Bali, Turks & Caicos, & Bhutan: Exotic Yoga Retreats

Yoga meet COMO. COMO meet Yoga. Creating some of the finest, most exclusive (and exotic) life-changing yoga retreats in the world, we got a hold of COMO's 2009 list of yoga retreats taught by some of the top yogis in the world. Returning gurus this year include Australian yoga expert Judy Krupp. With over 20 years of experience as a teacher and founder of The Yoga Room based on Sydney’s North Shore, Krupps' likable humor reflect a relaxed style from original training in the Iyengar system and work as a myotherapy body therapist.

Newcomers joining the A-list roster include Elena Brower and Sarah Powers. Brower is a certified Anusara teacher who opened Virayoga in New York seven years ago. She approaches her students with refreshing levity and caring attentiveness. Her celeb client list includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Naomi Watts, and Rebecca Romijn. The California-based Powers has been teaching yoga since 1987. Her style is a combination of a Yin sequence of long-held poses to enhance the meridian and organ systems, combined with a flow or Yang practice, influenced by Viniyoga, Ashtanga, and Iyengar teachings.
Uma Paro - Bhutan

These intimate workshops provide nearly five hours of daily practice with the masters and are held at COMO Shambhala Estate in Bali, Parrot Cay in Turks & Caicos, and Uma Paro in Bhutan. Students at all levels have unparalleled access to these yoga rock stars, as well as to the renowned COMO Shambhala Retreat spas. The weeklong programs include six nights accommodation, most meals, and airport transfer. Single occupancy rates start at $5,681 at Parrot Cay, $3,515 at The Estate, $4,668 at Uma Paro; and double occupancy rates begin at $8,669 at Parrot Cay, and $7,056 at Uma Paro.
Yoga Pavillion Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos

2009 Retreats:

July 12-18
Uma Paro
On Top of the World Yoga and Meditation
Judy Krupp

October 25-31
Parrot Cay
Heal & Fortify: Body and Soul
Elena Brower

December 10-16
COMO Shambhala Estate
Insight Yoga in Beautiful Bali
Sarah Powers

We think the chic COMO spaces are optimal for tuning out the rest of the world. At Parrot Cay, the amenities are endless on the remote 1,000-acre island of white sand. Students can take advantage of COMO Shambhala’s Dr. Perricone anti-aging facials, Ayurvedic therapies, Pilates, a gym, tennis, a variety of watersports, and off-island excursions.

In Bali, unlike the conventional destination spa that usually focuses on pampering, The Estate provides a total, 360-degree experience closely tailored to each individual’s needs. Offering comprehensive wellness programs to mend mind, body, and spirit, they employ leading specialists in contemporary holistic health and feature hands-on healing ranging from massage to Ayurvedic and water-based therapies. The Estate also works closely with a Board of Advisors, which includes Rodney Yee and others such as Dr. Robert Thurman and Donna Karan.

The Uma properties under the COMO name represent simplicity and relaxation within a culturally rich and stirring environment. Uma Paro, located in the rolling hills of Bhutan, has a COMO Shambhala Retreat that offers Asian-inspired therapies, Ayurveda, and immersion into the rich Bhutanese culture through expertly guided cultural activities. We always recommend getting on target with a bit of archery. All properties also include healthy, flavorful organic cuisine.

For more information, visit:

www.parrotcay.como.bz
www.cse.comoshambhala.bz
www.uma.como.bz/paro
www.comoshambhala.bz

Park Hyatt's Healthy Living Menu

In a rush, but don't want to down an omelette on the way to the airport?

Recognizing that Jaunty guests want to maintain a healthy lifestyle, Park Hyatt hotels has teamed up with renowned Brazilian nutritionist, Patricia Teixeira, to combat the lack of quick healthy options with the launch of their Healthy Living menu. We think these drinks look great. We also think the Park Hyatt is underrated when it comes to service and quality.

Noted for her nutritional work with international sports figures in her native Brazil and abroad (David Beckham among them), and drawing on her background in physiology and sports biochemistry, Teixeira has developed a selection of smoothies and juices exclusively for Park Hyatt. Teixeira has crafted these fresh organic concoctions to target specific ailments that frequently plague the weary traveler, from immune system deficiencies to jet lag. The menu includes descriptions of ingredients and their specific health benefits, as well as recommendations on the best time of day to consume each selection.

The Healthy Living at Park Hyatt menu includes smoothies and juices such as:

GOOD ENERGY JUICE contains carrots, apples and spinach, which assist in balancing blood sugar levels and supporting digestion.

DIGESTION JUICE is prepared with high fiber fruits such as kiwi and pineapple, which make food travel slowly through the digestive tract, enhancing the absorption of important nutrients.

