San Pedro Welcomes Fitness Tourism into the Belize Mix

Fitness Tourism arrives to Belize. This past week a group of visitors traveling under the umbrella of Stayfit Travel visited San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, not only for the purpose of enjoying the regular tourist attractions that the country has to offer, but also to engage in activities that promote health and well-being.

Fitness tourism involves health enthusiasts traveling with the purpose of keeping active and engaging in activities beneficial to their health and quality of life. With four different health centers/gyms in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, and more recently the introduction of the first Crossfit Box on the island (in Belize), Stayfit Travel chose Ambergris Caye for their most recent travel destination.

CrossfitCFS Belize was the first Crossfit center to open in Belize and with that brought a new revolution of people embracing the workout culture in order to get strong and stay healthy on the island. Founder of Stayfit Travel, JD Derasmo, saw the opportunity to bring her group to San Pedro, Belize after learning there was a Crossfit center on the island. It was the perfect destination to explore and workout at the same time.

JD created Stayfit travel to bring together people just like her who love to travel but still continue exercising during their vacation in order to stay away from the love handles, belly fat and jiggly butt, as she points out.

“I feel alive when I’m traveling,” states JD on her Stayfit Travel website. “I created StayFit Travel for like-minded individuals. Those who are inspired by seeing the world but still want the chance at a quick battle with Fran (Crossfit workout)! StayFit Travel will offer full vacation packages with all the usual “tourist highlights” of the area, but will also include visits to local boxes for a WOD every day.”

So Stayfit Travel arrived in San Pedro on June 28, 2014, with a group of fitness enthusiasts ready to visit Belize and workout with the team at Crossfit CFS. The group had the opportunity to workout alongside the different coaches at the box, learn from them and also teach them some of their techniques and exchange tips.

Ronnie Teasdale conducts a health and fitness seminar at CrossfitCFS

Ronnie Teasdale gives workout and training tips to coaches at CrossfitCFS

Ronnie Teasdale and Stayfit Travel team workout with members of CrossfitCFS Belize

Stayfit Travel founder, JD Derasmo with Drew and Maggie of CrossfitCFS

Calling their trip “PR’s in Paradise” (personal records in paradise), Stayfit Travel was accompanied by Ronnie Teasdale, a USA Weightlifting Sport & Performance Coach who also has a degree in Exercise Science. Ronnie is a SoCal regional competitor, has coached elite level athletes and is owner of the Los Angeles Health and Fitness gym’s, CrossFit Mean Streets & CrossFit Smiley Streets. He has also racked up an impressive list of CrossFit related certifications including: CrossFit Level 1, CrossFit Level 2 Instructor (1 of only 326 worldwide), Running Coach/ CrossFit Endurance Certified, CrossFit Olympic Weightlifting Certified, CrossFit Gymnastics Certified, Mobility and Movement enhancement certified and CrossFit Defense.

So not only did Stayfit travel provide the invaluable knowledge and training techniques to members of its travel group, but also to the members and coaches at CrossfitCFS who just celebrated its one year anniversary on the island. Ronnie trained, coached and offered a seminar on his “Teasdale Approach” to aid Crossfitters on the island better themselves and inspire them to reach higher goals in the field.

“I’m back in LA now, good to be home,” stated Ronnie on his Facebook profile page. “The Teasdale Approach with @stayfittravel in San Pedro, Belize was unique. Trying to inspire people to change when there is an ocean between them and better food was interesting. I hope next time I come back some of these people have created businesses to bring nutrition to the growing community of health conscious people there.”

JD Derasmo stated that she was delighted to be back in San Pedro, as she had visited and workout out at CrossfitCFS before, and that she was very impressed with the athletes on the island. She and her group had an amazing time exploring the island, mainland and working out in between all their adventures.

Stayfit Travel is a perfect example how Fitness Tourism is yet another perfect marketing option for Belize and targeting an entirely new group of vacationers. What a great idea!!!