The Bikini Bootcamp that Hollywood loves: Inside the idyllic Mexican retreat where Demi Moore goes to find inner peace.
When I arrived at eco-chic resort Amansala for Bikini Bootcamp, I was expecting just that – a week full of hard-core beach workouts to tone up my body for spring.
I was also escaping New York’s brutal winter and after a quick three-and-a-half hour flight from JFK to Cancun, bootcamp base is just a 90 minute drive to Mexico’s bohemian town of Tulum - a decidedly more exotic getaway than Miami for seasonally depressed New Yorkers.
What I wasn't expecting at Bikini Bootcamp was the spiritual journey that accompanied it and how the group of 18 women who had also traveled from America’s North East, Canada and London would be the ingredients to such a unique experience.
A Carefree Travel Guide to Tulum, Mexico.
When Melissa Perlman started Bikini Bootcamp—a weeklong, yoga-heavy fitness retreat—at the Amansala Eco Chic Resort & Spa in 2002, the hotel was barely more than a tropical, rough-hewn shack on the beach. Today it's still a tropical, rough-hewn shack on the beach—it just has a few more palapas (not to mention celebrity clients, such as Sienna Miller and Cindy Crawford). According to Perlman, the worst thing you can bring are preconceived notions.
ELLE's Definitive Guide To The World's Best Spas.
At Amansala, the water is Technicolor turquoise, the sand plush enough to sleep on, the air tinged with the scent of jungle flowers—and these are only a few of the reasons why this tranquil oasis is the ideal spot for a major mind-body reboot. Building on the success of the resort's Bikini Bootcamp fitness retreat (a fave of cool-girl celebs Sienna Miller and Drew Barrymore), the new six-day Destination Detox program includes a two-day raw-food cleanse with fruit-and-veggie-centric meals thereafter, daily yoga and meditation, a gamut of body-sculpting classes, nutritionist consultations, and decadent spa treatments.
Don't Miss: Perhaps the area's most awe-inspiring natural wonders are the cenotes—underwater caves where you can safely swim, featuring stalagmites and jarringly gorgeous schools of fish. From $200 per night
Summer weather means a mass exodus from the gym in favor of the beach, the trail, or the playing field—making it an opportune moment to break out of a tired exercise rut. Answering the call is an elevated breed of fitness retreat that takes vacationing as seriously as sweating. In destinations near and far, these getaways combine challenging classes (sometimes as many as four in a day) with scenic views, great food, and a team of trained experts in the service of pushing your workout to the next level.
YOGA Amansala; Beach N’ Bliss Yoga Retreat
THE DESTINATION: Tulum, Mexico, on the turquoise waters of the Riviera Maya
THE CHALLENGE: Two daily vinyasa flow yoga sessions are spaced out by hikes and outings to see the nearby Mayan ruins, along with quick cool down dips in the Caribbean Sea.
THE DURATION: Packages from four to seven days
THE PERKS: The resort is eco-chic, with airy beachfront cabins and spacious outdoor yoga areas that will keep you feeling comfortable, even in the mid-afternoon heat. Also on the menu: healthful meals, deep tissue massages, and Mayan clay treatments.
Beachside Bootcamp
The luxury eco-chic resort Amansala in Mexico’s Tulum is already renowned worldwide for its high end bikini bootcamp breaks. This January, its little sister hotel Amansala Chica opens its doors, just down the beach. With just 20 rooms, upscale finishes in natural driftwood and a real organic feel, it’s the new destination du jour for a healthy yet oh-so-chic break away. The five day Destination Detox cleansing Programme includes massages on the rooftop, a light Mexican-influenced menu, morning beach walks, raw food cooking classes and daily yoga.
Jet-Set Guide: How To Vacation Like the A-List in Tulum, Mexico
The beachfront town of Tulum, Mexico, on the southern edge of the Riviera Maya, has quickly become of one of the hottest destinations in Mexico. The New York Times last year referred to it as a "hotspot for fashion insiders." Here, what celebs to look out for, what to pack to get the Tulum look, and where to stay, eat, and party with the rest of the jet-set. Read more: http://stylecaster.com/jet-set-guide-how-to-vacation-like-the-alist-in-tulum-mexico/#ixzz56is5MRvZ
The Quiet End of the Runway
A name that comes up in modern Tulum mythology is Melissa Perlman. She came from Manhattan in 2002, fell in love with it and opened Amansala, a funky spa resort where she created bikini boot camp, an exercise program for body-conscious women.
Her savvy (she claims to have coined the term “eco-chic,” which is all over Tulum) led her to lease a property at the far end of the beach — the former home of the 1980s drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. In 2006, Ms. Perlman set up Casa Magna there, a kind of open-air sand castle hotel with good house music, dim lighting, a yogic mood and a laid-back staff more attuned with themselves than with the guests.