ANTI-JET LAG JUICE contains kale, which is effective for detoxification, and pumpkin seeds, which assist in producing the body’s sleep hormone – melatonin.

So we say, "Chug it! Chug it!"

www.park.hyatt.com

Krabi, Thailand: Anantara's Yoga Wellness Retreat

Sing along with me... "Om-believable in every way..."

Anantara, taken from the Sanskrit word meaning 'without end,' symbolizes the sharing of water and heartfelt hospitality that is at the core of the Anantara experience. Located throughout Asia and the Middle East, Anantara Resorts and Spas is our latest luxury (for a reasonable price) find. With properties on Koh Samui, the Golden Triangle area in the country’s north, Maldives, Bali, Phuket, and, get this... Anantara Desert Islands Resort & Spa on the island of Sir Bani Yas off the coast of Abu Dhabi, it's that deliciously secret Yoga retreat you've been dreaming about.

Their property, on the shores of Changlang Beach along the Andaman coast of Thailand, is the newly opened Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa and we've chosen to highlight because they're extending their “Wellness 360” program to include two different week-long retreats offered in October (plenty of time for you to start planning your trip now). Each retreat features instruction and consultations with leading experts in the fields of Pilates, yoga, dance, osteopathy, and Ayurveda. Participants will work with specialists to cultivate healthier choices to encourage balance of mind, body, and spirit that can be incorporated into a daily routine and practiced beyond the retreat. In addition to professional consultation and tailor-made exercise programs, guests will enjoy daily yoga, Pilates, and dance movement classes.

Included in the Wellness 360 Retreat package is one session with osteopath Dr. Geraldine van Boxmeer; an Ayurvedic consultation with renowned practitioner Kavitha Hulmani and resident naturopath Dr. Gopal; and a “wellness cuisine” cooking class with the resort’s resident chef, Kelly Brennan. One Anantara massage and an additional spa treatment of choice are also included in the package.

Wellness 360 Retreats will be held on the following dates:
October 5th to 12th
October 12th to 19th

Rates begin at $3,592 per person, which includes: seven night’s accommodations; round-trip airport transfers; all meals; daily classes, and selected therapies and consultations.

http://sikao.anantara.com/Si-Kao-Wellness-360-Retreat/default.aspx

Can I get an Om?

www.anantara.com

The Himalayas: Ananda, The Best Destination Spa in the World

The World's #1 Destination Spa. Ah, so much can be said about a spa at the base of the Himalayas that was once a stunning princely estate ruled by the Shah family. The previous residence of Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal is now ranked by Conde Nast as the World's Best Destination Spa and known, far and wide, to be charged with an all powerful "Shakti" energy. It is said that when Gods left their footprints on the land of Haridwar, they also left "an indelible mark on the spiritual ethos of every Hindu who would later follow their holy paths all across this blessed land." Of such significance is Haridwar that it's earned the name among Indian Hindu's 'The Gateway to the Gods.'
Legend has it that the holy Ganga, which flows through this sacred city, has actually been sanctified by the trinity of Hindu mythology (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) and, in the days of the British Raj, the palace welcomed noble Viceroys and people of eminence – including, you guessed it, Mahatama Gandhi!
Located in the tranquil Himalayan foothills close to the mythological cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh, Ananda is the spiritual pathway to the ultimate, discovered through the union of body, mind and soul. As their website says, "It is not just a retreat that will leave you breathless with the enchantment of its surroundings, but it will assist in redefining your lifestyle."
Garhwal today remains a land of myth and legend, where every stone tells a story. The earliest historical references to the region are found in the Vedas, paeans to the purity of the Himalayas. Specific mention of the mountains also exist in the Mahabharata, dated around 1000 BC. This is when the protagonists of the epic, the Pandavas, are said to have ended their life on earth by ascending the slopes of the peak in western Garhwal called Swargarohini - literally, the "Ascent to Heaven."
So take all that great Indian history and a spa program grounded in Ayurveda, Yoga and Vedanta combined with contemporary international therapies and world class masters and Ananda is truly the ultimate exotic holistic escape.

Rooms from @ $300-$1300/night
Wellness Package Programs also available

www.anandaspa.com

Mexico: The Tides Zihuatanejo Yoga Retreat

We just like saying: 'Zihuatanejo,' don't you? Makes us feel authentic. So here's a little yoga gem we uncovered from the boys and girls at Kor Hotel Group. In October, The Tides Zihuatanejo hosts its first Yoga Retreat where guests can get their very own custom-created wellness weekend. Fostering spiritual re-awakening and social companionship, celebrity instructor Tom Morley (of Exercise TV) will lead inspired asanas and sun salutations in one of the Mexico’s most seductive resorts.

The first in a series of 5-Day Yoga Retreats at The Tides Zihuatanejo, takes place: October 3 – 7, 2008.

