A week of Olympic-level workouts on the beach.
I’m a newly minted freelance work-from-home mom, and my time has never been more limited. That’s important to know because, at one point, I couldn’t get invited to a trip without packing my bags immediately. All that is to say, trips are few and far between these days, and when I am opting into travel without my kid, I think long and hard.
I didn’t have much pondering to do, though, when I was invited to visit BodyHoliday Wellness Resort in Saint Lucia. For starters, I am Saint Lucian. My parents hailed from the island and migrated to New York City 31 years ago, where I was born. Saint Lucia is my second home, and a place that always brings me comfort and happiness.
Before this invitation, I’d never visited the island solo (my family is never too far behind). I was excited for the opportunity to go back home alone for a few days. The real draw, though, was that I was invited to join Saint Lucia’s first-ever Olympic athlete, Julien Alfred, for a week of wellness programming (an immediate yes in my book, and I’ll tell you why).
Julien Alfred’s a Big Deal
For a Saint Lucian, this opportunity was a big deal. Alfred took home the gold medal in the women’s 100m final (timed 10.72 seconds) at the Paris Olympics in 2024, making it the first gold medal achievement for the country, ever. And if that wasn’t enough, she did it again in the 200-meter dash at the Paris games, this time bringing home a silver medal.
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The support, pride, and excitement that nearly every Saint Lucian has felt and expressed for Alfred is palpable. Heck, it’s even visible. Since her big win, photos of Alfred grace different billboards and buildings on the small island. A quick spin through the capital’s UVF airport also reveals a stunning photo mural of Alfred after her iconic win. So, she’s basically Lucian royalty. I am rarely star-struck, but an opportunity to sweat with Saint Lucia’s sweetheart was too good to pass up.
Her Partnership with BodyHoliday
Since gaining Olympic-medal status, Alfred has been busy, also taking on a new role as tourism ambassador for Saint Lucia. Her latest initiative, with BodyHoliday, is just one on a long list of Alfred’s efforts to boost her home country as the wellness destination of the Caribbean (Saint Lucia is already a top destination for honeymooners).
In 2007, BodyHoliday first introduced “Feature Months”, a retreat-style, month-long experience designed for guests. Since its launch, it has evolved greatly into the legacy program offered today. Before Alfred’s stint as host, Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo spent a week at the property leading a series of basketball-forward workout sessions for guests. For Alfred’s turn, she was joined by fellow track and field athletes Rhasidat Adeleke and Vernon Norwood to curate wellness-related programming for visitors, embodying the property’s promise: “Give us your body for a week and we’ll give you back your mind.”
During my time with Alfred, she called BodyHoliday her “happy place” and said her time on the resort is a key component of her rigorous recovery routine. Now, it was her turn to craft an experience that integrates the features she relies on for physical wellness for those on vacation.
Gold-medalist Julien Alfred.BodyHoliday
After experiencing the week at BodyHoliday, it was apparent why an Olympic athlete like Alfred would enjoy it as a recovery destination after intense training: there’s a lot to do, all centered around your physical wellbeing, which, in turn, naturally supplements the mental. In addition to a wide range of physical offerings, including daily workout classes (such as yoga, Pilates, and water aerobics), you can also participate in tennis classes, kayaking, jet skiing, hiking, and more. Guests are also invited to enjoy daily spa treatments, which include a range of body services like massages, body scrubs, wraps, and facials.
It’s truly a one-stop shop for people who value movement and physical wellbeing, which felt different than any other trip I’ve been on (where physical wellness may come as an afterthought or an easily discarded option).
My Experience
As a longtime beauty editor and wellness enthusiast, spa treatments and beachfront workouts have long been enticing, but doing them alongside Alfred was equal parts exciting and intimidating (who wants to eat sand in front of a gold medalist?). On the first day of my experience, we were greeted bright and early for a beach bootcamp with Alfred. I was naive to think that the Olympian would take it easy on the guests. Instead, we were in for a challenge: a series of circuit workouts all tailored to running, including a relay race, body-weighted mobility moves, mini hurdle jumps, and more.
Over 60 minutes of exercise on the beach in 85-degree weather felt like an eternity, but afterward, I felt amazing and was able to wind down with a relaxing massage. That day, I also visited the Ayurvedic center to learn more about my doshas with the property’s experts, who helped me take a closer look at my wellness habits from a different lens.
Our second scheduled bootcamp was cut short by rain. Still, throughout my week at the property, the team incorporated activities such as sunset yoga, salsa dancing, and water sports into my schedule. An extensive list of physical wellness activities was also available for guests, should anything pique their interest. One of the moments I looked forward to the most was an intimate workshop with Alfred and friends at the library on the property.
During the session, guests were invited to hear from Alfred, Adeleke, and Norwood about their workout and training routines, and the experts welcomed questions to help people tailor their at-home regimens. It felt like a detailed fitness consultation, which I liked. Before my time at BodyHoliday, I gave running little consideration (I prefer strength training in my living room); however, after experiencing the expert-led workouts and getting personalized tips, I became open to adding more running to my routine. After all, who better to get me started than one of the fastest women in the world?
Beyond the workshop being rich in information, I never witnessed a group of strangers at a resort so engaged. Everyone listened attentively to the experts and got one-on-one advice on how to weave elements from the retreat into daily habits.
I loved that—despite everyone being at different levels in their wellness and fitness (and despite being among professional decorated athletes)—the environment felt welcoming and supportive, rather than exclusive and isolating, which is something that many wellness-forward spaces often struggle with. Not only was it an opportunity to connect with yourself physically, but it served as a great way to connect with others (if you were up for it).
I can confidently say that for the first time in my life, I left the BodyHoliday resort not needing a vacation from my vacation. This was especially nice considering I had a little one to get back to.
Alfred and the property did a great job curating an itinerary that allowed time to relax and restore, as well as time to move my body, which I never regretted. It’s also worth mentioning that the rooms are television-free, which helped me get sound, distraction-free sleep, adding to my overall feeling of restoration.
Redefining the Wellness Destination Experience
Participating in this retreat allowed me to feel rested and relaxed, while also offering me the opportunity to learn alongside an exceptional athlete (a Saint Lucian one at that). It can serve as a blueprint for similar properties seeking to incorporate wellness in a meaningful way, and there’s a large community of people craving it as well.
If you’re seeking an all-inclusive experience rooted in physical wellbeing, then planning a trip around a Features Month theme is a great way to get more bang for your buck. You’ll be on a property with like-minded individuals, and the programming will be tailored to your needs, with movement at the forefront. Hopefully, partnerships, like the one with Alfred, can continue to create special access to athletic talent who can add more value to guest stays.
The best part? BodyHoliday is already thinking ahead. Alfred’s week of wellness was just one part of more to come, including a pre-holiday restorative break week in December, led by World Champion sprinter Donna Fraser, and a “Spring Sail” month in March 2026, tailored to water and boat lovers.
Ultimately, the absolute best part for me was being able to sweat on home soil with Saint Lucia’s sweetheart and an opportunity to rest and connect in my home away from home. Now the only question left is: who’s next to hop on the resort wellness train? Simone Biles? Gabby Thomas? Lebron James? Let’s just say if the future of fitness-related travel keeps looking like this, Saint Lucia is worth a spot on every athlete’s itinerary.
