelling? Taking training more seriously ahead of your summer holidays? I love helping people towards time-specific goals and breaking down the skills to make effective exercise a part of every lifestyle. Email brit@fitbritcollective.com if you’d like to train with me, or subscribe to my mailing list to receive a free 2016 rep workout programme that makes a great starting point for every fitness journey.

Last year, just a few months after launching the Fit Brit Collective blog, I posted five New Year’s Resolutions to help maintain my focus in 2015. A whole year later, I feel pretty happy looking back at my goals and the progress I’ve made.

Through regular yoga practice I’ve pinned down my favourite practice styles to Ashtanga, Rocket and Power Yoga. And since teaching at Heartcore, I now incorporate at least one Reformer Pilates session into my weekly workouts. Within the year I also decided to qualify as a PT and leave my office job as a copywriter to give Fit Brit Collective my full-time attention – I definitely feel more self-certain in my career. Between teaching classes, working with clients and managing a full-on workload, inventive packed lunches have become a must. And none of this would have been possible without a lot of positive thinking and checking in with my family and friends.

With 2015 proving such a strong and exciting year, I’m raising the bar in 2016 with five new resolutions to keep me learning, growing and giving.

Qualify as a post-natal fitness specialist

Starting this month, I’m advancing my fitness qualifications with a YMCA course in ante and post-natal training. I believe we’re all in transition, and that one of life’s greatest transitions for women is becoming a mother. Through smart and effective training, I’m looking forward to helping more new mums tackle their new responsibilities, new priorities and new challenges with unbridled energy and confidence.

Go on a fitness retreat

No more lusting after Instagram photos and videos of sunny getaways dedicated to twice daily workouts and whole, healthy nutrition. This year I’m putting a fitness retreat on my travel calendar – and looking out for opportunities to join or run one for myself!

The year of the headstand

My commitment to yoga is going nowhere, and in 2016 I’m turning my focus upside down with an emphasis on inversions. This January, I’m entrusting in The Power Yoga Company to help me connect with my intentions and lock into headstand with more strength and confidence. See you on the mat!

Give back to my #sweatsquad  

I get so much happiness and motivation from working with my incredible #sweatsquad – the fellow trainers, inspiring clients and unstoppable training partners who continue to settle for nothing but the best. This year, I’m doing more to give back to my #sweatsquad (if you’re reading this, that includes you) with more online workouts, training tips and special fitness events to show my thanks! Pop back to the blog next weekend for a special 2016 workout designed to give you a firm full-body fitness foundation with exactly 2016 reps.

Launch Fit Brit Collective bootcamps

I find nothing more rewarding than helping a client connect with their goals. Through Fit Brit Collective outdoor bootcamps, coming soon to Wimbledon Common, I’ll be further delivering on my mission statement to make meaningful connections through exercise. Think partner exercises, invigorating group training drills and the satisfaction of completing every workout as a team. You may even meet your next training partner in the process. Contact me at brit@fitbritcollective.com to find out more.

I’m ready to take on the new year. Are you? I’d love to hear about your goals and resolutions. If you’re considering personal training to set you on the right track, contact me to arrange a free consultation. Wishing you health, happiness and success in 2016!

The first thing I noticed was the space. Walking the streets of Copenhagen is a comfortably casual experience (I’ll stop with all the Cs soon, promise!). At any one time there were easily several feet between me and the person in front or behind. The air feels fresher for it; the weight of the atmosphere that little bit lighter.

The purpose of the trip was strictly non-business, but while I promised my husband Ben I’d leave behind the laptop and workout gear, I still had every intention of embracing the more active options for sightseeing.

So naturally, I was completely jealous to exit our hotel and discover this ‘running tour guide’ beginning a sight to sight running tour. Restrained by my husband (but taking a mental note to research running tours ahead of future city breaks), we took off at a more leisurely pace.

Fortunately, streets like this make Copenhagen the perfect city for a stroll. Nyhavn is the one of Europe’s most photographed spots, and its colourful buildings are instantly uplifting. But as the early March air was still crisp, we soon turned to another of the city’s famous offerings to help us warm up: coffee!

There are boutique coffee bars (and not a Starbucks in sight) around every corner, so there were plenty of opportunities to warm up and get our bearings. And as both of us are big foodies, the first big circle on our map was the indoor market area of Torvehallerne…

Copenhagen being a very health-conscious city, there were fresh produce stalls everywhere. This smoothie bar in particular caught my eye, and I grabbed a couple ‘acai shots’ to keep in my bag for an afternoon boost.

But ultimately, we settled on a rye bread sandwich from one of the most enticing delis I’ve ever encountered. This chicken, salad and sundried tomato creation may not look like much, but the signature mustard dressing gave it an amazing kick that makes my typical weekday lunch pale by comparison.

After lunch we continued our walk and absorbed some of the city’s ambience. In a word, I’d call it free-spirited. This Happy Wall is a genius street-long art installation that allows passersby to turn over tiles and spell out a personal message. Here Ben demonstrates that the romance isn’t dead…

Quirky signs and motivational slogans are further dotted around the city, serving as constant reminders to make happiness a priority. Because sometimes we all need a little reminder. I know I did after spending a couple months buried beneath a mountain of work! (Look out for a dedicated post about improving your work/life balance soon…)

Of course, I can’t talk about Copenhagen without talking about bikes. Cyclists are at the heart of the city’s infrastructure, with elevated cycle lines and dedicated traffic lights to guarantee your peace of mind on two wheels. This little detour through a historic cemetery (we paid a visit to Hans Christian Andersen, which inspired several renditions of ‘Under the Sea’) was the perfect opportunity to show off the beautiful bikes we hired from our hotel!

All that activity ensured our appetites were up to Copenhagen’s many fine dining options. It’s rare that I abandon my lycra and trainers for a dress and heels, so having a Michelin-starred reason to put on my finery was a real treat. This salad of mussels and winter greens proved that kale is the king of cool in all types of cuisine.

Copenhagen’s casual cuisine is every bit as delicious as its star-rated options. When I heard about Grod, a cafe that sells only porridge-style dishes packed with healthy ingredients like buckwheat, oats and vegetables, we made a beeline for our bikes and pedalled for our lunch.

Finally, another discovery I made (and am still enjoying as a regular snack) are these whey protein chocolates. I love scouring foreign supermarkets for new foods and ingredients, and anything that combines chocolate with fitness fuel is a non-negotiable addition to my carry on.

Speaking of which, our city break had to come to an end. We had just an hour to spare in the airport, where I ordered a green juice from the Copenhagen’s claim to juice fame Joe & The Juice. Then I wiled away the time pencilling my favourite fitness classes into the upcoming week’s diary. Three days’ rest and I was already itching to get hold of my trainers!