Amansala is an "eco-chic" resort. You stay in huts right on the beach - the beaches are amazing and untouched - and there's mosquito netting around your bed.

There are no televisions, lights only after dark - that sort of thing. Yoga is a huge focus. I wanted to find a vacation spot that wasn't focussed on partying, and i needed a break from the craziness of my New York City life.

Dani Stahl

Meditative mornings begin with journal writing, followed by a three-mile beach walk. A healthy breakfast buffet of eggs, granola, yogurt and fresh fruit comes next.

Weight training, body sculpting and daily yoga classes, along with a special activity (a bike excursion or dance class), round out the day's activities. Two massages and a Mayan clay skin treatment are also included in the package. The treatment, which locals say helps to remove toxins from the body, is done on the beach and entails slathering your body with a mix of clay, honey and olive oil. After 15 minutes, you cleanse your body in the sea. If nothing else, it makes your skin feel softer.

The vibe at Amansala is definitely less of a military-style boot camp and more like a healthy, no-stress escape—the ideal spot for setting—and achieving—goals. "We're a destination where people can renew themselves and focus on getting fit, both spiritually and physically," says co-owner Erica Gragg, a former New Yorker who started the resort with friend Melissa Perlman. The program is limited to 25, so expect lots of bonding among the small cadre of women (and some men) who attend.

The all-inclusive package covers all meals and accommodations. You'll find delicious, low-fat, high-protein dishes that incorporate local fish, lots of steamed vegetables and fresh fruit—ideal fare for shedding excess pounds. The rooms are spartan-but-stylish cabanas. By the end of the day, you'll be so pooped out by the activities, and relaxed from the surroundings, that you'll plop right into your mosquito-net-canopied bed without a care—and, hopefully, without a few pounds—each night.

BIKINI BOOT CAMP - Those three words invoke images of a drill instructor barking orders at a group of women clad only in their two pieces to drop In the sand and shell out endless sit ups. Before sunrise. In the pouring rain.

But that image couldn't be further from the truth. Bikini Boot Camp is one of the many programs offered at Amansala (trans lation: "tranquil waters"). This solar-powered resort in Tulum. Mexico is all about massages. Mayan clay treatments, and yes. power exercise classes - but the kind that incorporate stretching, meditation, and yoga.

A typical day at Amansala offers enough structure to keep you busy, but not so much that you can't veg out with a book and enjoy the sand and surf. You can opt to attend every single class, or pick and choose as the mood strikes: power yoga if you're hard core, restorative if you're sore. Other activities include body sculpting, sea kayaking, bike rides, and tribal dancing. The food is chemical-free (think fresh catch of the day). Guests stay In huts that are built of native wood with stone floors and thatched palapa roofs; each has its own bathroom.

You're promised to leave feeling lighter and cleaner, both mentally and physically. The cost for Bikini Boot Camp is $1959 for six nights, including accommodations, classes, spa treatments, meals, and taxes.

Original: http://portovert.com/magazine/three/Bikini-Boot-Camp

The country's easternmost coast, an enviable stretch of powder punctuated by Mayan ruins and sheltering mangroves, is the anti-Cancun-for now.

The Riviera Maya lies on the far edge of Quintana Roo, a state whose physical distance from the country's center makes it a world of its own, and whose Mayan influence has little in common with the estilo tipico of colonial Mexico. There's plenty of recent international influence, too, since it was vacationing Europeans who helped build up Playa del Carmen-although Americans, both as entrepreneurs and visitors, are catching on.

The Mayan mainstay ruins, Tulum and Coba, get hot and crowded by midday, so visit them early. Less popular is Muyil, which was once an active trading post. Its Castillo temple rises above a parklike setting half an hour south of Tulum, on Highway 307. Walk past the main temple to the kiosk for Amigos de Sian Ka'an, a nonprofit organization that helps administer the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve; the $4 entry fee will gain you access to a trail through lush, Jurassic-looking jungle. Climb the wooden tower for a commanding view of the biosphere, or continue walking to a chain of lagoons, hire a guided boat, and watch the colors and vegetation change as you move toward the saltwater Caribbean.

