Showing posts with label wellbeing cruises. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wellbeing cruises. Show all posts

Friday, 1 February 2013

Yoga In The Med With Star Clippers

Tall ship sailing specialist Star Clippers is offering a springtime yoga and meditation-themed cruise on its flagship, the 227-passenger Royal Clipper, under the tuition of acclaimed expert Raphaella Rose.

Departing Lisbon on April 28, the seven-night voyage includes calls at Portimao, Tangier, Cartagena, Ibiza and Palma, ending in Barcelona. The yoga programme will include two daily sessions out on the ship’s sun-warmed teak decks under thousands of square feet of billowing sails – the ultimate relaxing environment for body and soul, enhanced by the fresh sea air and the spring sunshine.

Each class is open to all guests and suitable for all levels, with no prior experience required. All classes and lectures are optional and run alongside the ship’s regular activities. For guests who also want to follow a healthy or vegetarian diet during the sailing to complement their yoga practice, Star Clippers’ breakfast buffets feature an abundance of fresh, seasonal fruits, and guests can select from a variety of salads at lunchtime and vegetarian options at dinner.

Raphaella’s classes are suitable for all levels of experience. Her speciality is Ishta style yoga, a highly personalised form of yoga that embraces Hatha postures and Tantric and Ayurvedic philosophy. Tantra offers specific meditation techniques and tools to calm the mind, while Ayurveda with posture modification aims to rebalance the individual mentally and physically.

Australian-born but currently based in Barcelona, Raphaella has practiced yoga for 16 years and taught regular classes since 2005 in the USA, Britain and Spain, running regular retreats alongside her class schedule. Prices are from £1,590, cruise-only, including full board, all yoga classes and all port taxes.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's adventure-cruising specialists.

Sunday, 22 January 2012

Crystal Combine Fitness with World Exploration

Crystal Cruises is combining fitness with its regular world exploration on more than a dozen 2012 cruises, offering expanded Pilates and yoga programmes, including Pilates Reformer, starting this month. 

Dedicated instructors from high-profile institutions will teach complimentary classes on both Crystal Symphony and Serenity on nine sailings each throughout the year.  Serenity’s group Pilates programme utilises new Reformer equipment, while Symphony offers classic floor training utilising mats, exercise balls, rollers and other core-strengthening accessories.

Men and couples-only yoga instruction provides new approaches to the more traditional Yoga practices also offered. Travellers can attend several classes per day during their cruise or arrange private one-on-one sessions of either interest.

The 18 sailings with enhanced fitness instruction include: 

World Cruise/Australia, Asia, Trans-Pacific (winter/spring): Yoga and Pilates – 18th Jan, 7th and 26th Feb and 13th and 31st March.

Caribbean, Central and South America: Yoga – 6th and 20th Feb and 3rd March; Pilates – 27th Jan.

Panama Canal: Yoga – 21st April; Pilates – 31st Oct.

Trans-Atlantic: Pilates – 19th March, 8th May, 15th Sept and 9th Dec,

Trans-Pacific (autumn): Yoga – 25th Nov and 8th Dec .

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Sunday, 29 August 2010

A Spa Fit For A Queen

It's the perfect marriage of Spas and Cruising, and Cunard Line’s long-standing tradition of providing luxury experiences at sea will continue, it seems, with the forthcoming Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Spa.

This stunning 13,000sq ft spa space will feature an impressive art deco-style decor with two levels for the array of treatment rooms, fitness and pool facilities.

Like her sisters, Queen Elizabeth’s spa offers a comprehensive health and wellness programme with a spectacular Hydrotherapy Pool and Thermal Suite. Newly created is the Royal Bath House, the centrepiece for the ultimate spa experience. Inspired by relaxing treatments drawn from disciplines around the world, the Royal Spa will offer the most luxurious and exotic treatments available in any spa resort, including being the first spa at sea to provide Remède products and treatments.

The new Royal Bath House is a relaxing, covered space, a social relaxation area that includes both the Thermal Suite and Hydrotherapy pool, all adjacent to the main outdoor pool on Deck 9. Luxurious robes, slippers and other amenities will be provided. Day passes are available for those guests not booking a treatment.

Beyond the aquatics area of the spa, guests can enjoy treatments provided by one of Cunard’s many high-end partners. Queen Elizabeth will be the first spa at sea to offer Remède service, including Customised Facials and Massages, as well as Remède and Elemis spa products. Additionally, other new treatments and partners include:

Royal Spa Self-Scrub: Guests work with the spa’s mixologist to create a customised special blend of exfoliants that buff away dead skin and impurities.

Cellulite Reduction and Revitalizing Leg Therapy by Ionithermie: This detoxifying, firming and toning treatment helps to eliminate toxins. Alleviates water retention and also guarantees inches will be lost after just one treatment.

Peter Shanks, Cunard’s Managing Director and President, says: "As the world awaits Queen Elizabeth, our guests are eager to experience all the lavish amenities featured on board, including the rituals of luxury found in the Royal Spa. From couples’ treatment suites and new treatments to adventurous fitness classes and premium spa product partners, Cunard continues to offer the ultimate in rejuvenation at sea.”

The centre also includes a full-service hair and nail salon using award-winning products and providing the latest services, such as:

Phyto Hair Cocktails: Phyto is a blend of plants and herbs that helps repair the structure of the hair and nourish the scalp.

Award-winning St. Tropez Sunless Tanning for the face and body.
Brazilian Blowout: The Brazilian Blowout leaves hair smooth, healthy and frizz-free for up to 12 weeks without the use of damaging chemicals.

For health-focused guests, Queen Elizabeth’s Fitness Centre includes a fully appointed work-out facility and aerobics studio featuring signature fitness classes including:

Walkvest®: which helps use extra calories while wearing a weighted vest (two – 16 lbs.) while walking

Walking Poles: which turn walking into a total body workout, engaging every muscle with each stride. Classes show how the use of the poles can enhance ‘walking’ experiences to help improve stamina, posture and balance

Aqua Tone: This special class incorporates movements with various types of water equipment, such as dumbbells, floats, aqua gloves and fins. The water resistance helps build muscles without overexertion

To promote overall wellbeing, the spa also offers services using the ancient traditions of Chinese medicines and Ayurvedic techniques. A professionally trained acupuncturist, registered by the British Acupuncture Council, offers six different treatments to assist in alleviating stress, pain, or helping with weight loss.

Ayurveda (Sanskrit for the Science of Life) is an ancient Indian health care system and offers a wellness plan that includes the guests’ preferred type of exercise and dietary choices. A key part of health and wellness is education, and so seminars ranging from managing arthritis to metabolism enhancement will be offered throughout the voyage.

Sound good? I thought so, too. Now, where can I sign up for a treatment....?!

Oh, and don't forget to check out Alastair Greener's Cunard Blog for more info and insight into the Queen Elizabeth arrival.