Club La Santa - An Active Vacation Gone..Right!

While mapping out my '50 x 50' bucket list of challenges, at the top of my list was venturing on a solo health retreat. As someone who prefers to travel and experience new adventures with my husband the thought of embarking upon a wellness adventure by myself sparked a cocktail of nerves and excitement. Looking for the perfect destination I spoke with some close fitness and active-minded friends and one destination kept cropping up; the legendary Club La Santa, (CLS).  

Nestled on the northern coast of Lanzarote in the Canary Island, CLS is more than a resort. For over 40 years it's been an active holiday destination geared towards fitness and wellness enthusiasts. The resort's daily schedule offers a smorgasbord of activities for novice to the most seasoned athlete. The buffet of indoor, outdoor and aquatic classes had me spoilt for choice and I gleefully logged into the CLS app to book my 1st day of classes. 

Day 1: Running & Rock Climbing 🧗🏽‍♀️

Starting out of the gate, I got my day underway with an invigorating 3k morning run. While I have been known to pound some pavement 🏃🏽‍♀️, I am by no means a fast runner, so the proposed 6mph pace had me a bit nervous, but heck I was up for the challenge. After a quick stretch, our group took off and left the property on our run around the property and adjacent lagoon. I must admit, I love group activities so while the pace was a bit challenging the thrill of keeping up with my pack mates gave me an extra pep in my step. 

Passing beautiful vistas we quickly made it to the home stretch and completed our run. Riding high from a runner's high I eagerly skipped off to my next class. Despite suffering from bouts of acrophobia, my curiosity was piqued when I saw the bouldering class on the schedule. Deciding to give it a try I headed over to the class and was greeted by one of The Green Team, CLS's trainers.

 As a beginner, I commenced on the lower and more forgiving circuits and with the encouragement of my fellow climbers I felt my confidence soar. As I scaled and conquered new heights the niggling sense of unease slowly started to dissipate.  The class flew by and before I knew it we had to select our last climb. It was then I decided to face off with one of the more difficult routes. I cautiously started the circuit and with each hand and foothold I found myself, dare I say, enjoying the challenge.  

When I grasped the last 'rock', I gave a heartfelt whoop of glee. This class had pushed my comfort level to new heights and I realised that my willingness to face my fears and leave self-doubt far below me was not only exhilarating but unbelievably liberating. It's funny what you can do when you stop listening to the negative voice in your head and start believing in yourself!

Day 2: Sauna & Polar Plunge 🥶 

Have you ever thought about doing something so far out of your comfort zone that the anticipation was far worse that the reality? That’s exactly how I felt about taking a cold plunge . Now, I am not going to say that it was all fun and games but honestly mustering up the courage to lower myself into absolutely freezing water was actually the hardest part.

On the 2nd day at CLS, needing to ease the ache of sore muscles I found myself stiff legging my way to the sauna. I watched stupefied as a Danish family moved with mind-bending ease between the sweltering heat of the sauna and the icy confines of the cold plunge pool. Utterly fascinated, I couldn't help but inquire what the trick was to making plunge pools tolerable? With a smile, they shared their simple yet intriguing tactic: the power of music or a mantra, silently sung or spoken within. 

With "Eye of the Tiger" playing in my head and repeating a mantra of "you've got this" I decided to step out of the sauna and take on this challenge. With steadfast purpose, I approached the pool, and without pause, I lowered myself into the water. OMG, the coldness took my breath away and I all but forgot my mantra and found myself mentally mouthing explicatives that would even make Rocky blush. Nevertheless, I slowly continued lowering myself into the water and before I knew it I had my shoulders submerged! All I could think of was "I've got this, I've really got this!" Wow, what a rush!

 An indeterminate amount of time later, I climbed out and shuffled back into the sauna high fiving the Danish family for their inspiration and tips. As the minutes passed by, a profound sense of accomplishment washed over me more gratifying than the warmth of the sauna. Would you believe that only a few minutes later I was actually looking forward to doing it all over again; and that's exactly what I did.

 This time, while I was submerged, my thoughts were not filled with foul language but were hyper-focused on being present and in the moment…"I've got this..." Jumping out of the water my adrenaline levels and sense of accomplishment was through the roof and I felt amazing. Above and beyond the noteworthy health benefits, I can see why more and more people are adding heat and cold-water therapies to their health & wellness routines. It's absolutely addictive!

Day 3: Aerobics 

Fun Fact: My husband and I met in a step aerobics class in Los Angeles. So, when I saw an intermediate step class on the daily class roster nostalgia hit me like a sledgehammer and I signed up right away! It had been years since I squared off with a step platform and I was eager to dust off the cobwebs. Placing my step down in my favourite spot, central and towards the back, I double-knotted my laces and got ready for what was to come.

The teacher was excellent and quickly had us stepping our way into a 3-part routine. The more complex the routine became, my inner "step" child giggled with glee as she mamboed and cha-chaed her way over and around the step. All too quickly the class reached its final crescendo and as I took my final steps and wiped the sweat off my brow I revelled how quickly the 45 minutes had flown by. This class reminded me that play and laughter through movement does a body (and soul) good! 

Alas, all good things must come to an end and my time at CLS too quickly drew to a close. Seated on the plane homeward bound, I felt a sense of accomplishment, invigoration and humility as I thought about everything that I had undertaken. This week my body eloquently demonstrated that the investment into my health & wellness continues to pay off in dividends. 

This journey also served as a poignant reminder of the blend of challenge and joy in exercise is a transformative force. Scaling new heights, reconnecting with my inner child and immersing myself in what felt like the North Pole collectively marked a personal triumph. I can’t wait to discover new fun and exciting challenges that will allow me to redefine the boundaries of what is possible! #thisis49 #50x50 50x50challenges