And you do not have to plunder the
honeymoon piggy bank to tap into the healthy hen trend. Swapping cliched hen
activities like pole- dancing or cocktail- making classes for music- video
dance classes and healthy cookery lessona will get you a piece of the holistic
action for a fraction of the price. And you can do it by the day rather than
heading off for a weekend. In the States, gyms are already offering fun
physical activities for hen parties, and the UK is catching on, too, with the
likes of the Vitality gym group (vitalitygyms.co.uk) in Cardiff and the Body
Beautiful Bootcamp (bodybeautifulbootcamp.co.uk) in Surrey offering hen
packages that start in the gym and end in the spa. And you can be as gung- ho
as you choose. ‘In the last year, we have branched away from pole- dancing
classes into action- packed activities like assault courses, white- water fafting
and karting,’ says Hen Heaven’s Lynsay Hamp.
the
Vitality gym group
‘I would lost two and a half stone for my
wedding, so the last thing I wanted was to ruin all my hard work with a boozy
night I would barely remember,’ says Felicity Powers, 34, a recruitment
consultant from North Wales, who chose a group sushi- making lesson for her hen
celebration. ‘Plus, I did not want to ask my friends to spen loads of money and
time on an expensive weekend away. For just $46 each, we learned how to make
nigiri, maki and sushi rools. Not as easy at it sounds- we made such a mess
rolling up all that sticky rice, we were all in hysterics. Then we were treated
to the chefs’ teppanyaki display- with leaping flames- and we got to sample the
delicious dishes afterwards. I was on such a high afterwards- the activity was
a real talking pont and not a carbon copy of countless other hen parties. I
would learned a new skill and seen all my best friends.’
And while there are companies with pre-
arranged activities, you can create your own healthy hen party from scratch.
‘We hired a cottage and a bike each in the Forest of Dean and spent my hen
weekend in the great outdoors,’ says Jo Bott, 32. ‘Choosing a more active
henweekend does not mean you have to miss out on traditional hen fun. We cycled
40 miles of trails dressed as cops and robbers, stopping along the way to play
bridal- themed games. It was exhilarating, the scenery was stunning and we
laughed all the way. It also meant we would earned our delicious Italian meal
that night- perfect!’
Hen parties made healthy
The new spa trip
Hen
packages with Ibiza Retreats
Calm your inner bridezilla with a mind,
body and soul retreat. Hen packages with Ibiza Retreats (ibizaretreats.com)
start at $116 for a day session and $667 for a three- night package that
includes accommodation, food, drink, yoga lessons and treaments.
The new stripper
Book a muscleman who will put you through
your paces rather than taking his clothes off, by hiring a personal trainer.
Find one near you at exerciseregister.org.
The new zap- your- ha ngovwe activity
Do not ler the stags have all the fun,
nothing beats a bit of outdoor action. Choose from assault courses, It is A
Knockout- style sports days, water- skiing or Zorbing. Prices from $84
(henheaven.co.uk).
The new pole- dancing
Tap into your inner teen and burn some
calories by choosing a dance class where the emphasis is on fun, such as Hula
Hooping, can- can and cheerleading. ($37.3d, polestars.net/ henparties).
The new booze cruise
Hit the water for hot new sea sport-
coasteering. Think swimming, jumping off cliffs and scrambling over wave-
lashed rocks. A coasteering adventure with Hot Rock Coasteer in Cornwall cost
$114 per person. (hotrockcoasteer.co.uk).