At $400 or more a night, the hotel was favored by media insiders with crunchy affectations, like Camilla Nickerson, a contributing editor at Vogue, and Michael Pitt of “Boardwalk Empire.” Ms. Perlman lost the property in a complicated governmental glitch, but not her entrepreneurial love for the area: she just opened a new boutique hotel called Amansala Chica.
Bikini Bootcamp Wins The Prize For Best name
Of all the health retreats launched in the past decade, Bikini Bootcamp wins the prize for best name. Founded in 2002 by New Yorker Melissa Perlman, it is based at the boho-boutique resort of Amansala in Tulum, Mexico, a dream location that has helped attract celebrities including Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista. The problem was that to get the ultimate beach body Europeans had to travel halfway across the world, hence the launch of a new camp at Atzaro in north-east Ibiza. “The hotel is far enough from the bustle of Ibiza Town, yet close enough for a day trip,” says Perlman. Describing the program as a “tune-up for the mind, body and spirit”, she says it has evolved to include fitness yoga, excursions and menus that encourage guests to eat properly while losing weight.
REPRINTED FROM CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER
Demi Moore Rocks Hot Bikini Body in Mexico, Hangs With Hunky Shirtless Man at Beach: Pictures
Wearing a super-skimpy Missoni bikini, the LOL actress was spotted emerging from the surf at the Amansala Eco-Chic Resort alongside a shirtless, hunky mystery man. During the solo vacation, Moore also indulged in massages, yoga classes, and other spa treatments.
Great Yoga Retreats
In water or on grass, at the seaside or in the country. For relaxing, keeping fit or even preparing for childbirth. Yoga. Whichever kind it may be, yoga continues to attract new fans.
Now a new book illustrating the countless different forms of yoga and the amazing places where you can practise it is in the bookshops. Great Yoga Retreats (Taschen, 320p, €29.99) is an illustrated guide edited by Angelika Taschenwhich takes you on a journey of discovery of the most evocative places and the right courses for getting to know about yoga, from resorts like the Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa in Koh Samui, Thailand, to the Amansala in Tulum, Mexico, to the Californian coastline of the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, to the farmhouses and convents of the Italian countryside.
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Even if you both love to strike a pose, you probably don't want to spend your entire honeymoon in contemplative silence. These yoga retreats are the perfect places for newlyweds who want to get zen and enjoy their new marriage status,
Amansala, Tulum, Mexico
Located just south of Cancun, on the Riviera Maya, Tulum is a surfer town that feels just right for couples looking for a yoga-focused vacation. The thatched room bungalows have beds topped with mosquito netting, and Mexican-made bedspreads, and the yoga classes take place on the beach and in beachfront cabanas. The food here is fresh and healthy, with grilled fish, fresh tropical fruit, and salads topped with pumpkin and chia seeds.
The Best Yoga Retreats in Paradise.
When deciding on a yoga retreat, there are a few things that are absolute musts. Skilled teachers? Yes. Inspiring views? Probably. Good weather? Definitely–especially if you’d like to practice outside. And, not to be overlooked, a comfortable and beautiful hotel and nourishing, delicious food are probably high on the list too. Ideally, would-be retreat-goers want nothing short of perfection, which is exactly where we come in. We’ve scanned the tropics looking for the most luxe retreats in the most idyllic locations. These are our 10 picks for yoga retreats in paradise.
Celebrities and yogis of all kids flock to Amansala, an eco resort on the Riviera Maya of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Even Mandy Ingber, who teaches celebrity clients like Jennifer Aniston, counts Amansala among one of her hallowed places to relax and regroup. Between vinyasa sequences, breathing and meditation workshops, indulgent spa treatments and simply lounging on the resort’s pristine beaches, yogis often take time off to explore the quaint town of Tulum and nearby Mayan ruins.
10 Best Yoga Retreats In The World
Mandy Ingber, yoga teacher to the stars (including Jennifer Aniston), loves heading to this "inspired location" in Mexico. Yogaworks offers weeklong retreats at Amansala (also known for its Bikini Bootcamp) a few times a year: You'll stay at the eco-chic resort, starting each morning with an invigorating Vinyasa session, and enjoying workshops and sequences focused on breathing, meditation and relaxation. And there's plenty of time to take in the gorgeous beaches and the nearby ancient Mayan ruins, or explore the hip town of Tulum.
