With marathon training is over and the new snow season is still a way off, my motivation to keep fit was waning. I needed a kick up the backside to get moving again – and I certainly got it on my recent trip to Mexico.

Given that I save most of my annual holiday time to go snowboarding, it’s six years since I last had a beach holiday. I had some leave to use up by the end of May so I thought a bit sun was called for – and a bit of hard work too. I discovered Amansala’s bikini bootcamp in Tulum so it seemed like a good opportunity to check it out.

I flew into Cancun and headed to the hotel zone there for a couple of days. It’s a bit like Las Vegas by the sea - all massive hotels and chain restaurants. It didn’t really feel like Mexico but it was a good place to start the tan, walk along the gorgeous beach and get over the jetlag.

Amansala is on the dusty coastal road at Tulum which is about two hours from Cancun. It’s a different world from the massive resort – much more low key, with accommodation in small B&Bs and beach huts.

Amansala is one of the higher-end complexes in the area. Our cabana was painted pink inside with tiled detailing and two big comfy double beds covered with mosquito nets (although luckily there aren’t many around in May). Most of the electricity comes from solar and wind power and the resort draws its water from its own well. Apart from the airmiles, it’s definitely one of the more environmentally friendly trips I’ve been on.

The six day bikini bootcamp is a course aimed at women (and men too) looking for an active holiday with healthy food and plenty of time to relax.

Each day starts at 6.45 with some time to write your journal – a great opportunity to purge the brain and define some health and fitness goals.

After that it’s off to the beach for an hour’s walk – the first 15 minutes in silence – to wake you up and soak up the first rays of the day.

Next up is a class such as yoga or a sculpting class. After breakfast – oatmeal, tropical fruit and eggs – are another couple of classes or an excursion. We went snorkelling, kayaking, cycled to Tulum’s Mayan ruins and swam in amazing freshwater canotes – not a lot of sitting about!

After lunch (usually grilled fish and salads) came three hours of chill time for sunbathing, sleeping and reading. A couple of massages are including in the package – and these take place during this free time.

One day also included a Mayan clay treatment which involved us all slathering ourselves in bright yellow local Mayan clay and standing on the beach in the sun meditating until the clay had hardened. We then ran into the sea to wash it off, noticing immediately how soft our skin felt. I lost my camera on the trip and I’m so gutted I don’t have pictures of the long row of bright yellow ladies – like something from the Simpsons – lined up at the water’s edge, slowly turning crusty.

Before dinner the workout gear came back out again and we’d battle hardcore classes such as circuits, kickboxing or African dance followed by an hour of restive yoga.

There were some seriously fit women on my week – but it’s entirely up to you how hard you push yourself or how many classes you take. Some guests preferred staying in bed in the morning, missing the workouts and hitting the local bars at night for margueritas while others got up early, did all the workouts and headed to bed at 9pm to recover.

Obviously there’s only so much you can achieve in six days but I definitely left Mexico feeling relaxed, more toned and ready to get back to some proper training when I got home.

I’ve already joined a new gym and have picked out some of the yoga and spinning classes I’m going to make regular appointments with.

All the health and fitness goals I took away from the week will definitely improve my winter fitness. Who would have thought a week on the beach would be a great way to prepare for the new snow season?

For more info on Bikini Bootcamp visit www.amansala.com