"Yoga brings people together and I'm thrilled to be a part of Kor's first yoga retreat at The Tides,” says Tom Morley, the highly-respected instructor whose sessions draw the likes of Reese Witherspoon and Helen Hunt. For over 10 years, Morley has redefined the traditional approach to yoga by adapting the practice to individual preferences, drawing from styles like vinyasa and yin, breathing, meditation, partner yoga and dance to bring a vibrant sense of joy, humor and ease to his sessions.

Hugging the white sands of Zihuatanejo Bay's Playa la Ropa, The Tides Zihuatanejo is filled with tropical gardens, waterfalls and an expansive beachfront, the perfect serene locale for deepening personal practice and self-searching. Two-story, terracotta-tiled casitas and thatched palapa cabanas merge with the gardens and waterfalls that enfold them. Pst... suites include their own outdoor infinity pools. Two gourmet dining venues and three bars make The Tides’ elegance complete. In addition to an immersion in yoga, you can also opt for culinary classes with Executive Chef Paco Isordia, sailing, surfing, Scuba diving, ATV tours, jungle canopy rides, or cultural tours.


The Tides’ Yoga Retreat includes:

Four nights of accommodations include:

Two beachside yoga classes, am/pm daily (Private sessions available upon request)
Healthy gourmet meal plan (yoga breakfast bar and group choice of lunch or dinner)
One daily 60-minute restorative massage of choice at The Tides Spa
Closing night “Sense of the Night: Yoga Meets Dance” beach celebration, with DJ-spins including trance/dance, live percussionists, food and libations
Transfers to and from Zihuatanejo airport
lululemon gift bag

Superior Room, The Tides Zihuatanejo

Rates range from:
Superior Room - $2,100 single occupancy/$3,100 - double occupancy

Beach Suite - $3,500 single occupancy/$4,4000- double occupancy.
Rates exclude tax and service; package subject to availability.

So go get your OM on.
And grab a margarita for me while you're at it.

Reservations:
(866) 905-9560
www.thetidesresorts.com

Paradise Valley, Arizona: Find Your Sanctuary

Mercury is in Jaunt Magazine's 8th House - which also means - time to look inward. Since looking inward can be a little tough when you're busy slaving away in the City of Angles, sometimes, we think the best way to look inward is to look upward into the heavens for a little celestial guidance.

That's where the desert retreat comes into play. Astronomical offerings seem to be the latest and greatest summer travel trend at properties located near starry skies and sweeping vistas. So, whether you're watching the sun rise from the tumbling red rocks of Camelback Mountain or gazing up at the stars during a crisp desert night, it's time for a little reflection.

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona recognized in 2006 as The Top Resort in the United States by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (and included on T + L's “T+ L 500” list), is inviting guests to celebrate extended summer hours... swanky Sonoran style.

Sanctuary’s Light & Harmony experience offers three distinct activities to experience the resort’s desert locale:

1. An invigorating “Camelback at Sunrise” guided morning hike up the northern slope of Camelback Mountain

2. An “Early to Rise” match of tennis on one of the resort’s five Deco-Turf championship courts

3. An evening of stargazing with a professional astronomer via Sanctuary’s high-powered telescope

You can pick and choose (and that's why we like it).

As the sun warms the day, you can cool off in Sanctuary’s infinity-edge pool (the largest of its kind in Arizona) or relax in the Sanctuary Spa with a Signature Summer spa treatment. Named 2008 “Most Excellent Spa Hotel” by Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence, the Sanctuary staff recommends indulging yourself in a Rosemary Citron Body Scrub, which combines a mineral-rich sea salt infused with rosemary, lemon and mint or an Aloe Skin Quencher Body Wrap, combining the soothing comfort of an aloe moisturizer with calming effects of lavender mist after a long hot day in the desert sun.

Sanctuary Infinity Pool, Night

And sunsets in Paradise Valley, well, they're paradise. And we should know, we lived there. Magentas, pinks, baby blues, purples, and plenty of orange. Ricky Lee spoke about them for a reason. Take in the Arizona desert views, contemplate existence, and then have a cocktail at Edge, Sanctuary’s new outdoor bar. The next step in the path to personal growth is always having an honest look within. We hear the Chamomile Breeze, a mixture of gin, honey, and lemon steeped with loose chamomile tea leaves, is a top-notch way to do it.

Finish it off with dinner at their restaurant, Elements, where Chef Beau Macmillan (whose Kobe beef beat out Iron Chef Bobby Flay on The Food Network), whips up seasonal delicacies like slow-roasted kurobuta pork with cilantro pesto, pickled melon & cashew salad, steamed little neck clams with green onion, dashi broth & crispy lob chong or grilled hawaiian opa with cumin, pine nut cous cous, jalapeno, mango and crab.

