FitSugar

Fit Traveler: Fitness Cruise

FitSugar — Tue, 01 May 2007 15:45:00 -0700

Needing a getaway but don't want to do something that will be counter productive to your fitness efforts? How about a cruise? No, seriously...

What: Tom Holland's Fitness Cruise
Where: The ship, Carnival Valor, departs port in Miami, FL to the waters of the Grand Cayman, to the exotic ports of call of Roatan Island, Belize, Costa Maya and back to Miami.
When: March 2, 2008
Why: Tom Holland, a well known personal trainer who has worked at Reebok Sports Club, Equinox, Crunch, The New York Sports Clubs and the Cardio Fitness Center, has put together this fitness cruise. During the cruise, he has daily workout sessions planned that complement the ship's activities and ports of call. Along with your daily workout sessions, you'll have time to talk with Tom directly about your own fitness goals, concerns, etc.

For more information and to sign-up, visit QueenslandTours.com.

Retreat in Mexico: Pilates in Paradise

FitSugar — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 04:00:00 -0800

Looking for an alternative destination for spring break? After surviving winter wouldn't it be nice to take a little vacation - relax and eat well (and by well I mean healthy) and do some Pilates? Well, Ellie Herman Studios has just the retreat for you.

Seven days, taking 2 Pilates mat classes a day along with a guided beach walk could be just the thing to get you pumped and primed for upcoming spring and summer activities. The retreat is fine for both beginners and advanced students.

Pricing starts at $1300 for a shared double room at the Mar de Jade vacation/retreat center in Chacala, a stunning beach on Mexico's Pacific Coast, an hour and a half north of Puerto Vallarta.

The EHS staff is full of knowledgeable and energetic Pilates instructors. They will work you, but you will be in paradise, which should lessen the burn. Sounds wonderful to me since it combines two of my favorite things: Pilates and vacation.

Retreat dates: March 17 - 24th, contact EHS studios directly to reserve your spot.

Surf Safari for Women Only

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 10:45:00 -0800

Looking to get away from it all and learn how to hang ten at the same time? If you answered "surf camp" on the winter vacation poll, here are a couple of surf schools for you to check out.

My ideal would be going on a retreat with Surf Goddess to Bali for yoga, surf lessons, spa treatments, gourmet meals and a sightseeing tour. 8 days and 7 nights of this can be yours for $1795 (shared room rate) you just have to get yourself to Bali. The rate listed above is the winter, off season rate, which goes through April.

Much closer to home and easier on the wallet is the surf camp based in La Jolla, Surf Diva. Two hour classes start at 10am and run Monday through Friday for $379.50. The program sounds a little bare bones after the surf goddess retreat, but you should have no problem finding waves to learn the basics in La Jolla.

Boardfolio.com has a really complete listing of surf vacations if you are looking for a camp closer to your home.

Good luck catching the perfect wave.

Recession-Proof Your Workout: Do-It-Yourself Yoga Retreat

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:00:16 -0700

If you've always wanted to attend a seven-day yoga retreat, then you can imagine the benefits of immersing yourself in a new place, practicing yoga daily, and enjoying healthy meals loaded with fresh fruits and veggies. While these retreats are wonderfully relaxing, they often come with a hefty price tag, and in today's economy, it's not something many of us can even consider. You can, however, create your own do-it-yourself yoga retreat.

To learn how, read more.

Find a yoga studio near you that has daily classes and go to one class every day for a week. You'll reap the benefits of the daily yoga practice you'd get on a retreat, but it'll cost about $70 to $150. During that week, eat meals that are full of juicy fruits, tender veggies, and lean protein (or go meatless), and avoid sugar, processed foods, alcohol, and caffeine. Throw in relaxing hot baths, steaming cups of herbal tea, and a full-body massage. By the end of the week, you'll have spent about $300, and though you may not feel as revitalized as if you were doing sun salutations on the beach in Maui, you'll definitely feel like a new person.

Before the Big Day: Bridal Boot Camp

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:00:00 -0700

April means flowers and wedding showers, and for many newly engaged brides, it's time to start thinking about how to get in shape for the big day. Many women take a boot camp approach, using a focused fitness plan to stay on course. Thankfully, there are boot camps for every budget; here are three options to help you along.

Bridal retreats. Live in Fitness recently began offering a multiweek Bridal Retreat program, where women stay in a one-bedroom suite in Southern California and train from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. with breaks for healthy meals. Not surprisingly, it'll cost you around $8,000 for two weeks.
Online programs: From Cynthia Conde's Bridal Bootcamp, which helps you create customized fitness and eating plans, to simple, downloadable regimens like Shape's Total Body Wedding Workout, there are oodles of online resources designed just for brides.
Wedding DVDs: If you prefer to work it at home, pick out a bridal-specific video, such as The Wedding Workout from Women's Health or this Wedding Boot Camp DVD.

For more wedding tips, check out all of the Sugar Network’s wedding coverage here.

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YogAway: Yoga Retreat in Mexico

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 07:30:00 -0800

Looking to beat the winter blues by heading to a warm, balmy place? Looking to do some intensive yoga far away from your regular routine? Did you make a new year's resolution to: try new things, exercise, travel?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions you should check out Yoga Studio's YOGAWAY, far away yoga retreats in Haramara, Mexico.

Yoga Studio's website explains:

Revel in the twice-daily, joyous and celebratory asana practice with Haramara's rustic elegance and beauty as your backdrop. Days may be spent exploring the surrounding volcanic highlands, pristine untouched beaches or reserved for quiet time. All cabanas are set in the jungle and include spacious rooms with private bath, outdoor shower and breathtaking ocean and mountain vistas. Enjoy superb cuisine and fabulous company on this fun and deeply rejuvenating yoga adventure!

