Full-on fitness!

To keep your morale and energy levels up, it’s essential to stay active, even in winter. But don’t panic, there’s no need to brave the cold to do yourself some good.

Once winter arrives, we’d all be happy enough to play the marmot and hibernate for five months. Or, even better, spend our days watching our favourite TV shows, a cosy blanket covering our legs while drinking litres of hot chocolate to warm our cockles. The only problem is that, while this programme seems attractive in theory, it is not at all recommended either for our health or our morale. During the cold season, you are strongly advised to stay active. At least a little every day, because we know that even a little is better than nothing at all. So don’t set yourself targets that you can’t reach. When the weather turns harsh, it is important to be gentle with yourself! If you feel the cold and can’t bear the idea of sticking your nose outside when the temperatures plummet, do some exercise while keeping warm indoors. In winter, the main thing is to adapt your efforts to the weather and your energy levels. Listen to your body and trust yourself.

Get up on the right side of the bed
In the morning, even before you open your eyes, stretch like a cat in your bed so that you give your body a gentle wake-up. When getting ready, continue boosting your energy levels by dancing to a piece of music that gets you going! Don’t worry, no one is watching; it would be a shame not to enjoy it. For breakfast, don’t forget to eat some fruit. There’s nothing better for filling up on vitamins. During the week, two or three more intensive sessions of sport are nevertheless recommended. To stay active without having to brave the cold, go to a gym with an inspiring setting, such as the Willow Stream Spa, a warm cocoon with one of the most stunning vistas over the lake and the snow-capped mountains.

Create a tailor-made programme
Visit a centre with a varied list of options so that you can choose an activity according to your inclination. At Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, for example, you can opt for AquaGym, circuit training (organised as a workshop during which several groups of muscles are stimulated for a certain amount of time), cardio-kick (a cardiovascular session inspired by martial arts) or, for a more gentle approach, Lu Jong. This Tibetan yoga is designed to balance moods, transform negative energy and revitalise the body.  If winter makes you lazy, don’t be afraid to treat yourself to the services of a personal coach who will create a tailor-made programmefor you and motivate you when you feel like giving up. Adopting these good habits will help keep your morale up throughout the winter and, more importantly, when the fine weather returns, you can immediately slip into your swimsuit without needing to go on a crash diet or to do intensive sport just before the summer.

By becoming a member of the Willow Stream Spa at Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, you benefit from monthly reductions, advantages and activities specially reserved for members. For more information, contact the Willow Stream Spa on +41 21 962 17 00 or by e-mail at spa.montreux@fairmont.com

90 minutes of pure bliss 
Winter makes you want to curl up in a warm and cosy cocoon. Willow Stream Elements is the ideal care treatment which enables you to switch off entirely for 90 minutes under the expert hands of a Willow Stream Spa therapist. This hundred-year-old experience from traditional spas is designed to revitalise the body profoundly thanks to the powers of natural elements: Earth, with a medicinal moor mud wrap; air, thanks to aromatherapy; water, by plunging into a magnesium-rich therapeutic bath; and fire with a massage using hot oil to stimulate and rejuvenate dry or mature skin. There’s only one thing left for you to do: indulge yourself.
Price: CHF 279.–