An evolved menu where desert, island, mediterranean, and asian cultures unite.

Take in the stars for dessert.











Sanctuary’s 'Light & Harmony' experience includes:

* Two (2) nights in a Mountain Vista Casita or Spa Casita
* Breakfast for two daily
* Choice of an activity, per couple/per stay:
* Guided hike on Camelback Mountain
* "Early to Rise" tennis instruction
* Sanctuary Stargazing by moonlight
* Choice of one Sanctuary Summer Signature Spa Treatments (60-minute)
* One dinner in Elements for two

The two-night Light & Harmony experience is through Sept. 12, 2008. $652 for single occupancy/ $1,093 for double.

A little about Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain: One of the country’s most lauded luxury resorts, Sanctuary is a striking boutique property, internationally acclaimed for contemporary design, inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and the native desert history. Condé Nast Traveler's “Gold List” and a “Reader’s Choice” winner since it's opening in 2002.

So it may not be budget, but it is beautiful.

www.SanctuaryAZ.com
1-800-245-2051

Stay tuned next week for the very first in a 3 part series on:
Where to go, What to do, and Where to Shop in Tokyo and Kyoto.

Siyanora, sweetcheeks.

A Carefree Spa Retreat: The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa, AZ

Feeling Carefree? It's in the stars. As we amp up for our next spa wellness retreat, we caught wind of an all new four-day/three-night 'Carefree Spa Getaway' package at The Boulders’ Golden Door Spa in Carefree, Arizona and knew we'd have to throw caution to that wind and give ourselves a little 'us' time. Enveloping guests in a holistic experience that claims to be 'nothing less than life changing,' the package includes astrology, hikes, rock climbing clinics, cooking classes, spa treatments AND meditation, all designed to tune the body, inspire the spirit, and open up that precious mind. Phew. We could use somma that. It also draws emphasis on the power of the universe -- something we're always down to delve into. Available only once a month, during, you guessed it... the Full Moon.
The 2008 dates are:

June 19-22
July 17-20
August 14-17
September 18-21

The Carefree Spa Getaway package includes:

• Daily morning group hike in the foothills of the Sonoran Desert
• Unlimited fitness classes and a Professional Fitness Assessment
• Three 50-minute spa services (choice of massage, wrap, facial, scrub
• Daily meals (breakfast, lunch, Golden Door Spa Tea and dinner)
• Daily lectures on nutrition, health, fitness, wellness and astrology
• Interactive Cooking Demonstration
• Group activities such as Labyrinth Walks, Yoga/Meditation in the Organic Garden, and Boulder Rock Climb
• Welcome gift and nightly turndown gifts that include a “Carefree Companion” with a personalized daily agenda, pedometer & walking program encouraging 10,000 steps a day, a fitness class schedule, and recommended reading guide.

Gastrological Dinners (a combination of gastronomy & astrology), are also planned during the Fall & Spring Equinox and Summer/Winter Solstice. An evening of celestial wonder in the resort’s Organic Garden, guests get to experience a gourmet dinner under the night sky with renowned astrologer, Tom McMullen, who explains the symbolic language of Astrology, the movement of the constellations, and how the planets influence our lives.

We love this exclusive desert hideaway and The Golden Door Spa at The Boulders for many reasons. The main one being that Arizona is a land filled with a spirited past. Not to mention the fact that the spa drew it's inspiration from the ancient Honjin inns of Japan where weary travelers sought sanctuary. Incorporating elements of feng shui and the Zen-like ambiance of the original Golden Door while staying true to the Native American influences of The Boulders, it has a labyrinth, a Tipi for guided meditation, an affirmation rock for individual guest reflection, fitness center, mind, body and movement studios, a café and sweeping views of the 12-million-year-old boulder piles, along with Black Mountain.

What else?
160 guest casitas, 55 one-three bedroom villas, 7 restaurants and a lounge, 2 championship Jay Morrish-designed golf courses, and 8 tennis courts (including three classic clay and five premier cushion courts).

Only 12 guests will be accepted each month.

So really, if you're not going to listen to us, listen to Uranus.
(Sorry, we couldn't resist)

Rates start at $1,399 per person or $1,199 double occupancy.

www.TheBoulders.com

Boot Camp Series: Bespoke Bali - A Yoga Retreat

COMO Shambhala Estate, Bali

It’s not that I don’t like working out and living a free-radical life, it’s just this... I don’t like thinking about all the effort it's going to take before I actually do.

That’s why I like yoga. I can take it at my own pace. There's no judgment, it’s not too loud, not too long, and not too stressful. More importantly, I don’t have to listen to bad techno or watch sweaty people pushing weights or huffing and puffing around me. A peaceful exotic setting doesn’t hurt either.

