From an ant’s perspective, it was a tsunami — a frothy thundering wave, curling and crushing sea anemones in its path. As it approached me, I paddled furiously with my tiny T. rex arms feeling the wave rise beneath me. This was day one of surf camp at SwellWomen, a weeklong surf and yoga retreat along [...]
I was recently invited by the Australian Tourism Board to experience the best of Australia. One of my first stops was a visit to Gwingana Lifestyle Retreat – one of the best spas and wellness retreats in Australia – for a few days of relaxation and rejuvenation. As a new mom, I was desperate for some self [...]
The desire to stay young – be it through sulphuric bubble baths, broccoli juice elixirs or good ol’ fashion botox – has been a cultural obsession and egotistical hobby throughout history. In 1513, Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León set sail to find a mythical land said to have a fountain of youth. Flash forward [...]
In the early 1980s, Cindy Lauper sang the undeniable truth. “When the working day is done, oh girls, they wanna have fu-un. Oh girls, Just wanna have fun…” When planning a vacation with your favorite girlfriends, mothers and sisters, deciding on a destination that fits everyone’s interests can be a bit of a challenge. But [...]
Picture 6,000 people dancing like lunatics, high-fiving each other, shouting “YES!” and “I OWN YOU” at the top of their lungs. Add personal breakthroughs, hilarious storytelling, group massages, moaning, nose picking, a Jumbotron, coarse language, and a fire-walk across hot coals—there you have the Tony Robbins experience. It’s a unique blend of convention meets summer camp, [...]
3:45 am. I wake up to the loud banging of some wooden percussion instrument. I slip into my itchy grey training suit and make my way blindly up a set of stone steps. At the top, a monk is ceremoniously striking a brass drum, while a crowd of sleepy tourists silently file into [...]
Balanced atop a wobbly 11-foot board, knees bent, arms wielding a long angled paddle, I took a deep breath and braced myself for the boat wake that rip curled towards me. Not far from the kelp forests, rock cliffs and sandy white shorelines of Newport Beach California, there I was, a student at Stand-Up Paddle [...]
The 5th century philosopher St. Augustine once said, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” For those looking to read all the “chapters” this world has to offer, consider booking a holiday with an inspirational element. There are plenty of places to inspire, from the tops of Machu Picchu, to the rose-red rock of Petra’s canyon-like Siq, from gorilla trekking in the Ugandan mountainside, to living with holy men in the divinely-inspired churches of Northern Ethiopia.
In case you haven’t heard… the 21st Winter Olympics have come to Vancouver; curling, bobsledding and luging their way into our hearts, from Feb 12-28. While the sports junkies are glued to the TV, rooting for the world’s best athletes, why not convince the girls who aren’t obsessed with Quatchi the sasquatch mascot to indulge in a little Vancouver inspired getaway? For a quality time with your best girl friends, sisters and moms, visit Vancouver, a 2010 hot spot destination, for a good ol’ fashioned girl retreat.
The best part about starting a new year is the chance to wipe the slate clean and achieve a fitter, slimmer, richer, smarter you. If fitness, natural beauty and all-round relaxation are on your resolution “to-do list” for 2010, consider a trip to Canadian Rockies’ snow-capped mountains. While they boast some of the world’s best skiing and wildlife viewing, this region is also home to an unusual tourist activity called heli-yoga, a practice that combines the meditative properties of yoga with a traditional helicopter sightseeing tour.
