Tag: health

5 Ways to Stay Fit at Home

by Erik Weinbrecht, Sotheby’s Realty

It’s long been known that being sedentary is linked to chronic disease; with many around the world working from home and gyms temporarily closed, it’s easy for even those who previously led a very active lifestyle to slide into one much less so. Here are five ways to keep moving and stay fit, right from the comfort of your own home.

There’s an App for That

Fitness and mobile or wearable devices have gone hand-in-hand for quite some time now – with apps like LoseIt, Johnson & Johnson’s 7-Minute Workout, and countless others in both the App Store and Google Play Store, there are plenty of apps to help you manage your caloric intake, inspire you with workout routines, and more.

The Social Media Challenge

It can be hard to stay motivated on your own – especially if you’re accustomed to feeding off the energy that a gym or class can provide. Just because you’re removed from that environment doesn’t mean you have to disconnect. Take for instance the #pushupchallenge on Instagram; film yourself doing pushups and tag friends to challenge them and keep them moving. Get creative and start your own challenge! There’s nothing wrong with some healthy competition.

Go Virtual

Companies like Peloton, Mirror, and now SoulCycle are ready to bring the full-body workout into your living room with their in-home equipment and subscription-based models that offer live and on-demand classes to best fit your needs. If you prefer a little more Zen with your workout, CorePower Yoga is also offering free access to their OnDemand service while their studios are closed.

Try Something New

Listlessness and boredom can be the doom of any fitness routine – especially if you feel your options are limited. Now is the time to try something new. Try a type of workout outside of your comfort zone; gamify your fitness with the likes of Nintendo’s Ring Fit or even Just Dance – and speaking of dance – why don’t you take a free virtual dance class? The Ballet Coach is offering live and OnDemand classes for kids and adults through her Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube channels.

Think Outside the Living Room

Even with social distancing and shelter-in-place guidelines in effect, ducking outside for a solo run or hike is a viable solution for your fitness fix. When the weather is right, your body will thank you for the much-needed sunshine and fresh air.

Staying fit is a challenge – even more so when under stress – but by caring for your body, you’re taking steps to sure up your overall health.

Safety and Health on Sint Maarten|St Martin

Safety

The safety of our guests is very important to us. We encourage our guests to use common sense when traveling to St Martin, as you would when traveling to any location you are unfamiliar with. While the island of St Martin/St Maarten is relatively safe, we strongly recommend travelers to be observant to reduce risks of any unfortunate events.

Personal Safety
Apply the same rules of personal safety as you would in any city in the world. Keep your valuables and your passport in one of the safes we provide in the villa/condo and carry a limited amount of cash. Keep a backup credit card in your safe and have photocopies of all your important documents such as passports, credit cards, and drivers licenses. The copies should be placed in a separate place than your safety. There are many banks and ATM around the island so there is no need to have an excessive amount of cash. At night, we advise travelers to use well-lit areas and walk in groups. Most areas are safe.

Car Safety

Never leave valuables in the car, absolutely nothing. The rental cars on St Martin are typically easy to break into. No bags, money, gifts, cameras or anything of value should remain in the car unattended. Cars parked at beaches or less populated areas are common targets. Park in well-lit areas and gated parking decks when possible. Avoid parking at deserted beaches. When driving at night, be conscious of your environment. Please do not drink and drive. The roads are thin in many locations and motorcyclists can be hard to see as the split lands often.

Health

Sunburns and Sun Poisoning
The UV rays of the sun in the Caribbean are very strong. Keep in mind that even on cloudy days, sunburns can happen. Always apply general amounts of sunscreen and reapply after swimming even if your sunscreen says “waterproof.” Keep yourself well hydrated and limit alcohol consumption when in direct sun. More importantly, care for your children and limit their exposure to the sun. If you start to feel nauseous, dizzy, unremitting headache and lethargic, get yourself out of the sun and direct yourself to the local clinic since you may be experiencing a sunstroke.

Hospitals
The Marigot Hospital | phone number: (590) 590 29 57 55 | is located in Concordia and offers the quickest medical access point for guests staying on the west side of the island (Simpson Bay, Maho, Cupecoy, Terres Basse, Nettle Bay, Marigot and Grand Case). Pharmacies on the French side are designated with green crosses. The cost of medical treatment at the Marigot Hospital is very reasonable.

The Dutch side or eastern half of the island can seek medical attention at Sint Martin Medical Center | phone number: (721) 543-1111 | on Cay Hill for those staying in Dawn Beach, Orient, Guana Bay and Phillipsburg. There are several clinics conveniently spread out through the island to render non-acute care. Pharmacies are located throughout the island and have very reasonable prices for prescriptions.

For those with high-risk medical conditions, we strongly encourage obtaining medical evacuation insurance through your trip insurance policy.