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

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

Riviera Maya: Mandarin Oriental's Wellness Yoga Retreat

Face it. You need a quick escape. Recharge that battered spirit. Elevate that funky mood. Take the OM out of ominous. We can feel it. We're there too. These days, everywhere we turn and everything we see is doom and gloom. Aside from trekking in the Andes and eating hot noodles in Saigon (which takes a bit more than four days), the Yoga Wellness Retreat at the Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya is a surefire way to relax and feel good about spending your hard-earned cash. When you give to your spirit, the Universe gives back. Did we mention that the honorable Rishi Bharadwaj of India is teaching? Well, he is... and he's 15 years of yogic magic.
Alas...

Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya presents its 2009 Wellness Yoga Retreat, a four-day holistic program featuring guided meditations, yoga classes, yogic diet and nutrition sessions from:

March 26 to 29
May 28 to 31
June 25 to 28

A relaxing weekend break at an award-winning spa and resort located on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula? Si senorita. Eso es la vida perfecta.
Leading the Yoga Retreat is Yoga Instructor Rishi Bharadwaj, a native of India who comes from a family of yoga experts. Rishi will guide guests to determine the best possible programs to continue on their path towards health and wellness. The retreat begins on Thursday evening with a welcome group dinner and opportunity to meet with Rishi and fellow guests. Throughout the weekend, guests will experience Asana and Pranayama yoga sessions, diet and nutrition classes, quiet time for meditations, group discussions and bask in the luxurious accommodation at Mexico’s most sophisticated resort.



A naturalist’s paradise, Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya is nestled in mangrove reserves and tranquil lagoons highlighted by a spectacular cenote, a deep, freshwater reservoir sacred to the ancient Mayan.





The resort is only 10 minutes north of the always happening Playa del Carmen with dining, entertainment, and boutiques, just a 30-minute drive from Cancun International Airport.

The “Wellness Yoga Retreat” includes:

· Three-night stay at the luxurious Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya
· Yogic breakfast daily and one group dinner
· Choice of one spa treatment
· Morning and evening yoga sessions
· Daily meditations
· Diet and nutrition classes
· Participation in daily fitness activities
· Complimentary use of Heat and Water Therapies
· Round-trip airport transfers

Now how's that for OM-nificent?

Rates from $2465 (single occupancy) and $3340 (double occupancy)

www.mandarinoriental.com

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: The Holistic Yoga Wellness Retreat

This just in from The Marquis Los Cabos, one of our favorite Cabo properties, located right off 'The Corridor' on the southernmost tip of the Baja península where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific. To celebrate it's ability to soothe you, they're now offering the first of its transformational travel events. The Guru Getaway Series with renowned mind/body wellness instructor Kent Burden will take place from May 17-21, 2009. The 230 + room resort, just minutes from the Old World village of San Jose del Cabo and the town of Cabo San Lucas, has one of the best spas and fitness centers in the area (a 15,000 square foot retreat to be precise).
In addition, their exclusive gourmet restaurant, Canto del Mar, has one of the only Michelin-pedigreed chefs in Cabo. Our EIC stayed here about two years ago and was blown away by the fresh bread and fruit basket delivered each morning, the fantastic dinner service, and the excellent views. Since its 2003 opening, Marquis Los Cabos has earned the travel industry's most coveted awards including "World's Best" (Travel + Leisure); "Gold List Award" (Conde Nast Traveler); and the Five Star Diamond Award for its Canto del Mar restaurant. Marquis Los Cabos is also a member of the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World and the only member of Leading Spas of the World in Los Cabos.
The Holistic Wellness Getaway incorporates yoga, Qi Gong and Pilates instruction; a visit to an organic farm with cooking lesson; an art walk and progressive dinner in San Jose del Cabo; a waterfall hike and tai chi instruction; Real Food, Aztec Calendar and Modern Day Hunter/Gatherer lectures, and a horseback meditation ride into three days of mind/body activities that promise to encourage "personal growth" and "self-actualization." Who couldn't use some of that in these trying times?

With more than 25 years of fitness experience, Kent Burden has worked one-on-one with Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy winners and NFL and NBA champions alike. His mind/body program created at California's Ojai Valley Inn & Spa was voted by Spa Finder Magazine's Reader's Choice Awards as one of North America's top mind/body fitness programs. A certified personal trainer, Pilates instructor, Yoga instructor, Spinning instructor, water fitness instructor, Systematic Touch Trainer and Massage Therapist, you're, you guessed it... in really good hands. For more information on Kent, check out his website:

www.mylifefitness.com

The 5 day/4 night Holistic Wellness Getaway is $2,550 per person, based on single occupancy, and includes all lectures and mind/body activities, suite accommodations, a signature welcome drink made of natural local fruits, breakfast daily, gifts upon arrival and departure, box lunches for all activities, VIP roundtrip airport/hotel transportation, and all service charges and taxes.

www.marquisloscabos.com

Adventures in Bhutan: COMO's Uma Paro

Welcome back, kiddies! It's been a long holiday, but we're back from all the eggnog, champagne, latkes, holiday hams, and cakes to give you news on the one of the hottest locations for yogi starlets and young lovers… the always beautiful Bhutan.
The Terrace at COMO's Uma Paro