Cenotes are sinkholes that form when a cave collapses. No two are alike (some are spectacular, others dinky), and you'll see countless signs for them. The Cenote Azul, right off Highway 307, south of Puerto Aventuras, is 600 feet across, and you can rent goggles and a breathing tube to explore. Aktun Chen Natural Park has informative tours...

IF YOU'RE LOOKING for vacation with a purpose, visit Amansala, the Mexican vacation destination for the health-conscious traveler. The brainchild of Melissa Perlman and Erica Gragg. Amansala offers guests luxury without guilt and a vacation with more on its agenda then just relaxation.

"The program is help people feel good about their bodies and have fun while getting into shape, both mentally and physically. We encourage out guests to be mindful of their actions and the food that they eat and to nurture their bodies, " explain cofounders Gragg. Their mission is to create a "tranquil place of rest" in a shabby-chic setting along the Mayan Riviera of Tulum, Mexico, Says Gragg, "Guest view their holiday not only as chance to relax and explore a new area but also as chance to reconnect with ant take care of themselves through exercise and healthy eating."

The trips offered by Amansala are centered on health as well as recreation and feature daily Ashtanga Yoga, beach massages, snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, and local excursions to Mayan ruins. One popular program, Bikini Boot Camp features various to get guests in shape - power walks in the sand, yoga, swimming , and beach obstacle courses. All the programs offer healthy, local cuisine and are guaranteed to kick-start an existing exercise routine or teach a healthier lifestyle.

Instead of trying to fit into that Dior bikini before you leave on vacation, pack it and book a fitness getaway where you lose weight while you're away.

The ultimate travel tune-up is Amansala's Bikini Boot Camp on Mexico's Mayan Riviera. Days begin with a 7:30 A.M. power beach walk, followed by yoga, swimming, massages, and hikes throgh Mayan ruins. Rustic cabanas are outfitted with unrustic Frette linens and L'Occitane candles. (Six-day stays, which include a two-day fruit-and-vegetable fast, $1975; four-day mini boot camps $1475; amansala.com)

SARAH BERNARD

Getting pamped along with your significant other can be twice as much fun.

Outdoorsy types who feel the need to get in touch with nature as well as with each other might want to book a long "couples" weekend on an Amansala retreat, which take place throughout the year. Held at a spa on Mexico's Yucatan coast, the weekend features days filled with snorkeling, sea kayaking, ashtanga yoga, meditation and beachside massages and, in the evening, fresh lobster dinners, after which each happy pair is lulled to sleep by the surf in one of the seaside cabanas.

JANE LARKWORTHY, PATRICIA REYNOSO and DAHLIA DEVKOTA

Today is Blog Action Day for the environment, so we thought it was time to let you in on a little secret: Not all our trips are about meeting hot guys and partying. Sometimes we like to spend time alone with our girls and do something nice for ourselves. It's even better if we can manage both while spending time at a beautiful, eco-friendly resort.

This past August, we were scheduled to go to Bikini Boot Camp at Amansala in Tulum, Mexico, a short cab ride south of Cancun. We were lured with promises of morning yoga on the beach, hikes and bike rides to the ruins, along with massages, yummy meals of fresh seafood, gauc and salsa and, rumor has it, the best margaritas in all of Mexico (we're not into complete self-deprivation). We were looking forward to staying in a beachfront cabana with a thatched roof with no air conditioning or TV. The payoff is pristine beaches and a vacation that leaves you feeling rested and a few pounds lighter.

Unfortunately, our trip was postponed due to Hurricane Dean, which only confirmed our belief that it's important to take care of the world we live in. Remember the three R's: reduce, reuse recycle!

Original: http://thejetsetgirls.blogspot.com/2007/10/green-get-aways.html

FROM DANCE CLASS TO DOWNWARD DOG, THIS MEXICAN BIKINI BOOT CAMP IS A CAREFREE WAY TO A HARD BODY

When I first found out about the Amamala Spa's Bikini Boot Camp, I was intrigued. The promise of a vacation getaway in gorgeous surroundings that would whip me into great bikini shape sounded like my kind of holiday! The camp promised workouts, healthy meals, relaxation, unique excursions and fun.

