John Athimaritis

With spring comes a sudden urge to move more. True to the motto: "Leave your laziness next to the remote control, get off the couch and do something!" Today it's easier than ever to heed this call, as many European luxury hotels have developed fabulous fitness offers in recent years. These range from weight-loss programs and tailor-made workout sessions on luxury equipment to new anti-aging stays.

Yoga in the vineyards of Portugal

John Athimaritis

A very special example is Six Senses Douro Valley in Portugal, an hour inland from Porto. A narrow, winding country road leads up to the carefully renovated 19th century manor house, with the bright blue Douro River meandering in the valley below. Over thousands of years, it has had to carve its way through the mountains, creating striking incisions in the granite and slate massif. Numerous steep slopes and sunny terraces were created in the process; it's an ideal location for wine.

John Athimaritis

Today, the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its exceptional beauty and long wine-growing tradition. Guests at the Six Senses Douro Valley therefore start their fitness week in the best possible conditions. Following a health assessment, a personal trainer draws up a detailed training program for your stay, along with a personalized diet plan. Their seven-day program focuses on high- and low-intensity exercise, combined with meditation and regenerative treatments. A sleep analysis is also included, where experts optimize rest periods for different chronotypes. If you like, you can stroll to the hotel's own wine bar for a tasting – fitness and enjoyment are not mutually exclusive at the Six Senses Douro Valley.

The "New You" method in Heidiland

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If you want to permanently say goodbye to winter fat, the Heidiland vacation region in Eastern Switzerland is the place to be. At Grand Resort Bad Ragaz", the so called New You method sees physical fitness and wellbeing as something holistic. And to ensure that new and healthier behavioral patterns - trained by top coaches from the Swiss Olympic Medical Center - are maintained, an important component comes into play: You'll receive continuous mental support during the stay. Many services are included, such as unlimited access to the Thermal Spa, where muscles come to rest in 36.5 degree thermal water.

Thalasso spa in Sardinia

© Tyson Sadlo

Forte Village in the south of the island of Sardinia also relies on the positive effects of thermal water. The unique Acquaforte Thalasso Spa method involves successive immersions in pools at different temperatures. They have an anti-inflammatory effect and help the body and skin to heal themselves. The most unusual pool requires a little effort. It's filled with a pitch-black mixture of high doses of magnesium, potassium and sodium. The liquid is so viscous that you float in it.

© Forte Village

Another special feature of Forte Village is the range of uncommon sports on offer: field hockey, boxing, fencing and triathlon prep, for instance. Soccer fans can even receive instruction from the Real Madrid Foundation's coaches. However, the resort's main attraction is the 47-hectare nature park surrounding the resort. An ideal starting point for hiking and cycling tours, panoramic trails lead through pine groves and across flowering meadows, and through the hilly landscape along the beautiful, wild coast of Sardinia. Upon request, the staff can also organize introductory cycling courses for beginners – or advanced courses to help master specific types of terrain.

Better aging on Lake Geneva

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The Nescens Better Ageing package at the hotel La Réserve in Geneva promises an excellent anti-ageing program. From a stay of four days, risk factors and imbalances are identified based on a detailed diagnosis by a team of experts in the fields of preventive medicine, osteopathy and nutritional science. This is followed by osteopathic sessions and tailored fitness sessions as well as specialized spa treatments. Classes for stretching, yoga, Pilates, a wellness gym for back healing and personal coaching are also available. If you feel fit enough, you can then work on your tennis skills, among other things. The training sessions have been specially designed for the hotel - by tennis legends Martina Hingis and David Ferrer.

Galloping across alpine meadows

Paul Dahan

Sporting celebrities can also be found at the organic and wellness hotel Stanglwirt. Travelers have been drawn to this magical place in Tyrol for over 400 years; even boxing world champions Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko used the hotel's state-of-the-art facilities to prepare for their fights. Stanglwirt has a big ace up its sleeve compared to other hotels. On request, it provides its guests with the most beautiful and expensive ''sports equipment'': More than 20 Lipizzaner horses live on the estate and are waiting for riders. Daily riding lessons are included in the special offer for horse fans. The only problem here is the agony of choice: dressage lessons, show jumping lessons or a ride? The latter is a unique experience, as a ride on horseback means galloping across the alpine meadows at the foot of Wilder Kaiser.

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