Welcome to Wellness.
Bali-style.

And practice yoga on the base of the River Ayung.

Do you (and everyone else who depends upon your wellness) a favor.
Check out COMO Shambhala Estate at Begawan Giri, Bali.

The Hotel’s flagship wellness resort recently launched five (yes, FIVE) new Wellness Programs.

We decided to focus on COMO Shambhala Estate because it was established as one of the world’s leading residential health retreats. Opened only two years ago, it's owned by the award-winning holistic health company, COMO Shambhala; providing the best possible environment to start a new lifestyle. When extreme luxury is married with an extremely beautiful natural setting, you really can't go wrong. The Estate's motto: 'to deliver a deeper experience than the typical fly-and-flop resort while fostering a more nurturing approach than the current spread of high-end destination spas.'

To give you an idea of their amenities: Private spa suites with attached therapy rooms, state-of-the-art health facilities, private butler service, organic food, private sun deck and fresh pools, indoor and 'jungle' gyms, a climbing wall (wuuhhu!!), a Pilates studio, an infinity-edged lap pool with views of the forest beyond and a Hydrotherapy Pool where chlorine-free water is funneled using bio-energy water treatment systems from the local spring, known as The Source.

We likey.
No, we loveyyyyyy.


As the story goes, The Estate’s location is predicated upon the existence of The Source, a natural spring on site that has long been revered by locals for its healing properties. Water from The Source fills Kedara (Sanskrit for ‘Water Garden’). Sounds almost surreal, doesn't it? Then you remember... this is Bali, not Baltimore. Anything is possible.

Engage with the local Balinese landscape during your pursuit of better health, artistry and culture abound. Mountain bike, climb, raft, do pilates, yoga, or a little outdoor circuit training, it will undoubtedly change your perspective on life for at least a week and the months following.

All packages include accommodation (prices based on double occupancy), meals (cuisine is organic and nutritionally rich), return airport transfers, The Estate’s daily schedule of activities, services of a Personal Assistant (!!), and the use of the steam, sauna and 25m lap pool.

Here are the Programs:

CLEANSING PROGRAM
This powerful, but safe program allows you to cleanse your body of toxins accumulated through bad diet and polluted environments. Angelenos and New Yorkers, take note.

GET FIT PROGRAM
Designed to get you back on track and back in shape, motivating you to enjoy a new sense of fitness and good health. The program includes a wellness consultation, fitness assessment, 60-minute massage, 60-minute personal training, and guided biking and trekking.

Costs from $2,103 per person for a 5-night program.

REJUVENATION PROGRAM
This program combines the beneficial effects of beauty and spa treatments with healthy eating and positive thinking.

STRESS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Designed for those who feel the need to make positive lifestyle changes to combat the pressures of the busy modern world.

AYURVEDIC PROGRAM
Ayurveda addresses the root cause by enhancing toxin catabolism and by balancing the five elements of body and mind to bring about wellness.

Here's a sample itinerary of the AYURVEDIC PROGRAM:

· Accommodation
· Breakfast, lunch and dinner (including standard beverages)
· Wellness consultation
· Ayurvedic treatments*
· 60-minute therapeutic Yoga
· Complimentary return airport transfers
· Participation in The Estate’s daily schedule of activities
· Complimentary use of the steam, sauna, and 25metre lap pool
· Services of a Personal Assistant

More specific inclusions depend on whether you choose a three, five or seven, night program. Rates vary anywhere from around $1,400 for three nights in a spectacular Garden Room to around $15,000 for an Estate Residence for a week. Programs are designed to deliver simple, well-priced combinations of meals, treatments, and activities.

What we like best?

You can follow workouts with a massage at the base of The Source.
You can chill out on this Garden Villa sundeck:


Norma Gray, Activities Manager, also serves as an instructor for private training during the Get Fit Program and she’ll check in with you to make sure you’re feeling perfectly relaxed and fit. She even emails guests on the program an exercise routine they can continue at home.

Too bad she can't email Bali.
Need we say more?

See you on the banks of the River Ayung.

www.comoshambhala.bz

Boot Camp Series: Amansala's Bikini Boot Camp

Amansala's Bikini Bootcamp: Tulum, Mexico

The second in Jaunt Magazine's 'so nice it's naughty' Boot Camp Series, this one is bound to give you the vacation you desperately need. Add a stunning setting, eco-chic digs, chemical-free fresh food, and a Bikini-tastic agenda that will get you in gear for that balanced body right in time for summer. The best part? It won't break the bank and you can do it alone, with friends, or a lover.

Imagine staying in Pablo Escobar’s old beachfront pad on the Mayan Riviera’s Caribbean with Melissa and Erica, two ex-New Yorkers with a flair for substance and style. Now, imagine an ocean brighter than Jude Law’s baby blues, a creative relaxing vibe, a bit of indulgence, and a naturally-fulfilling yoga bikini boot camp.

