I recently had the pleasure of being invited to the first ever Vikara Fitness and Yoga Retreat in Scottsdale, AZ! It was some of the best 3 days of my life, and certainly the healthiest. I’ve gotten so many questions about the event and what all it entailed, so I thought I would break it down for you!

2019 Vikara Fitness and Yoga Retreat

I received my itinerary a few days in advance and it listed all of the fitness & yoga class options for each day I would be there, and that there would be chef made meals provided at breakfast, lunch & dinner. A vacation where I get to workout multiple times throughout the day, and eat healthy, chef prepared meal 3 x’s a day=HELLO AM I DREAMING? I can’t think of anything more up my alley! Did I mention yet that it was hosted in the beautiful land of Scottsdale, AZ where it’s always warm and sunny? It couldn’t have come at a better time, since Missouri was getting one of its worst and longest winters EVER!!! To top it off, one of my best friends (who happens to be a certified Health Coach), and loves fitness and health as much as I do, got to come along with me to the event! If you’re interested in any coaching, check out her site here. She will get you onto the right track!!!

Hotel Adeline

Let me start with telling you that packing for a trip was never easier. When all you need to pack for a trip is workout gear, a swimsuit, and a yoga mat, you know its going to be great!!! I hopped on the plane to Phoenix where I couldn’t wait to step off into the warm/sunshine! I took a 15 minute Uber ride to Hotel Adeline, located in Old Town Scottsdale. VERY COOL! Immediately stepping out of the Uber, I noticed a modern, bohemian and fun vibe of the hotel. It was light, airy and very cool elements in the boutique-style hotel. When I first walked into the hotel, I immediately noticed the oh-so gorgeous white oak flooring throughout. The front desk was designed with gorgeous tiling, a 3D background with the saying “Home is where the heart is” on it. You couldn’t help but, well, feel at home! The lobby was spacious and had plenty of comfy seating with several live plants and the neatest modern fireplace with bohemian decor above it. You can find out all the details of their hotel and book a stay here!

In visiting my room, it was the cutest, modern designed and newly renovated(the entire hotel had been renovated), along with one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept in, at a hotel. I literally had to check the mattress and it was a Simmons Beautyrest(for those looking for a comfy mattress)! The room had a quaint bathroom with a beautifully tiled shower and glass front. All of the rooms facing the inside of the pool overlooked the pool and gorgeous palm trees. We also had a picture-worthy view of camelback mountain!

Menu Options

It was the coolest thing that Vikara Events had actually reserved the ENTIRE HOTEL specifically for the event! That just put a personal touch on the whole event! Each day we would get up, eat breakfast from the OH SO DELICIOUS buffet that they had, freshly squeezed juices, coffee or freshly infused water. Every meal was a special menu planned just for the event, which made us all feel so special! I have to mention that the staff from the hotel was incredibly “on it” and so sweet, always checking on us. Swipe left, below, to see a sample of the menus we had to choose from. Everything was so good, I have to say. After working out multiples times each day, my appetite was huge! Each meal was very health conscious, clean eating and nutrient dense foods. It really motivated me to stick to eating clean after I got home.

Class Schedules

Typically while we were having breakfast we would figure out which classes we wanted to take each day. In the front of the hotel, outside they had a H.I.I.T area set up in the parking lot for classes throughout the day. Covering a portion of the pool they had an actual stage set up over the water for all sorts of classes, ranging from Buti Yoga(which was new for me), Hip Hop Vinyasa, Core power, just to name a few). Think of Buti Yoga like; African dance meets yoga!!! They had spinning classes, Aerial yoga, Acrobatic yoga near the pool as well, and inside the main ballroom were more of your Aroma Flow, Restorative Yoga, Goddess Workshop and classes you could sit in on. Each night they would have a night-time yoga class to wind you down for the night. One of the classes I especially loved was the Ayurvedic medicine and holistic healing system. I found it so interesting!

They had top-notch trainers there that were so friendly and definitely motivational! The amazing sound system in each workout area, pretty much made everyone want to dance! The vibe was incredible and I have to say it is such an awesome feeling being around a bunch of HEALTHY people. Everyone was happy and the whole mood those few days was just electrifying! The hardest part of those 3 days was deciding how many and classes could we fit into each day!

It was just such a casual, relaxed setting. If you wanted to just hang out by the pool and relax, you could. It was a very relaxed environment, helping you feel free to decide for yourself what you wanted to do. They even had vendors set up poolside so you could shop. Also, we watched true yogis for a couple of hours, do out of this world poses that they made look easy. I would have just fallen in the pool and embarrassed myself! Each day there were cooking demonstrations and different speakers came in and speak about nutrition, mindful eating, etc.

Camelback Mountain

On my last morning there, we decided to take a 5 minute Uber ride to hike Camelback Mountain. This was so beautiful and a must do, if you are visiting Scottsdale. It certainly was not like any hiking trail Missouri has to offer! To see the view when you get up on top of the mountain was just beautiful. I can certainly see why people move there!!! An exhilarating, sunny hike is just what we needed before we flew back to snow on the ground. P.S. Bring your water bottle with you and possibly a backpack that includes a first aid kit(you never know if you’ll get scraped up, etc. because it’s pretty steep). To read more about the mountain, visit here.

If you’ve always wanted to go on a healthy/fitness vacation, my 2 words would be “DO IT“. It would be one of the best trips you’ll ever take. This would also be a great couples trip, to reconnect or celebrate a birthday/anniversary! There were couples, friends, siblings there, etc. It’s such a great way to learn some new styles of fitness, reset your fitness routine, get in tune with your mind/body, and most importantly—DESTRESS yourself.

The top 4 things I would bring to a Fitness & Yoga retreat are:

1)Yoga Mat- Here are some foldable options that go in your suitcase easily!

2)Water Bottle

3) Sunscreen & your swimsuit!

4) workout clothes

Easy enough, right?

Thanks for reading! If you have any questions on the event, please email me at heather@awellpacedlife.com. The next Vikara Fitness & Yoga retreat is being held in San Diego-August 22-25th. Visit here to sign up, you wont regret it!!!

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5 Exercises that Work your Entire Body

There are 5 exercises that will work your entire body, and I am showing them to you below. They are moves that have been around for a while, but you might not realize just how many muscles are involved with each exercise. A lot of times, people don’t consider the secondary muscles that are involved also, so the more muscles that are engaged, the fat your body will burn, and the better shape you’ll be in! So many people get caught up in the old “I want flat abs, or bigger biceps/back/legs etc. and fail to realize that you can’t spot reduce nor can you spot tone. You have to work your entire body, for the shape to begin to take effect. Some people prefer it to be training certain muscles on certain days, and people, like myself, will find it really effective to do circuit training and hiit workouts.

Circuit training is starting with an exercise (lets say deltoid) and once completing the deltoid reps, moving on to a lower body exercise, then going to a different exercise that will target the back or other body part. Basically doing a set of exercises that will target a full body circuit. When I say a set, I typically will do 10-12 reps of each exercise for 3 rounds(or sets). Circuit training works for me, because its faster moving and I’m not standing around during a rest period. I’m impatient by nature, so this works well for me! haha It keeps me moving and burning more calories (aka fat). Then, I will follow-up with metabolic (or fat burning) h.i.i.t work. Think going as fast and hard as you can for 30 seconds, then followed by 30 seconds of rest. H.I.I.T (High Intensity Training Intervals) is one of the BEST ways to scorch fat from your body! Doing cardio for days on end is out, and h.i.i.t training is in!!!