So, as sugar levels start to stabilize, the new year leaves us hungry for something invigorating, authentic, and meaningful. That leaves us with Uma Paro’s eleven Adventure Retreats that are sure to shake off the post-holiday blues. Expanding from the nine programs in its inaugural season last year, the series includes two new itineraries – A Multi-Activity Adventure (August 1-8) and Bhutan Through a Lens (November 21-28). In the former, thrill-seekers may choose from any or all of the following: whitewater rafting, fly fishing, a round of golf in the grounds of Trashi Choe fortress, an overnight camping trek, mountain biking, and a Bhutanese archery tournament while the latter has guests traversing the beautiful kingdom with camera in tow. Aspiring photographers could not ask for better subjects than the landscapes, prayer flags, monasteries, and villagers of the region; however, guests will want to save a few frames for the Uma Punakha lodge. This retreat will be the first to utilize COMO’s new 11-room lodge that’s complete with a restaurant and COMO Shambhala spa and is a five-hour’s drive from Uma Paro.
Bukhari Restaurant at COMO Uma Paro

Rates range from $3,280 - $6,112 for single occupancy to $5,292 to $10,054 for double, depending on the package selected. All rates include 7,10, or 12 nights accommodation at a combination of Uma Paro and other tourist standard hotels or camps previously set up for trekking adventures. Meals, excluding beverages, are included as well as picnics and mineral water on days out. Government taxes, royalties, visas, and entry permits are all arranged by Uma Paro in advance; these costs are factored into the published rates along with all transport within Bhutan.

Sign up now while there’s still space!

www.uma.como.bz/paro/default.asp?section=545

Loreto Bay, Mexico - Spa and Yoga Retreat

Step out from the protective shade of a thickly thatched palapa, greet the day with a sun salutation, and feel the warm rays carry over majestic mountains as they dance upon the glistening waves.

Say Namaste to Loreto Bay in Baja Sur, Mexico, the UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the western shore of the Sea of Cortez and home to The Mission of Our Lady of Loreto, the first of the California missions and the 300-year-old jewel of Loreto.

Imagine if Cabo was still the blush on the peach. This is Loreto Bay. No group of fanny-pack wearing tourists slamming shots, no waiting an hour in line for Customs. Here, you can do yoga, take in serenity, do a little whale watching, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, and even explore some local cave paintings.

Accommodations are available in a variety of full-service hotels, charming inns, and privately-owned one- and two-bedroom condominium residences.

Conveniently positioned between the Sierra de la Giganta mountains, The Loreto Bay Resort, a 8,000-acre community, neighbors the quiet fishing town of Loreto and offers its newest escape: a three-night spa and yoga package introducing guests to the quieter side of Baja.
So check out three nights of luxurious guest room accommodations at the Inn at Loreto Bay; a full meal of healthy offerings, multiple yoga sessions with a certified instructor; one facial and reflexology treatment; a full one-hour massage; a choice of one manicure or pedicure with foot or hand therapy; one back and neck massage; and other relaxation services. And did we also mention... the resort is eco-friendly?
Alaska Airlines also announced an increase in scheduled service from Los Angeles to Loreto. The new scheduled service will double the number of seats flown into the destination on a weekly basis beginning November 9, 2008 via two flights (Sundays and Thursdays) with 144-passenger, 737-400 equipment, and two additional 70-passenger flights on Tuesdays and Fridays operated by Horizon Air.

$880/per person
Based on double occupancy and valid for travel now through December 20, 2008

Vaya con Gurus.

www.discoverloretobay.com
www.gotoloreto.com
Tel: 1-877-522-9466

Napa Valley, CA: The Yoga Boot Camp Retreat

Yoga. There's simply nothing like stretching, breathing, meditating, and focusing on your inner-core. Forgetting to remember. Aligning oneself with peace. And, since most members of our trusty staff at Jaunt love their yoga (and their wine), we recently thought, 'Hey, wouldn't it be great to do a yoga retreat in Napa?'


After careful consideration, this Napa Valley Yoga Boot Camp caught our eye.















It's a 4 day - 4 night upscale "Napa Style" Boot Camp Training Program at a Private Vineyard Residence Estate in the beautiful Wine Country of Northern California. Consistently rated as one of the "Top Ten Travel Destinations" in the world, the vineyard country climate and relaxing atmosphere is the perfect place to shape up your Body and have fun doing it Napa-style.

Morning hikes through the vineyards, aerobics, yoga, hatha, power, pilates, swimming, and yes, massage, The Napa Yoga Boot Camp is an all Inclusive package, offering only the freshest, healthiest foods. Meals are personally prepared by an in-house Gourmet Chef where you'll learn the hottest tips of diet, supplementation, and fitness. 'Experience a spiritual journey you'll never forget!' they say.

We believe 'em.

Camp is limited to 10 women per session so, as they say, get with "The Program" and book your training dates early in advance.

www.NapaValleyYogaRetreats.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

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