516 words
Canada - British Columbia - Hiking Into Health
My idea of a spa getaway generally includes sleeping in and lounging about like a Harlequin heroine. Perhaps I'm passively receiving healing unguents and oils while draped on a chaise lounge. And someone is feeding me bon-bons. Oh, wait… And chocolate truffles.
Waking to the 6:15 a.m. rap at the door, it is startling clear to me that the good people at Courtenay's Coastal Trek Health & Fitness Resort failed to read that part of the spa handbook. By 6:30 a.m., my husband Kevin and I are lying on our yoga mats, in the very aptly named corpse pose. For the next hour, we stretch and breathe our way into wakefulness. By 7:30, Kevin has lost his yoga virginity and is sold on what I've tried - unsuccessfully - to sell him on for a while. I am breathing thankfulness to the groovy low-key instructor for Kevin's yogic epiphany.
After fruit, homemade granola and yogurt we're all loaded into the vehicle driven by Mike the hiking guide. To say Mike is enthusiastic about hiking is like suggesting a golden retriever might like to fetch. He hands us our healthy lunch bags, water bottles and hiking sticks. He has scoped out the weather and found us the most likely trail to include sun. He's done his homework well. We're soon sweating our way toward our lakeside lunch destination. He keeps the pace easy, though fairly steady. The conversations keep us entertained as we rack up the distance.
Every time I think I'm tired, I look at James from Portland. James is into this third week at Coastal Trek. He has seven more weeks to go. He is here to learn healthy eating habits and to make exercise an integral part of his life. He has realized that his weight is quite literally going to kill him if he doesn't. He would rather be alive. We're back after our 15 km hike just in time for the 4:00 pm fitness class.
Our instructor takes us through an hour of strength and core building exercises. Dinner is a big chunk of miso-glazed wild salmon on a pile of nutty brown rice. There are roasted cherry tomatoes, zucchini and asparagus. The salad is organic greens, feta and almonds with a citrus-tangy-sweet dressing. There's water and teas and apparently we won't need to be squinting at a wine list, as there isn't one.
Kevin and I both love to cook and eat very well. There's always loads of good food on our plates. But looking at these correctly sized portions, perhaps that needs to be tweaked? Maybe I don't need to heap my plate so high just cuz it's organic. A little less wine might be a good thing too.
I understand why signing up for a week would be a huge help. Already, after only two nights, I'm inspired to pursue a healthier path.
Besides, I'd much rather be an active participant in my own life than a passive paperback princess. I bet that vapid creature could barely do a push-up.
Change your life. One week at a time.
Start hiking: www.coastaltrekresort.com
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