Did you imagine it?

Good.

As the site says, “Amansala was the name of Melissa’s small import company selling interesting items collected on her world travels. Taken from the two Sanskrit words ‘Peace’ and ‘Water.’ It was while Melissa toyed with the idea of starting a traveling spa, that she finally decided to create a fixed location in one of her favorite places in the world... Tulum, Mexico. After years of traveling throughout Southeast Asia and experiencing the best and the worst hotels, she wanted to create a place where people could come solo - or with their partners or friends - and have an adventure where they would meet other like-minded people, eat good healthy food, be on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and it would feel more like staying at a friends beach house than a hotel.”

I’m here to say this… my good friend at OK! Magazine swears by the place so... I’m next.

Erica, who had been working in Public Relations & Marketing in NYC, was ready for a change so when Melissa suggested she join her in her latest adventure, the two girls packed up and left the city behind. They set out for Mexico, and together, they created Amansala and Bikini Boot Camp on the beaches of Tulum, Mexico.


With beautiful white flowing fabrics, mosaics, eco-bohemian style and the comforts of staying at a plush friend’s pad in the Caribbean, Amansala is all about getting back-to-basics… in paradise.

2 hrs south of Cancun, Tulum is famous for the Mayan ruins and a relatively undiscovered paradise with pristine beaches and clear turquoise waters that will remind you to give thanks and BREATHE.

Says a recent visitor, “One of my greatest memories with Amansala was eating grilled shrimp and sipping fresh pineapple juice, barefoot on a sandy beach, surrounded by candles, a starlit sky and a small group of good company.”

Days start with a beach or jungle powerwalk followed by a combination of body sculpting, power ab sessions or pilates, and end with yoga and meditation. In between there are excursions to the nearby jungle for swimming and snorkeling in fresh water swimming holes (cenotes), visits to Mayan ruins, pampering with beach side massages, salsa lessons, Mayan Clay Treatments, plenty of agua di limon and sunshine.

Sample Itinerary
8:00-9:00 Silent Beach Walk

9:15-10:45 Exercise In Motion

10:45-11:30 Beach Body Sculpt

11:30-12:30 Free Time & Spa Services
 (yipppeee!)
12:30-1:30 Low fat, low calorie Lunch

2:00-5:00 Hike to the freshwater swimming holes (cenotes)

5:00-6:00 Gentle Yoga
 (Ommmmm....)
6:00-7:00 Meditation
7:30-8:30 Candlelight dinner

8:30-9:30 Salsa Lessons (Aye Dios Mio!)

The low fat diet consists of all local fresh food like just caught grilled fish, mangos, jicima salads and other yummy low cal selections that leave you satisfied, yet feeling lighter and cleaner.

The price for all of this back-to-basics Caribbean coast meets Mexican retreat fabulousness?
A reasonable 
$1675 plus tax and service for a grand total of $1954

($700 extra for a private room: with tax and service $818)

Price Includes:

Accommodations
All meals

2 massages

A Mayan clay treatment

All classes, activities, excursions

Designed to help people feel good about themselves and their bodies, this is the part we like best: “There is no pressure to participate in any of the activities and there is no competition. Guests are encouraged to set their intentions, become more aware of how they feel and pay attention.”

Ditto. And sign me up!

I detest pressure, but could totally use a Bikini Boot Camp escape... in paradise.
Couldn't you?

Running weekly starting NOW!

www.amansala.com

Boot Camp Series: SkyLab's Life Change Camp

Pismo Beach, California (c) Sheri Zimmerlin

Jaunt doesn't like to focus too much on the physical form (nor covet the well-toned or emaciated bodies of today’s hottest celebs), but we do think health and wellness go hand-in-hand with a sexy, well-maintained physique. We also think, what better way to achieve your bootilicious goals then with a breathtaking sea-side escape?

The first in a special Jaunt series, we'll highlight the best body and soul boot camps from around the world. Just three hours north of LA in Pismo Beach, California, today's sexiest trainer (and reality star) will snap your ass into shape and guide you into a new more fit - and fulfilled - phase of life.


Jackie Warner, star of Bravo’s Workout and owner of Sky Sport & Spa in Beverly Hills, has not only developed the best abs in LA, but she's also earned herself a solid reputation as an entrepreneur and fitness professional. Well-informed on issues of biological psychology, with a particular interest in the effects of nutrition and physical training on brain function, Ms. Warner holds certifications from the International Sports Science Association (ISSA) and the National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association (NESTA).

In conjunction with Decadent Health, LLC (www.decadenthealth.com), Sky Sport and The Dolphin Bay Resort, she's now offering a week long chance to finally get your ass in gear.

