This year, for Girlawhirl and her Super Pals, a spa vacation is more of a fantastical ongoing conversation – often accompanied by at home masks, DIY pedicures and highlights – than a reality. But that doesn't stop them from talking about the idea of packing their bags and heading off for a week of pure indulgence. More often than not these discussions take place when one of the group is suffering through some sort of a crisis and an escape of any kind sounds like a welcome relief. And lately, the my-friend-went-here-and-loved-it anecdotes have ended with these three words: Escape to Shape…
Not a typical spa per se, Escape to Shape gathers up the best trainers, yoga instructors and chefs, and deposits them at different spots throughout the year, ready to add just the right amount of pampering to an all-out cultural experience. An A-list villa just outside of Taormina in Sicily and a historical mansion in Cartagena, Colombia are the next destinations for 2008. Previous locations have included Marrakesh, Morocco and Cape Town, South Africa…
On the upcoming trips every day is a combination of yoga, hiking, Pilates and interval training sessions or some other type of activity that's sure to sculpt the body and burn some calories. Fresh local foods are prepared healthfully and there are additional excursions – on the Sicily trip it's climbing Mt. Etna and an historical tour of Taormina, a picturesque village that along with great shopping, boasts a gorgeously preserved amphitheater that dates back to the ancient Greeks. In Cartagena guests will visit the tropical Rosario Islands and take a dip in volcanic mud baths. The mix of physical activity, cultural discovery and pampering along with the luxurious locations have Girlawhirl and her Super Pals figuring their finances to see if they can't just make it happen!
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For more information go to escapetoshape.com.
Editor's Note: the Sicily trip scheduled for Fall, 2008 is sold out.