Combining exercise with you vacay is no revelation at this point, but some folks have been taking it a step further.

Itsy, bitsy, teeny, weeny...

Ever heard of Bikini Boot Camp? The idea is to spend a week or two enjoying healthy food, days filled with exercise and hands-on excursions as part of a fun routine geared at getting your body bikini ready.

Some of us might be cringing at the prospect, man-kinis have a tendancy to do that,  but it makes perfect sense - expose that which you want to keep in check.

Well in the right setting of course, in this instance it's Tulun, Mexico - about 2hrs south on the coast from Cancun.

The bikini boot camp programme on offer at Amasala is the brainchild of Americans, Melissa Perlman and Erica Gragg.

The aim is to provide people with an experience similar to staying at a friend's beach house rather than a hotel.

Getting back to basics - view the gallery

The six-night programme caters for 25 men and women.

Morning activities include power walks along the beach or in the jungle. This is then followed by some body sculpting with power-ab sessions (don't suck it in now) and pilates.

While the twilight enhances your end-of-day yoga session. Mingle between all this activity are trips to the Mayan Ruins, snorkeling and loads of beachside pampering.

It's important to note that you are never compelled to participate in any of the activities and there is no survivor-like competitiveness. It's all about getting in touch with your best possible body and one of the tools to get you there is to also keep a personal journal. If you do keep a holiday journal, why not share it here?

Wild about fitness

If heading to Mexico is not an option, then you could always buy their book and implement your own beach boot camp regiment either on Camps Bay beach or in Mauritius . 

But rediscovering your natural physical potential and raw energy capacity is also possible in Kenya with Wildfitness. Even if you want to be able to climb trees when you're a granny - there are no limits, according to this holiday provider with a difference.

Are you a Zoo human?

Tara Wood initiated Wildfitness after spending some time in London. She soon realised how much it was affecting her. She grew up in Kenya and was used to being active and spending time outdoors.

"Humans spent 200,000 years as hunter gathers, we have the instinct embedded within us somewhere," is the general philosophy with this team - and they're ready to teach you the fundamentals of wild movement, wild eating and wild living, giving you all the knowledge and guidance you need to rediscover your inner animal.

Closer to home

Getting out of your comfort zone and physical is also possible without crossing any borders.

If you're serious about shifting that winter blanket then consider Adventure Boot Camp, geared specifically towards women or Commando Boot Camp which sees men and women playing the no-pain-no-gain game together. 

This four-week programme has you meeting three to five times a week for at least an hour at various locations.

You'll enjoy the great outdoors while doing rigorous exercise, guaranteed to get you into shape.

Cost:

Four-week camp (3-days a week) - R560

Four-week camp (5-day a week) - R690

This includes classes facilitated by qualified boot camp instructors, adventure boot camp t-shirt and a goodie bag filled with sponsor products.

Locations include:

Cape Town

Stellenbosch

Johannesburg

Haartebeespoort Dam 

So what are you waiting for? Winter is the perfect time to get your body beach ready!