Located in Tulum, Mexico, the spa is an hour-plus ride from the Cancun airport. I take in the scenery as we drive on a quiet road along the coast until we come to Amansala. I am welcomed by a cluster of huts set on a beautiful, white sandy beach reaching out to the turquoise sea. "Amansala" is Sanskrit for "state of tranquility" and "water." I arrive in the evening so I call it an early night. I want to be ready for whatever the morning holds.

A staff member wanders through the property with bell in hand, ringing in the new day. It's 7:00 a.m. This is the time for journaling our morning pages and preparing to come out of our rooms for a group stretch. This is followed by a silent, hour-long beach walk. After the trek, we choose from a breakfast buffet of oat-meal, eggs, yogurt, mango, papaya and pineapple. The meal is followed by either a body sculpting, circuit training or yoga class. I had no idea that I could sweat so much doing downward dogs and sun salutations. And the circuit training exercise on the beach has us performing a series of drills that included running, lunges, squats and push-ups; all done at a quick pace that gets our hearts pumping. Each day is a full program of exercise, meditation and activities. You choose how much or little you want to do.

Dance classes keep our cardiovascular system on the go. I enjoy the belly dancing with its sensual attitude. I thought this activity was going to be a breeze, but little did I know how much of a workout it would be. Stepping through the basses with individual movements and a focus on abs, hips, arms and then putting it altogether involves some coordination.

A healthy diet is part of the lifestyle at Amansala. The menu is about quality fuel, not deprivation. Fresh meals are prepared with local produce. I am introduced to amaranth whole grain cereal and the "Mexican potato," jicama. High in vitamin C and low in calories, sodium and fat, jicama is usually eaten raw and served in veggie platters. Delicious drinks such as ginger lemonade, iced hibiscus and mint teas keep us thirsting for more. Launches and dinner are generous and delicious, consisting of grilled chicken or fresh grilled fish like mahi mahi and salads. Other local favorites are the spicy vegetable soup and the salsa Mexicana, which has us all saying, "Ole!"

The resort is isolated, but it is only a 30-minute bike ride to the historic Mayan ruins. On another day, there's a staff-led excursion to the local cenotes, natural fresh water pools filled with warm, crystal dear turquoise water. The caverns and caves make this a breathtaking sight. This is a great spot for exploring, swimming or snorkeling - a few of us are even brave enough to do some cliff jumping! We are having so much fun taking in the sights and the activities on our excursions that we are not even focused on "working out." The cycling, swimming and hiking all add to our intensive shape-up plan - toning our bodies and burning calories.

Downtime is planned into each day. I choose a massage, which is pure heaven. My sore muscles let me know that the beach walks and exercise classes have been very effective.

I love the fact that women can come here alone. They can have a great time while connecting with fabulous women from all over the world! While the Bikini Boot Camp program is open to both men and women, my group is all female. I have the pleasure of meeting women from New York, Atlanta, California, Australia and Switzerland. Whether it's women who need a break from their demanding careers or busy moms who are finally getting a well-deserved fun and fit vacation, it's all about everyone taking time to rejuvenate and recharge. I can see myself returning, next time to share the experience with my sister, my mom and my girlfriends.

REBECCA FOLLOWS

"For my 40th birthday, my husband gave me an absolutely perfect gift…a week with my two oldest friends at Amansala, which is also known as Bikini Boot Camp, in Tulum, Mexico. For me, there was not a more ideal place on the planet to celebrate my big 4-0! Amansala is described by the owners (two former New York City girls) as an “eco-chic resort.” If you are the type of person that requires “fancy” accommodations loaded with amenities, this is not your place. Or if you are looking to lose major weight, this is not your place. It’s more about getting in touch with yourself, relaxing and maybe returning home a few pounds lighter.

Bikini Boot camp is comprised of a small grouping of adorable thatched roof casitas, decorated with hot pink tie-dyed sheets, white mosquito nets around the beds and plenty of candles, as there is no electricity after 6 p.m. Leave the hair dryers and make-up at home and immerse yourself in classes such as yoga, belly dancing, African tribal drums and power walks on a pristine white sand beach. The food is incredibly healthy and delicious. The week comes to an end with the twelve guests covering their bodies in Mayan mud and then jumping into the ocean. It is such a rare place that can be truly simple, while maintaining the details a sophisticated traveler demands."

LIZA NUGENT, New York NY