If you subscribe to the idea that “laughter is the best medicine” then you’ll find The Body Camp Majorca to be the number one tonic on the planet. From sunrise to sunset, every day is loaded with side-splitting silliness, making this a place of health, happiness and most of all, absolute hilarity. Yet beneath the frivolity, there is a serious and scientific approach to food, fitness, and fulfillment that will transform you in ways you never thought possible.
The Body Camp concept first sprung up in Ibiza in 2016 as the brainchild of Kate Whale and her plant-based, vegan chef brother Ben. An ex-navy fitness instructor and master NLP practitioner called Rick Parcell completes the trio and since they first opened, their simple yet well-considered blend of ‘fitness meets foolishness’ has taken the self-help holiday sector by storm.
At the core of The Body Camp philosophy is a desire to create an environment that is so fun, that guests barely notice the hard work. And make no mistake; it IS hard work. The training regime is intense and the raw vegan food is calorie-controlled meaning that by the end of the week you’ll be cleaner and leaner but thankfully, not meaner, due to the explicit emphasis on teamwork, community, and togetherness.
While their Ibiza location caters to those seeking a full life transformation, at the Mallorca location there is the option of a ‘less intense’ experience, with compulsory morning participation until lunchtime and optional involvement in the afternoon. Yet the chances are high that, like me, you will feel unfathomably pumped and compelled to join in the afternoon bike rides, yoga, meditation, cookery school and extra training sessions at the gym.
Each week caters to somewhere between 20-30 guests, who all come from different walks-of-life, have different reasons for being there and have different stories to share; and share they do. The sense of support and connection between guests is intoxicating and very quickly bonds are formed. Group discussions often resemble group therapy and quickly you realise that The Body Camp villa is a safe space, where guests feel comfortable learning, teaching and just being honest about every aspect of their lives despite inhibitions that otherwise closes us off from one another.
Again, like the fun, this never feels forced and although the staff encourages you to leave your personal comfort zones and take a ride into the ‘danger zone’ (yes another 80’s reference – you’re starting to get the idea), no one was ever unduly pressured into going further than they decided to or put in harm’s way, psychologically or physically.
Rick and his trusted sidekick Anthony, ensure that every workout ends with two guarantees; firstly that you’ll be dripping with sweat and secondly that you’ll have a big smile on your face.
Meanwhile, training sessions are often sandwiched with group Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) seminars that encourage guests to retrain their brains to use words and phrases that foster positive thinking rather than self-deprecation. It is a technique that can yield almost immediate changes and it was thrilling to see the overnight success stories that are commonplace at the villa.
The raw plant-based food is first class and Ben’s “no worries, be happy” attitude translates into every delicious bite. Furthermore, his cookery classes will open you up to a daily diet that might seem otherwise daunting and I have since recreated a number of his culinary masterpieces in the comfort of my own kitchen. And that wasn’t the only thing I took away from the seven nights in Majorca, because I am still in contact with all the other guests, meaning the friendships forged over that week in the glorious Balearic sun will stay with me even longer.
Practically every activity in the week-long programme, from the fancy dress workouts to evening party games are designed to encourage your inner child to break-free and have a right old mess around. Apart from their unique offering of fun, the Body Camp Mallorca offers a serious physical and mental MOT. You’ll return home committed to improving your own life and that of those around you. And even if you don’t have a life-changing epiphany, at the very least, you’ll come away with a load of quotes from 80’s action movies from Top Gun to Terminator. If you have half as good a time as I did, I guarantee that by the end of the week you’ll be saying “I’LL BE BACK.”
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Photos: Julian Okines
