The wellness and activity holiday trend has been evolving rapidly over recent years. Right now there has never been a greater need for vacations which enhance your mental and physical needs, and Dinah Josephs, group fitness manager at The Campus, Quinta do Lago, Portugal is at the forefront of facilitating that trend.
She has nearly two decades of experience under her belt as an international health, fitness and wellbeing lifestyle professional and consultant, in a range of sports environments. Dinah specialises in yoga practise, personal training, group fitness training, healthy eating, nutritional advice and guidance and natural health using a holistic approach to wellbeing.
As for The Campus, Dinah cannot speak highly enough (and without bias) about her place of work. So read on and find out more about her and this multi-sports hub with high-performance gymnasium, a centre for active living and sports medicine, dedicated studios for cycle and group exercise and a 25-metre outdoor heated swimming pool.
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Padel Court at Quinta do Lago Resort (Image: GrifcoPR)
What was your most memorable sporting holiday and why?
My trip to Poznan Poland back in May stands out. What was intended to be a visit to see a dear friend, involved a special invitation to teach Power Yoga to enthusiastic, amazing Polish yogis, consisting of all ages and various abilities. The experience was second to none; considering I couldn’t speak Polish and had to rely mostly on non-verbal cues and my friend intermittently translating for me, every person followed my instruction perfectly, and the energy and buzz after was phenomenal. The wonderful feedback was very humbling and an emotional experience, as they never took part in a yoga flow class of that type before. It was also a learning curve as I was challenged both in my teaching and communicational skills. It really opened my eyes to how powerful and life changing yoga is all over the world.
I also got to experience speed boat rides and had a fun day out at a local water park which was totally out of my comfort zone and not an activity I would have normally opted for. There were also dry ski slopes, which is, something I have not done since having a lesson as a young child, so it was great to get back on the slopes.
What was the best wellbeing location you had a chance to visit during your career and why?
Once again it would have to be Poznan Poland. I have never experienced a country that was so passionate about natural holistic wellbeing. Here, I visited a place called Lake Malta where various types of wellness activities were on offer. I had never been to Water Park that had natural salt baths consisting of over 15 natural minerals, which promoted healing of mind and body. Furthermore, one of the outdoor pools had floor and wall Jacuzzi jets which massaged every part of your body. The food was amazing too, having followed a very specific diet for the past 10 years which is meat, dairy and gluten free, there was an option to buy sourdough gluten free breads, and breakfasts were made up of all the fresh fruit and vegetables that you could imagine. Where I stayed there was a lot of forestry, which welcomed your own outdoor yoga practice with views of deer’s, rabbits and wild boars roaming in the distance. To be so close to nature was such a grounding experience.
If you could choose one adrenaline or adventure activity to do on holiday what would it be and where?
I would have to say racetrack driving, Formula 1 style. The thrill of fast cars really excites me and to do it in an amazing place is even more special. If I were to pick a location it would probably be Monaco because of its affiliation with race car driving. It has amazing style, luxury resorts and the French Riviera is just beautiful.
What’s the ultimate sporting tournament you would attend purely as a fan and/or spectator and why?
Gymnastics or figure skating – I have always had a love for gymnastics and have worked with a few gymnasts in the past, and I am always amazed and inspired by their physical and mental strength. It also reminds me a lot of the principles of yoga and the six years of professional ballet training I had, which involves determination, discipline, self-control and the ability to pick yourself up and come back stronger if you fall down. Figure skating comes from my love for dance. As a professionally trained dancer specialising in 12 dance styles I know what it takes to perform, execute and deliver, so to be able to do all three with a single blade on each foot is outstanding artistry, showmanship and just looks spectacular.
Image by Ricardod Donisio
The Campus is a brand-new multi-sports hub in Quinta do Lago resort, Portugal, and your place of work, so what are your recommended highlights?
There is so much on offer at The Campus, so it is hard to pick just a few. I would have to say the running track firstly, because it gives you views of the entire Campus. The heated outdoor pool is also one to try and our recovery suite spa area with views of our hybrid multi use professional football pitch. But to be honest, every aspect of it is so special.Over the past year, The Campus has also hosted football camps led by Rio Ferdinand and Jamie Redknapp, rugby weeks with Brian O’Driscoll, tennis coaching by Judy Murray, dancing with Lauren Jamieson and triathlon training camps. It is really special watching guests and members enjoying the opportunity to rub shoulders with – and learn from – their sporting heroes.
Health and wellbeing holidays has become one of travels key trends, have you seen an evolution towards demand for holidays offering better, physical, and mental health, through sports travel?
Yes, yoga and wellbeing retreats and nutrition holidays have become even more popular in the past five years especially as there is an increase in the amount of people becoming more aware of the importance of resetting their minds and body as well as creating harmony between the two. This is one of the reasons why I will be running our first yoga and wellbeing retreat at The Campus from 15th to 21st November and another three in April, May, and September next year. It would be great to have as many people involved in this whether they are new to yoga or not. More information can be found on our Campus website at thecampusqdl.com
With The Magnolia Hotel five minutes away from The Campus is this combination an ideal location for professional/amateur sports clubs looking for pre and post field trips and interested in learning more about your holistic ways to wellbeing?
Absolutely. We have hosted a number of professional athletes and teams who have benefited from staying at The Magnolia Hotel and enjoy easy access to The Campus’ facilities and all we have on offer. The up and coming yoga retreat will involve six nights stay at the hotel, and we now offer fitness, wellbeing and destress getaway holiday packages that combine accommodation and a range of holistic, fitness and wellbeing activities at The Campus. These are designed for all sorts of people, including sports and fitness enthusiasts, professionals, and athletes, as well as those who just wish to enjoy health and fitness while on holiday. We also offer corporate packages for the busy working professional.
As a health, fitness and wellbeing lifestyle coach you must have worked at or visited many destinations offering incredible sports tourism offerings (venues/activities/natural landscapes) is The Campus at the top of your list and which others compare?
The Campus is most definitely at the top of my list, here we have everything relating to fitness and wellbeing in one place making this sort of lifestyle easy and accessible. For example, we have outdoor racket sports – tennis and Padel, a pro team of cyclists who manage our Bike Shed offering bike tours around the Ria Formosa Natural Park and beyond, as well as bike hire, fitness coaching, nutritional therapy, yoga, mindfulness, triathlon training, running lessons and a range of functional fitness classes for everyone including children which is our newest offering.
Without being biased, for me there is no other comparison as we are situated in an idyllic location in the low density beautiful setting of Quinta do Lago, where the pace of life is relaxed, people are warm and friendly and the weather is amazing almost all year round which is also good medicine, mind enhancing and so beneficial for your health. Monaco, Valencia, Los Angeles, Poland where I have either visited or worked have some amazing sports and tourism offerings but nothing like The Campus. After all they say home is where the heart is, and this is certainly the case for me and many who reside here.
For more information see quintadolago.com and themagnoliahotelqdl.com
Main image by Ricardo Donisio