Is it possible to use the words fitness and vacation in the same sentence? For thousands of people who have made exercise and healthful eating a way of life, maintaining their fitness regime is as natural as brushing their teeth, whether on vacation or not. For those of us who have good intentions but find futile the effort to keep active or to resist recurring trips down the buffet aisles, here are some tips on how to stay fit on a future getaway.

• 1. Sitting at the airport hours before your flight (on which you will incur a stretch of many more motionless hours) can leave you feeling restless and bloated. If you find yourself with ample time before you board, plug into your favorite playlist and take a walk around the terminal. Every step counts!
• 2. Determine ahead of time to eat two healthy meals each day, while allowing yourself to choose whichever foods entice you for your third meal. This approach will stave off feelings of deprivation while keeping the excess pounds at bay.
• 3. While the sunshine, ocean and reggae music in the background set the perfect atmosphere in which to enjoy a cool, tropical cocktail, opt for a less sugar-laden alcoholic beverage. While vodka or tequila with soda water and a squeeze of fresh lime juice may lack in colorful, visual appeal, your waistline will thank you by the end of your holiday.

   

• 4. Book tours which promote activities such as swimming, biking, hiking, snorkeling or walking. This not only gets you away from your hotel and presents the opportunity to explore the culture of a new city, but also makes it easy to incorporate exercise into your trip.
• 5. Set a goal to get in even a 20 minute sweat session each morning whether that means a quick circuit at the hotel gym or a run on the beach. Working out first thing in the morning will motivate you to make more healthful choices throughout the day.
• 6. Throw a health and fitness magazine in with your beach read repertoire. Skimming through wellness articles will inspire you to keep your mind focused on maintenance while you are out of your regular fitness routine.
• 7. Choose to take the stairs over the elevator, try a recommended restaurant within walking distance of your hotel or dance the night away at a local club for extra fitness points.
• 8. If you choose a beach holiday, by all means, do not succumb to body comparisons with the 21 year olds pounding shots of tequila at the pool bar. As jealousy over the supermodel-like abs of your fellow sun seekers soars, motivation to stick to your own fitness goals plummets, causing you to throw in the towel. Ignore the urge to compare and instead focus your thoughts on achieving your personal best. You will be proud of yourself for not giving up and you will reap the rewards that come with perseverance.
• 9. Make reservations at the á la carte restaurants on the resort rather than eating from the buffet at every meal. There is often such an overwhelming variety of savory foods on a buffet that it’s easy to end up with a heaping plateful. With wait staff serving you at the á la carte eatery, you’ll be less inclined to ask for seconds.
• 10. Have you ever considered a fitness vacation? Companies like Inspirations Fitness Retreat in the Mayan Riviera are popping up in exotic locations around the world.  These luxury retreats offer a wide range of health and wellness classes which are incorporated into an all-inclusive schedule. You can dine on a fresh, healthful menu prepared by private chefs, partake in ocean-side yoga classes, indulge in spa treatments, zip-line through lush jungle, all the while enjoying sublime outdoor scenery with like-minded individuals.

There’s something invigorating about spending time in nature. The serenity is intoxicating. Amidst the peace-filled setting, there are no buzzing Facebook notifications, or clamorous construction sites. The only sounds that might break the silence are a chirping bird or a rustling of leaves, and these familiar sounds just enhance the experience.

In our case, as residents of Playa del Carmen, we are fortunate to be lulled by the sounds of rolling surf, awed by the sun rising over the turquoise sea, or fascinated by a couple of howler monkeys swinging from a tree in the back yard. Playa is an excellent destination for those who want to unplug and slow down, even for a week.

It’s completely understandable that many have a difficult time avoiding some kind of stress in this day and age. We are a fast-paced society inundated by popups, job pressures, apps and social media. If you are one of those people that find it hard to disconnect, we invite you to come and explore our 6 tips for renewing a stressed mind, body and soul in the Mayan Riviera!

Photo: Playa del Carmen sunrise taken in Playacar Phase I

1. Get up early, grab a coffee or a cold, fresh coconut and head to the beach to watch the sunrise. Imagine sitting on the soft sand, looking out over the ocean as the waves lap the shore. The vibrant shades of pink, purple and orange of the dawning sun are enrapturing.Exercise is an ideal stress reliever. Why not take a walk or a run along the alabaster coastline while witnessing the spectacular sunrise? Or perhaps you want to get a closer look? Glide towards the sun on a paddleboard. The early morning classes offer an unforgettable connection to nature and are a great way to start the day!
2. Book an appointment for a massage, a facial or other renewing treatment at a spa. One of the most appealing aspects about Playa del Carmen is that there is a great appreciation of nature here. It might come from the deep-seated respect for the earth the Mayan culture has instilled in this region. Or it may also be courtesy of the community’s strong environmental awareness and passion to preserve the natural splendor of this fascinating region.
   
   For companies like Bric Hotel and Spa, it is their vision to integrate as many components of nature as possible into their menu of services. The staff tends to their own herb garden on the terrace. Regional ingredients like salt from the sea, chaya leaf, local honey and coconut oil, as well as seasonal tropical fruits like guava and papaya are used in their footbaths and delightful body scrubs. Let their professional therapists relieve the aches and pains, while you unwind and let your stress fade away.At Xpa Maya in the town of Puerto Aventuras just 20 minutes South of Playa del Carmen, all of their cabanas are within the jungle and feature outdoor bamboo showers, and massage tables set up alongside stunning cenotes. One of their recommended treatments is the Tratamiento Natural Xpa which includes a scrub made from Papaya, oatmeal and honey, a warm bath in water fused with flower petals and even a hair wash made with edible, all-natural ingredients.
   