How amazing does that sound? Well you best act quickly if you are interested since the next retreat starts on January 13th and goes through the 20th. If you need a little more time to plan, there is another Haramara retreat happening April 21st through April 27th.

Bon Voyage and Namaste.

Fit Valentine's Day: Weekend Getaways

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:15:00 -0800

Instead of doing the same old Valentine's celebration, which for my husband and I, consists of stuffing ourselves with food and wine and eating our chocolate hearts and passing out on the couch, this year we're aiming for a healthier Valentine's Day celebration away from the kids. We don't have the cash or the time to get on a plane and fly somewhere exotic so we've opted to do a one night yoga retreat close by. There are plenty of hotels offering wellness retreats this season but check out my top fit picks this Valentine's Day.

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Weekend Well-Being: Take a Wellness Retreat

FitSugar — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 02:00:00 -0700

Summer is a great time to get away from your job and take a vacation. Sometimes it's hard to get away for a whole week, so why not take a long weekend to get away on your own? It'll be a time for renewed perspective, emotional wellness, physical health, and spiritual growth.

There are tons of wellness retreats going on at one of my favorite places, the Omega Institute in Rhineback, NY. You can sign up for a retreat and stay there on their beautiful campus complete with home-cooked organic meals. You'll come back from your workshop feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

July 6-8: Seane Corn: The Body & Beyond, $340
July 13-14: Couples Massage, $265 per person
July 20-22: Flying Trapeze, $475
July 27-29: The Dance of Tennis, $265
Aug 3-5: Yoga & the Gentle Art of Healing, $270
Aug 1-17: 7-Day Cleanse, $745

Want to see some others that take place at Kripalu, in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts? Then read more

July 1-6: Circusyoga for Adults, $190
July 6-8: Yoga and Kayaking, $240 (add $200 if you need to rent a kayak)
July 13-15: Introduction to Kripalu Yoga, $190
July 13-15: Introduction to Thai Yoga Massage, $210
July 15-20: Salsa and Yoga, $295
July 22-25: Yogilates Roll & Release, $280
Aug 12-17: Sacred Nourishment: The Art of Eating Mindfully, $350
Aug 17-19: Anusara Yoga Weekend, $225
Aug 17-19: Traditional Ashtanga Yoga, $225

Fit's Tips: If these are too far to travel, check out the retreat centers in your area. Sometimes you don't have to travel that far to "get away."

How Kristen Bell Stays Fit as a Fiddle

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:50:16 -0700

Kristen Bell is no stranger to the spotlight, with her villainous role on Heroes and also starring in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Now she's in another new flick, Couples Retreat, and with her busy career, Kristen has maintained her amazing figure.

In a recent interview with Women's Heath magazine, the blond actress shares how she tries to squeeze some kind of physical activity into her schedule every day, whether it's going for a walk, taking the stairs, or hiking with her pooches. Yoga is also part of her routine to help her stay aware of her body, and strength training helps her stay toned. I love that Kristen admits she'll lift weights for much longer with a trainer than she would by herself.

Does Kristen count calories? To find out read more.

You may be surprised to hear that Kristen does keep track. "I find it almost comforting to count calories, because it makes me conscious of what I'm eating." She is a conscientious eater too. Kristen decided to go vegetarian at age 11 for animal rights, but her mom made sure she was healthy about it. Bell explains, "I try to eat more fresh foods than processed ones, and the grainiest bread possible."

Another great tip? Kristen will exercise during lunchtime, and afterward, snack on her lunch the rest of the day. Instead of devouring it all at once, she'll enjoy a handful here, do a little work, then have another gigantic handful. She says, "It spaces the meal out to a place my body can handle." When it comes to preparing food, Kristen loves to cook. Perusing recipes online and trying them out is one thing she loves to do for others. Making food yourself is one sure way to know what you're putting in your body, so you can make sure it's healthy.

You Asked: Muscle Twitch in My Back?

FitSugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:00:01 -0700

Dear Fit,
I went to a four-day cleansing yoga intensive over the weekend. It was great. I felt so relaxed by the end of the retreat. Come Monday, though, back at my desk, a muscle in my back started twitching, just below my rib cage. I will admit it was a rough adjustment after four days on a yoga mat. The muscle kept twitching off and on all day; there was no pain but it was really annoying. What would cause this to happen? Did I stretch it too hard at my retreat?
- All Twitched Out

The yoga retreat sounds lovely, but I feel you on the back twitch. To see what I think, just read more.

Muscle twitches like yours are small muscle contractions in a specific area, or they can be an uncontrollable twitching of a group of muscles served by a single nerve fiber. There are a few factors that might have contributed to your back twitching: stress, caffeine, and diet. Twitches can be brought on by stress or anxiety; while this more commonly happens around the eye, it can happen to muscles in other areas too. Coming back to work can be stressful, especially after taking time off since work can pile up. If you have dealt with the shock of being desk-bound by drinking an extra cup of joe, the additional caffeine could lead to muscle twitches as well. A twitching muscle is also a symptom of a diet low in magnesium. If you were doing lots of athletic yoga in a hot environment, excessive sweating could lead to loss of magnesium. Consider adding chard and spinach to your diet, since both are high in the mineral. Or, try sipping a sports drink that contains magnesium. My favorite is Nuun - you drop a tablet into your water bottle.

Lastly, muscle twitching can occur post-workout, generally after strenuous weight training or cardio sessions. If you were doing rigorous yoga and lots of it, this might explain the twitch.