SKYLAB'S LIFE CHANGE CAMP
SkyLab's Life Change Camp just might be the life-changing experience you desperately needed. Forget applying to The Biggest Loser, during this all-inclusive intense retreat, you'll live, eat, and workout with Jackie Warner, celebrity trainer and star of the hit Bravo TV show. She’ll teach you, train you, tone you, inspire you, and give you the discipline and motivation to lose weight... for good. In addition to breaking your sugar addiction, you'll sweat and work like never before, all under the ever-present and constant watch of Jackie and her team of trainers.

WHEN
May 31-June 7, 2008
Late August 2008

WHERE
Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa

Perched atop dramatic bluffs on California’s Central Coast, the luxurious oceanfront accommodations overlook Shell Beach, one of California’s most beautiful vacation spots. Located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Dolphin Bay features 65 one and two-bedroom residences, as well as several large penthouse units, and is within minutes of historic landmarks, white-sand beaches, wine country, boutiques, and championship golf courses. With a variety of outdoor activities like bicycling, hiking, kayaking, surfing, and exploring the numerous tide pools, you'll never be at a loss for something physical to do. Plus, the weather is great year-round.

The property’s spa, La Bonne Vie, is another welcome retreat from the hectic and often crowded LA city spas. Signature treatments include the “Effect,” a cellulite reduction and body contouring treatment that utilizes Dermosonic® technology, a combination of ultrasound and noninvasive subdermal therapy to act on the circulatory causes that lie underneath the always-dreaded cellulite. The resort's Lido Restaurant serves up coastal wine country cuisine made with market-fresh produce, just-caught seafood, and locally raised meats and poultry under a specially commissioned grand chandelier fashioned out of my favorite... Italian Murano glass.

Pst... after you're done breaking a sweat, the nearby Edna Valley boasts a slew of excellent wineries.

GETTING THERE
Only 3 hrs from LA, it’s a simple drive up the coast. Four major airlines also fly into the San Luis Obispo airport – US Air, United, American, and Delta. In true celebrity style, a complimentary shuttle will whisk you from the airport to Dolphin Bay.

PRICE
Sorry, but rock hard abs and a solid life change sometimes come with a hefty price.

May 31-June 7, 2008 ($7,000/single and $6,000/double)
Late August 2008 ($8,000/single and $7,000/double)

Includes:
• Accommodations
• All meals and snacks
• Twice-a-day workouts with Jackie and staff
• Daily yoga
• 30-minute massage
• Group Therapy sessions
• Nutrition counseling
• Cookbook
• Yoga guide
• DVD of Jackie's workout
• SkyLab hat and bag
• One-of-a-kind Swag Bag filled with amazing product samples

Typical Day:

7:00 am to 9:00 am - A two-hour, butt-busting workout
9:15 am to 10:30 am – Shower and one of Jackie's personal energy shakes (ingredients delivered right to your room)
10:30 am to 11:45 am – Discussion of good nutrition and the chemistry of weight loss
11:45 am to 12:45 pm – Lunch
12:45 pm to 2:15 pm – Seminar on healthy eating and weight loss
2:30 pm to 4:30 pm – Another two-hour, butt-busting workout
4:30 pm to 5:15 pm – Yoga and stretching
5:15 pm to 7:00 pm – Free time
7:00 pm to 8:15 pm – Dinner
8:30 pm to 10:00 pm – Nightly counseling session to discuss the emotional roadblocks to losing weight and keeping it off.

Each group is limited to 50 people per session. All bookings are based on a first-come, first-serve basis.

To sign up:
www.jackiewarner.com or www.decadenthealth.com and fill out online registration form.
You can also call Kimberly Day of Decadent Health at 301-633-4010

For more on Dolphin Bay:
www.thedolphinbay.com

Peru: The Amazon & Ayahuasqueros, A Voyage to the Deep

Blue Morpho: Iquitos, Peru

Some people think that wearing skulls and leather, having tattoos, and drinking to excess makes them a 'Rockstar,' but you know where they're wrong? They wouldn't tell their boss they're taking a mental health vacation and heading to the Amazon with little more than a month's notice. That's where the legitimate rockstar differs from the conflict diamond wearing latte toting stand-ins. The legitimate Rockstar flies by the seat of his or her pants and worries about the boss after they worry about their mental health. That said, most of us aren't fearless (or stupid) enough to venture alone to the Amazon and stay with the local tribe. In this case, shamans, caimans, and the Jaguar people of the Peruvian Amazon.