3. Sail on the glistening, turquoise ocean along the Riviera Maya. There are an abundance of options from catamaran rentals to hiring private boats and yachts to take you for the ultimate day of relaxation in the Mexican Caribbean.Sit back and soak up the sun with a cold beverage. Dip your toes in the warm, striking green-blue sea. Snorkel around the reef systems in the area, which are teeming with colorful marine life and amazing coral formations. There are few things more magical than the experience of swimming next to sea turtles or above rays skimming across the ocean floor.
4. Explore a cenote for the day. If you have not yet had the opportunity to visit one of the thousands of sunken, natural swimming pools in the Yucatan Peninsula, we strongly urge you to do so.Centuries ago, the region’s underground river system caused the porous limestone bed of the peninsula to cave in, causing cenotes. Each one of these incredible swimming holes is unique, some are open, and some are within caverns. Relish the chance to be a kid again and take a leap off the modest bluffs into refreshingly cool waters. Float on your back and admire blue skies that span as far as the eye can see.Most of the cenotes are off the beaten path and are amongst breathtaking, verdant settings. Dos Ojos, Eden, Azul and Cristalino are some of the more popular ones near Playa del Carmen.
   
5. Take a day trip or spend a night on the mesmerizing island of Holbox. This rustic destination has no streetlights and no paved roads. Hammocks on the beach present the perfect spot to take an afternoon siesta. The few restaurants that exist are charming and offer exquisite items like fresh catches of the day and lobster pizza. Golf carts are the main mode of transportation, but this laid-back Mexican gem is still small enough to get around by foot.Holbox is part of the Yum Balam Nature Reserve, which boasts mangroves inhabited by crocodiles and hundreds of bird species. This is the place to witness a variety of creatures in the wild, including turtles, dolphins, whale sharks and flamingos. The island is about 1 hour 15 minutes from Playa del Carmen plus a 20-minute ferry ride.
6. Finally, if you ever do visit Playa del Carmen, there is the occasional chance that you will lose your Internet connection. It is one of the few downfalls of living in or visiting this seaside paradise. While most present day establishments have Wifi, there is unfortunately no such thing as high-speed Internet, yet…For those who need to be online to work, a poor connection can be frustrating, that is for sure! However, we suggest you embrace this temporary inconvenience rather than let panic set in. It is often a short-term issue that if you let it, will truly allow you to unplug and succumb to vacation bliss!

In honor of the ‘I Love Playa del Carmen’ contest presented by Bric Vacation Rentals, we interviewed Michelle, a recurring visitor at one of the city’s most sought after luxury condos, ‘The Elements’.  Michelle first became familiar with Playa del Carmen twenty years ago during its initial blossoming period from rustic, fishing village to vibrant, young city.

Colonio Colosio, Playa del Carmen, 1995 

She fell in love with this part of the world she describes as “heaven” and was thrilled to have the opportunity to purchase the stunning Garden House 1, which sits nearest to ‘The Elements’ exclusive beach club.  As the green-blue waters of the Caribbean Sea and pristine beaches are the most compelling aspects of Playa which lure her back time and time again, owning a vacation haven steps from the beach was a must.

‘The Elements’ exclusive beach club

Michelle has passionately created within her retreat, an atmosphere of serenity with its warm color palette and zen-inspiring Thai accents.  It is her home away from home in which all cares of the world tend to diminish upon entering.  The striking, turquoise views from her living room and soothing ambience immediately fill her with a sense of peace.

The views from Garden House 1 in ‘The Elements’

At the time she was introduced to ‘The Elements’, Michelle was impressed by the impeccable grounds, ocean views and desirable location. After spending a considerable amount of time here, she is captivated by the tangible invigorating energy – a result of the natural fusion of Mother Nature’s most remarkable components- Water, Sun, Wind and Fire.  There is a majestic air surrounding Playa del Carmen which has allowed her and her family to stockpile many cherished moments into their memory banks over the years.

A longtime visitor to “The Gem of the Mayan Riviera,”  Michelle has watched the town transform from a once sleepy village with dirt roads to a thriving, world-renowned vacation destination. Although she fondly remembers the “old Playa,” she has welcomed the growth and appreciates the abundance of activities and entertainment options that are now available.

he bustling 5th Avenue today

As a business owner, Michelle looks forward to her escapes to paradise where she can relax and unwind.  In a fast-paced world, Playa offers the perfect opportunity to slip into vacation bliss.  With amenities such as pool-side spa services and an on-site concierge, stresses have a knack of quickly fading away.  One comfortably eases into a rejuvenation period, when ‘Shall we lounge by the pool, or by the sea today?’ is among one of the toughest decisions to be made.

The pool at ‘The Elements’ mere steps from Michelle’s terrace

If duty does call, Michelle is able to take advantage of the Wifi and on premise business center with its floor-to-ceiling windows and mesmerizing ocean views. ‘The Elements’ enviable location, just off the trendy, newly-developed section of 5th Avenue, gives guests convenient accessibility to all the attributes which make Playa del Carmen such an attractive beach getaway.

Not only is Michelle a stone’s throw distance from the pristine beaches, but she is also grateful to be walking distance to hundreds of fabulous restaurants which line the famously effervescent avenue. When she first set foot in Playa, there were only a handful of eateries scattered in the area.  Now there are over 700 restaurants spread over the downtown core, which ranks selecting a place for dinner, as perhaps the second toughest choice she might be faced with on a typical day in paradise.

Trendy dining options on the north end of 5th Avenue

Having her daughter as her frequent travel companion, Michelle values these memorable trips to Playa del Carmen.  She is delighted to be present to witness the on-going metamorphosis of this city she holds so dear to her heart and expects to create many more special moments with her family and friends in which to savor forever.