Fun and Fitness in Miami Beach

I just got back from a wonderful vacation to Miami Beach. I wanted to celebrate all of my progress thus far as well as my birthday.  Admittedly I had plateaued in the weeks prior to my trip and the scale wasn't moving, but in hindsight I realize that I was less committed to my diet and less active than I had been in the past. This trip was the "reboot" I needed. I worked out everyday (sometimes several times a day) and I had fun. Most of all I took the time to rest, relax, and restore.

Canyon Ranch Resort in Miami Beach, FL

The beautiful Canyon Ranch Resort in Miami was the antidote to my stagnation. It's perched right on the beach and I couldn't have asked for better weather.  It was beautiful, balmy and slightly breezy. The ocean waves were so calming. There's nothing like luxuriating in a rooftop jacuzzi or pool overlooking the Atlantic, doing yoga by the ocean or dining alfresco to the sound of waves washing ashore.

Miami is the type of place that motivates you to be active. From the wonderful weather, to the art deco architecture to the sexy/stylish people,  the last thing you want to do is stay indoors and be a couch potato. When I got to the resort I hit the beach boardwalk right away, took a stroll, and basked in the sunshine along with an assortment of rollerbladers, joggers, dog walkers etc.

It wasn't long before I ventured into their state-of-the-art fitness center, 70,000 square foot sybaritic, luxury spa,  and sampled a number of their interesting and unique fitness classes of which they offer about 50 a day.  They also have a team of physicians, licensed dietitians, exercise physiologists, fitness trainers and stress management experts and therapists for those who want to take advantage.

Canyon Ranch Rock Climbing Wall

The resort has a 2-story indoor rock climbing wall. I did a straight climb to the top with instruction from one of the trainers there. It was my first time. I'm not going to lie. The higher I went, the tougher it got, but I mustered up all of my upper-body and mental strength and made it to the top. It's harder than it looks, primarily because you support your bodyweight with your hands and fingertips which you're not used to doing. Then of course, it takes upper body strength to pull yourself up to each subsequent level.

I took other neat classes like "Buff Ballet Booty" which is a ballet-inspired class for abs, buns and legs, "Kinesis", a challenging resistance-training workout using specially designed machines/weights, and "Stick Fusion", a high-energy, total body, martial arts workout combining western kick-boxing with the Filipino Kali (a foam padded stick that you punch and strike with).

One of my toughest classes was with this really awesome (and handsome) trainer named Young. It's called "Sports Conditioning."  Just think military bootcamp and you get the idea. Lots of running, power drills, hurdles,  plank work and pushups. Let's just say I've never perspired so much in my life and my heart rate was soaring.

I have to just say something about the food at Canyon Ranch. It is delicious and delectable and everything is healthy, organic and well-seasoned. They have 3 different dining options on the property and I was always so pleased with the food -- they have everything from fresh fish and grass-fed, hormone-free beef, to creme-brulee, organic coffee and watermelon-mint lemonade on the menu. They even have a yummy side dish called artichoke fries (which are really baked). Nothing is fried at this resort. They also offer liquor for those who want it. It's not a dry property like the Tucson resort. I chose not to drink. I enjoyed meeting various people in my fitness classes and over meals. Everyone has an interesting story to tell about their wellness journey and I love to listen and learn. It's not uncommon to see celebrities at Canyon Ranch as well. Actor Hank Azaria and his family were dining a few tables from me. Singers Pink and Diana Ross are regulars at the Canyon Ranch Tucson resort as well.

Hydrospa and Thermal Heated Loungers

There's  only one thing left to do after pumping iron and sweating all day and that is ....hit the SPA! I have dubbed myself the "Spa DIVA" because one of my favorite things to do is spa hop at various hotels and resorts. I have been just about everywhere from the bigger ones like Glen Ivy and Burke Williams to more boutique, specialty spas. After staying at 2 different Canyon Ranch properties, I must say they have one of the best spas I've ever been to in terms of treatment options and level of service.  Canyon Ranch Miami has what they call the "Aquavana" experience with everything from a wonderful Hydrospa Jacuzzi to a Finnish Sauna and even an Igloo (to cool down). I enjoyed the Herbal Laconium as well which is a warm, ceramic room with gentle humidity, infused with lavender aromatherapy. Mmmm...heaven.  The spa is immaculately maintained and has first class amenities. If you love spas as much as I do it should be near the top of your list to visit.


My treatments were quite satisfying. I had one called the "Dead Sea Treatment" where they exfoliated my entire body with mineral sea salts from the Dead Sea and then slathered me from head to toe in warm, black Dead Sea mud where I was wrapped and left to soak/float in a cocooning chamber of warm water. I drifted off to sleep like a baby when I was awakened to shower off and have warm lotion massaged into my body. Afterward I received a phenomenal deep tissue massage which was so soothing to my tender muscles. After that it was off to one of the thermal heated loungers for a long nap.

Although overall I prefer the Tucson resort, which is Canyon Ranch's flagship property, I must say the Miami property did not disappoint. I mean, really?!  How can you go wrong with a beautiful beach in your backyard?

Featured Fitness: Heartbeat House - (Latin Jam Class)

I was craving some high-intensity cardio with a soulful flavor. I had recently taken a great "World Beat" class at the Canyon Ranch resort and spa in Tucson, AZ and LOVED it!  The class combined African and Latin dance moves with LIVE percussionists. I can't even convey how much fun this class was. What made it great was the tribal dance moves to live drumming. The energy was amazing and I felt like I was having a spiritual rebirth.  I really wanted to  come back to L.A. and find a similar class.

A few friends had referred me previously to Heartbeat House (a small dance studio tucked away in Atwater Village, CA which is just a stone's throw from Los Angeles' Los Feliz 'hood.) They offer a range of interesting classes from: Zumba to African Dance to Bollywood.  It's a non-competitive environment with hella cool, down-to-earth staff and instructors, but the classes are still challenging which is a good thing!

Instructor Cherith

Last night I took the Latin Jam class taught by Toni and Cherith. These women epitomize the word "high energy!" They were very warm and welcoming but are beasts when it comes to fitness.  :) I got a very good calorie burn. My heart was pumping throughout the entire class and I worked up quite a sweat.  It was a nice plus when Cherith singled me out and gave me a high 5 in class for doing a great job.  I know when I take a class it's not just a workout for me. Sometimes I visualize myself performing for an audience and then I give it that much more energy -- I give it my all!.  Even though their class schedule says there is "live percussion" I was a little bit disappointed to discover that there was none, but the trainers made the class fun and included enough varied choreography to keep my interest level fairly high.

Instructor Toni 

They take you on a trip around the Latin diaspora combining everything from salsa to samba to soca moves set to rhythmic latin fusion music. The studio runs special promotions. For example, for your first week of classes you only pay $5 per class vs. the normal $15 per class rate.

I will definitely be going back to try some more of their classes. Their new Afro Fusion class (which combines Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian, Salsa and West African Dance ) looks really interesting!

There's definitely a fire and sizzle in their classes that I don't usually get at my local gym (LA Fitness). I guess that's why their flyers say "it's what you won't experience at the gym."