(c) Piers Vitebsky

Alas! Jaunt uncovered two options that we think are strictly for the cutting-edge:

Option #1: For the Shaman Ready Rockstar
Option #2: For the Luxury Eco-Loving Rockstar

Option#1
I recently heard about ayahuasqueros and their icaros (sacred medicine songs). I thought to myself... I must have suddenly grown up because even I couldn't do that, but it tugged at me... this mild fascination with the art of ritual hallucination. In fact, it sounded so heady mind-fu@king exhilarating that I had to dive in and find out more for you.

Here's what I uncovered (after several misspelled versions of the magical plant entered into Google). If you feel like heading to the Amazonian jungle, staying in thatch and wood huts (don't worry... they're clean and moderately bug-free), get ready to drink a scared plant with similarly-minded Ayahuasca Adventurers and check out:

The jungle surrounding the Amazonian town of Iquitos, Peru.

Blue Morpho, based in Iquitos, specializes in, can you dig it... Shamanistic Workshops! Sitting on 180 acres of privately-owned primary forest, it's a perfect setting of serenity where you'll go back in time and attempt to heal your wounds, expel bad vibe, and greet your inner child. Keep in mind, you have to be that uniquely brave sort of person willing to rough it in the jungle and drink a hallucinogenic plant to find yourself. You'll vomit and gag... potentially lose your mind, but hey, that's life, isn't it? It's perfect for the lover of yoga, meditation, & tabs of LSD in the college years sort who's all grown up with at least a few hours of pent up issues in need of a good purge. The sacred plant spirit is supposed to remove the weight of your sadness and get rid of that heavy energy or hucha.


A group of Ayahuasca Adventurers.

They say the songs of the Ayahuasqueros spontaneously come forth. These men of the jungle singing only what the plant tells them to sing, calling the plant to purge you from your past in order to find you again. Is this real Amazonian healing magic or just your imagination running wild as you drink from a trippy shrub? Hmmm... it's certainly worth investigating. Just be cautious... and in a clear enough state of mind so you can handle whatever that glittery power plant sings to you.

Here's a sample program:

"9 Days Shamanic Workshop and Jungle Trip" begins on a Monday morning at 10:00 A.M where you'll depart Iquitos at 11:00 A.M. to begin an hour and a half trip to the Shamanic Center, go on a Medicinal plant walk and finish with an optional Camalonga Dream Journey. The Camalonga Dream Journey requires an evening fast where you drink Camalonga, a sacred teacher plant that guides through dream journeys.



www.bluemorphotours.com

For those wanting to stay in the Amazonian town of Iquitos, another helpful site highlights the medicinal markets, Belen Street Market, Jaguar people, Things to do, Restaurants, Hotels and how to navigate around as a gringo or gringa-rette. Apparently, hotels are negotiable and relatively pricey due to the isolated location. Iquitos can only be reached by plane. The secret is to ignore any attempt by the taxi driver to bring you to a hotel that he recommends.

www.iquitosnews.com

If, however, you don't want to find your content inner child or purge your demons, there's always a more luxe way to go.


Amazonian River Boat: International Expeditions

Option #2
An Amazonian river boat trek!! Yes, International Expeditions, the world leader in nature travel, just announced a $500 per person savings ($1,000 per couple) on its February 29, 2008 10-day Amazon Voyage. Guests on this departure will travel twice as deep into the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve with an extra night on the river, going deeper into the Amazon than any other outfitter.

The per person price for the February 29 departure is $2,698 for lower deck cabins and $2,798 for upper deck cabins, including the savings. Prices include all accommodations, most meals, local transportation, guides, and group transfers. Airfare is additional, but can be booked by International Expeditions.

FYI - Back in 1980, they supported conservation projects across the globe before the word “ecotourism” was even coined, bringing some of the first leisure travelers to the heart of Peru’s Upper Amazon. Today guests explore the Peruvian wilds in comfortable style aboard an intimate 28-person riverboat (talk about Agatha Christie fun and mayhem). It's specifically designed to sail the upper Amazon Basin, considered the most diverse ecosystem on Earth. You'll witness the awesome panorama of a rainforest filled with more than 100 kinds of birds, pink Amazon River dolphins, eight species of monkeys, sloths, giant otters, and nocturnal animals such as caimans and capybaras. Throughout the journey, highly trained guides lecture on the complex environment in constant need of preservation.

Man, I love wildlife (and highly trained Amazon river guides).

In addition to explorations on small excursion boats for access further into the heart of the vast wetlands, you have the opportunity to visit small villages and get a glimpse into real life along the river. In case you're not ready to purge your hucha with Shamans, of course. You can visit local schools, hand out donated supplies to children, and even assist with community projects.

What we like best?

International Expeditions is a pioneer of environmentally responsible travel, committed to preserving natural habitats and improving the welfare of the people and communities it visits.

www.IEtravel.com/amazon

So take your pick. Either way, I'll think you're Rockstar.