A Perfect Getaway: Amansala Eco Chic Resort
In all my years of doing yoga, I can’t really believe that I’ve never done a retreat. Lately I have been craving a getaway that will not only fulfill my need for sunshine and warmth, but will nourish the mind, body, and soul as well. There are so many amazing yoga retreats available around the globe that it can be overwhelming to find just the right one for you. I have been l0oking around at various options and there’s one I keep coming back to: Destination Detox at Amansala Chica in Tulum, Mexico. This amazing retreat is a five-night program designed to rejuvenate and balance from the inside out. It includes daily yoga classes, morning walks on the beach, meals consisting of fresh fruits, vegetables, and simple clean foods, spa treatments, Mayan clay treatment, body sculpting classes, raw food cooking classes and excursions to local swimming holes and Mayan ruins. I can’t even imagine how amazing you must feel upon completing this retreat! I feel like doing something like this would not only be an amazing vacation but it would also be transformative in the way that you eat and take care of yourself.
Amansala’s Bikini Bootcamp: Get Lighter Physically And Mentally On The Mayan Riviera
I’m so zen and content upon my return from my stay at Amansala’s Bikini Bootcamp that I had to drink several cups of green juice (one of my learnings at Amansala) to completely depict this eco-fabulous retreat.
Amansala is located in Tulum, Mexico about 1 hour, 40 minutes south of the Cancun Airport. The Mayan Riveria is beautiful and the Tulum area is quiet, unblemished with beautiful fine white sand beaches and the clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean. There is a jungle on one side of Tulum's main street and one of the best beaches in the world on the other. It’s breathtakingly beautiful.
Amansala is all about getting back to basics, but with style and comfort and that is reflected from the moment you set foot on the property. With the beautiful fabrics blowing in the wind, to the one of a kind mosaic ceramics in the bathrooms, to the friendly staff... you know you have arrived to a unique piece of paradise. The American owner, Melissa Perlman, set out to create an atmosphere that would feel more like staying at a friends beach house than a hotel, and she has definitely succeeded.
Health Retreats: Tone Your Body
SNIPPETS FROM HARPER'S BAZAAR
Last year. I did my first boot camp: a bone~numbingly exhausting week of hardcore military-style exercise that, although it didn‘t quite change my life, did undoubtedly transform key elements of it. As someone whose natural habitat is the sofa. l discovered that getting fit is down to attitude rather than physical aptitude.
It also taught me that. when it comes to boot camps, once is probably enough. So why, 12 months later. am I waiting to be picked up at Ibiza Airport, perched on a suitcase chock-a-block with workout wear, trainers, and sweat-proof sun creams? I’m back for more, but this time its boot camp, but not as we’ve come to know it.
Long before others took a turn towards military-style training, there was the original gentler, more spiritual Bikini Boot Camp, a retreat at a retreat set up on a beach in Mexico by two stressed-out post-9/ll New Yorkers looking to create a holiday that sent you home calmer. firmer and fitter. Now launching in Ibiza. Bikini Boot Camp will still have you looking better on the beach, but via a less muscle-wrenching route – hence why I'm here.
SNIPPETS FROM HARPER'S BAZAAR
Top 8 Resorts in Tulum
This hideout is located in front of the Beach and is enveloped with greenery all around, making it a perfect eco-friendly hub for travellers. The property hosts a bikini boot camp every week and has multiple amenities such as fitness classes and highlight tours for guests. Also, you can spice up your trip a little bit by relishing delicious cocktails in the beach club next door.
Pinterest's 20 Most Pinned Places for Healthy Travel
Infuse your tropical vacation with a little history when you visit the Mayan ruins on the cliffs of Tulum (and the pristine beaches, of course). At the archaeological site of Coba, you can play Indiana Jones and climb up the steps of a 137-foot tall temple or walk down the sacbe, or white roads, that joined the ancient city's settlements. Refuel back at the Amansala Eco-Chic Resort and Retreat with fresh local fruits, like mango, papaya, and pineapple, then borrow a bike to ride on the flat white sand. Tulum also has one of the Best Fitness Retreats for Women Traveling Solo.
OUR TOP 10 YOGA RETREATS AROUND THE WORLD
If you’re looking for a tiny slice of paradise, then the Amansala retreat is it! This is the perfect setting for a yoga retreat, set on the beautiful beaches of Tulum, Mexico. Amansala offers up simple, but eco-chic accommodation. Within its village-like setting, there are spacious and stylish cabanas for you to stay in, and whether you stay on-site or get out and explore, you’re only a 20-minute bike ride from the town and not too far from Mexico’s famous cenotes, where a refreshing swim is a must.
A variety of yoga classes is on offer. For those who really want to drop some kilos, there’s also a boot camp option, serving up a more aerobic form of exercise. Oh, and this is a great retreat to come to alone or with a group of girlfriends! After enjoying yoga classes on the beachfront and taking part in bikini boot camp for a week, not only will you leave looking great, but you’ll be all set to go back to your everyday life feeling great, too.