Our insider interview series sees us talking to one of the team in a number of retreats where we have the honor of working with and sending clients. Josué Rosa is a fitness supervisor Pine Cliff exist Portugalsupervise activities ranging from high-intensity interval training to yoga and Pilates. With 20 years of fitness experience, Josué is passionate about ensuring that every guest can achieve their goals while providing a fun and inspiring experience. From working as a military fitness coach to holding training courses in several resorts in Portugal, his background is impressive.
Can you tell us about your journey into the fitness industry and what led you to the Pine Cliffs Resort?
I started my own fitness journey after leaving the Portuguese parachute army in 2004, which trains lifeguards in northern Portugal. I then moved to Vila Sol Golf and Resort Hotel for 6 years as a lifeguard and personal trainer. Then I moved to Conrad Hotel in Quinta do Lago as a personal trainer for 6 years and then I felt like I could do more and I was looking for a big resort to train a lot of people. I found a pine cliff resort that I've been training and teaching a lot of people for the past 9 years.
As a fitness director at Pine Cliffs, what does a typical day look like for you?
I start the day at 7am or 11h30am and if I start at 7am I check all the facilities, prepare them for a day of work and then if I have a personal trainer meeting I will do it. If not, I am at the reception, checking emails and interacting with guests and active members. If I start at 11h30am for a few days, I take group classes, for example: PilatesHIIT and active cycling, boxing, circuit training, hydraulic generation and active pumps. In the afternoon, I supervised the daily operations in the gym and in the team.
How do you motivate your guests and engage in their fitness habits during your vacation?
Every guest I work with told them that if they just go up the stairs or complete Iron Man, they need to realize their dreams. The training process is slow and takes time, so when they are on vacation, they can restart Fitness Journeylet them go on the right path and continue pursuing their dreams as they return home.
You have extensive experience in multiple fitness disciplines – how does this affect your training approach?
My training method is multidisciplinary, but my main focus is resistance, strength, mobility, balance and agility. I always talk to my guests about rest, Nutrition and supplements – Your daily routine will be very different if you are right.
Pine Cliffs offers a variety of fitness activities. Which ones are the most popular among guests?
The most popular are Pilates and children's swimming lessons. Then we have ours Health Retreat (Fitness tours, boot camps, Explore Nature, Weight Loss and Pilates) grows every year.
How do you balance high-intensity exercises like HIIT and TABATA with more cautious practices like yoga and Pilates?
As a team, they can easily balance them because we have a professional team working in all different fields and we need to fill our guests no matter what discipline we choose.
As a former military fitness coach and competitor for National and European Avenue competitions, what courses have you taken in your current role?
I provide lessons for discipline, honor, dignity, effort, resilience, respect, modesty, punctuality, self-esteem, trust and team work. These values you don't learn from books you have to live in, respect them put them into practice and make them experience life.
You competed in the Ironman 70.3 Triathlon and Half Marathon, what advice do you have for guests who wish to take on the endurance challenge?
To do an endurance challenge, you must first know what to do, please be clear on your head. Get a coach, create a training plan, be consistent in training (don't find excuses), be careful about your nutrition (develop a nutrition plan for each game, practice nutrition in training), sleep well (at least 8 hours), and train hard but smarter. Under the Endurance Challenge, you are not competing with anyone.
Do you always recommend a simple fitness tip to those who want to improve their well-being?
Whatever comes up and does it, learn and do it again and again.
Finally, what is your personal philosophy when it comes to health, fitness and a positive lifestyle?
First of all, health is everything. No physical health, no fitness and an active lifestyle. Therefore, our health is preferred no matter what. My personal fitness philosophy can be condensed into the following five values: exercise, endurance, longevity, mindfulness, and enhanced cognition.
Talk to one of our health travel experts 0203 397 8891 Or contact us here Discuss booking a health vacation Song Cliff Resort.
