My heart was pounding and lungs burning, but I gritted my teeth and willed myself into burpees. “Keep going!” shouted Felix, the culprit and mastermind behind this ridiculously intense circuits session. He had me working so hard I felt like I was training for the Olympics.

Then again Julian Felix, to give his full name, is no stranger to the sporting world stage, since he is a Commonwealth gold medallist in bodybuilding and the Caribbean middleweight champion. He is also the senior personal trainer at BodyHoliday in Saint Lucia, a renowned 155-key wellness resort near capital Castries on the tip of the island, where killer workouts and relaxing spa treatments abound.

Winning combination

My 30-minute PT session was included in my package, but what really appealed to me was the chance to train with the cream of the crop. And thanks to Felix I’ve learnt, among other things, how to improve my stamina for playing social netball. It was totally worth it, despite the pain.

The elite connections don’t end with Felix, as throughout the year, BodyHoliday hosts star athletes and Olympians who lead fitness sessions. The line-up has included swimmer Jazz Carlin, who won double silver in Rio 2016, and sprinter Donna Fraser, a competitor at four Olympic Games.

A daily programme of (socially distanced) activities means guests are always spoilt for choice, so if clients don’t fancy training with the stars they can opt for morning walks, sunrise yoga, bodystretch classes, aqua fit, wakeboarding lessons, open water swimming, beach volleyball… and anything else from a list that totals more than 50 pursuits on land and water. The icing on the cake? They’re all included, so guests can do as much or as little as they choose.

While BodyHoliday offers so many different ways to move, it also boasts numerous ways in which to flop – on the pristine, sandy beach (where masked staff are always happy to help with loungers and towels), by the two outdoor pools, or at the Wellness Centre, which houses 33 treatment rooms.

Daily complimentary spa treatments will have been built into guests’ bespoke itineraries and I was delighted with the variety of treatments when I received my personalised schedule. It included an aloe vera body wrap, a Balinese massage and a hydrating care facial – all of which left me feeling relaxed, floaty and worry-free. With more than 170 treatments to choose from, there is certainly enough there to help ease many ailments or health concerns.

As part of Covid safety measures, during treatments therapists wear masks and gloves (though you can’t tell) and rooms are disinfected in between appointments. The resort has social distancing floor markings and sanitation points throughout, while all staff are double-vaccinated. Daily temperature checks are part of the routine and guests flying back to their home country can also take free rapid antigen tests on site.

The resort itself has been passed as Covid-19 certified accommodation under the Saint Lucia government’s scheme.

Andrew Barnard, deputy managing director of BodyHoliday, said: “Implementing safety measures for Covid was integral here. We volunteered to the Saint Lucian government to develop the Covid protocols for spas in the region so we spent a lot of time working out exactly what we should do, which disinfectant to use between treatments, how we manage head cradles, how we manage body to body contact, the overall hygiene in the room – all those things.

“So we wrote those protocols and they became the national protocols across Saint Lucia and, very, quickly were adopted regionally.”

Feeling fine

The Wellness Centre itself has a different, tranquil feel to the rest of the resort, with a Mediterranean-style courtyard at its heart and an open entrance offering a splendid vista of swaying palm trees, fuchsia bougainvillea and the glittering Caribbean sea in the distance. Stepping outside after my fourth (or was it fifth?) spa treatment, I gazed out to the ocean and basked in the sweet feeling of bliss.

Clients who are particularly concerned about the effects of the pandemic – whether physical or mental – can also choose from four new supplementary wellness programmes, which BodyHoliday constructed in response to coronavirus. They are Wellness Rehabilitation; Covid Convalescence; Boost Your Immunity; and Corporate Wellbeing.

While there is plenty to do in-resort, there is – again – no shortage of activities for exploring the island as well. Dive enthusiasts can spot local marine life at sites that include Saint Lucia’s famous Pitons; there are adventure tours; rum tours; sunset cruises; private charter sailings; whale and dolphin spotting; and hikes.

I embarked on a west coast boat tour to go snorkelling, departing from Rodney Bay Marina, spotting grand houses and resorts en route to Sugar Beach, at the foot of the Pitons. Snorkel guide Melisa enthusiastically encouraged us to splash in as we spotted schools of sardines, sergeant majors, trumpetfish and parrotfish darting through the clear waters.

Melisa confirmed there has been a difference in the marine population since the pandemic began too; since returning to work after the resort reopened, she has seen more fish species than she ever had before and is clearly ecstatic to be back in the water, showing us the best of Saint Lucia.

Food glorious food

A must for your clients, especially those with vegan or vegetarian requirements, is I-TAL dining – BodyHoliday’s recently launched farm-to-table experience incorporating produce from its very own three-acre organic garden. Drawing inspiration from Rastafari culture, which focuses on a natural diet free from processed foods and meat, guests forage their way up the hillside in lush allotments and then dine on freshly prepared meals in a beautiful leafy setting overlooking the Coubaril Valley on which the resort is built.

Wellness chef Juliana has personal experience of cooking I-TAL cuisine, as she has a family of nine brothers and five sisters, a few of whom are Rastafarian while others have differing dietary needs – “In my family if you can’t cook you were probably adopted!” she laughed.

The proof is in the pudding, so to speak, as our exquisite menu included watermelon gazpacho, grilled aubergine with mushroom, freshly caught snapper with avocado sauce and mango fiesta with coconut yoghurt.

“It is essentially fresh food from the ground to the table immediately picked and eaten,” explained Barnard. “When you eat it you feel the freshness, you feel the healthy energy entering you, and psychologically it’s amazing.”

Other dining options in-resort are Cariblue, the main restaurant, which is host to breakfast, lunch and dinner, while Cariblue Windows specialises in fine dining with a tasting menu including wine and rum pairings. There’s also Asian-fusion TAO (absolutely recommend the homemade signature chocolate fondant dessert); beachside Pavilion Grill; and the Wellness Cafe for late breakfasts, light lunches and barista coffee (I couldn’t get enough of the oat and date smoothie and moringa shot).

Suite sensation

As expected with an award-winning resort, suites are plenty comfortable and even the standard garden rooms come with no supplement, making it ideal for solo travellers. I was staying in the Calypso villa, which was perfectly located next to the Wellness Centre and which had its own serenity pool, balcony overlooking Cariblue Beach, kitchen, living area, huge bathroom with Ren organic toiletries and king-size bedroom. Luxurious touches include a Bluetooth Bose sound system in the living area and a menu of pillow types.

There was a beautiful sunset as I took off from Saint Lucia to head home, and it made me sad to leave. I wished I could do it all over again. Yes, even that killer circuits session.

How to book it:

Caribtours offers seven nights from £2,749pp on an all-inclusive basis and including flights (based on Gatwick departure on 21 May 2022). Book to stay from 9 January 2022 to 7 January 2023 and receive reduced rates on all rooms (020 7751 0660, caribtours.co.uk). PCR test needed for entry to Saint Lucia: Fit to Fly PCR test costs £69; Day 2 PCR test costs £69 (airline discount available; qured.com). 

For more information visit bodyholiday.com and stlucia.org/en_UK