Spa Vacations and Active Travel with Pilates, Yoga, Gyrotonic®
Health Habitravels enhances your luxury travel spa vacations with the addition of the mind-body practices of Pilates, Yoga, Gyrotonic®, Gyrokinesis® and Water Movement. Our active travel destinations are more than a health retreat spa vacation—think ecotourism with a luxury adventure twist!
Active Travel with Mind-Body-Spirit Connection:
Your body is your instrument. Keeping it tuned enables your life-force (chi) to flow freely, nourishing mind and spirit. Activities that promote the mind-body-spirit connection are what keep you strong and ever growing and evolving, regardless of your age. HHT’s daily mind-body sessions add immeasurably to your life long journey.
Pilates Retreats for Pilates Lovers!
Pilates is considered an intelligent exercise directly linking mind and body. Health Habitravels Pilates classes spark mind-body awareness and are a perfect balance of relaxation and vigor sure to revitalize you in stunning surroundings.
Mind-Body Practices of Pilates, Yoga and Gyrokinesis®
A Plus to Any Travel Experience
Yoga, the grandmother of mind-body-spirit disciplines, originated at least 5000 years ago in India, but there is archaeological evidence that it has been practiced for 10,000 years. In Sanskrit the word means union or yoke. The lotus flower traditionally symbolizes the floating, blooming serenity associated with yoga. It has become incredibly popular worldwide. In many countries it is considered the only exercise to do for life. Over the years numerous “styles” or “schools” of yoga have emerged Branches from the main Hatha Yoga tree, Ashtanga, Bikram, Iyengar and Power-Yoga they may contrast in emphasis, but all incorporate the yoga basics of balancing the chakras (the body’s 7 main energy centers), practicing asanas (postures), and pranayama (restorative breathing). Yoga practice often includes meditation, which involves deep breathing and sometimes chanting. Both open channels to inner calm and cultivate union of mind-body-spirit. Yoga leads to improved balance, concentration, flexibility, focus and overall harmony. The philosophical and spiritual aspects of yoga can become a way of life, but simply practicing “physical” yoga improves quality of life. Although Tannis is a student of yoga and is by no means a yoga master, she incorporates yoga basics into her teachings in a way that is accessible to yoga novices. (www.yogabasics.com, www.yogasite.com) 
Swan with Roller (Pilates)
Upward Facing Dog (Yoga – “Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana”) 
(view all yoga/pilates sequences)
Pilates™: Five years ago, if you mentioned this word to someone, for the most part you’d get a blank stare. Now an estimated five million people in the USA alone do Pilates™, a mind-body fitness system created 80 years ago by movement pioneer Joseph Pilates. Joe believed, “Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness. Our interpretation of physical fitness is the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with a sound mind fully capable of naturally, easily and satisfactorily performing our many and varied daily tasks with spontaneous zest and pleasure.” His method, Contrology, now synonymous with his name, incorporates movements from yoga, dance, gymnastics and martial arts. Pilates strengthens as it elongates muscles, and improves posture and balance. Based on his premise that “it is the mind that shapes the body” this “thinking mans” practice joins yoga as a perfect way to stay forever fit. Pilates™ may be done on special apparatus (the Reformer, Cadillac, Wundu-chair, Barrel) that Joe created from everyday furniture and then enhanced with progressive resistance, provided by springs and pulleys. It differs from other weight resistance training because with progressive resistance the spring resistance increases gradually mimicking natural movement. Your own body weight is the resistance. This non-impact, weight-bearing system is a safe and effective strengthen and rehab program. Pilates developed a “mat program” that provides the same benefits, and requires only a mat, making it ideal for travelers. Many Physicians recommend Pilates™ as injury, post-op, neuromuscular and autoimmune disorders treatment. Professional dancers adopted the method years ago, and athletes worldwide obtain strength and break records because they do Pilates™. Certified by internationally renowned BASIC, a 500 hour Pilates™ certification course, Tannis has a Pilates™ practice in Los Angeles, CA. (www.pilatesmethodalliance.org, www.oncenterconditioning.com)
The Mermaid (Pilates)
position one two three four five
(view all yoga/pilates sequences)
Gyrotonic™ and Gyrokinesis™ (GXS®) are the latest addition to exotic sounding, trendy mind-body fitness systems. Mention GXS® and, except for mind-body inner circle types, you get odd reactions. The brainchild of athlete, dancer and yogi Juliu Horvath, GXS® melds movements from dance, yoga, gymnastics, martial arts and aquatics. Like Pilates it is the darling of dancers and athletes; but works wonders for anyone seeking strength, flexibility and coordination. Gyrotonic™ is performed on apparatus Juliu invented, but Gyrokinesis®, aka “yoga for dancers” is equivalent to Pilates mat work and is executed on nothing more than a chair and mat, making it a grand travel companion. Tannis is currently working toward her GXS® certification, and intends to incorporate Gyrokinesis® into HHT programs in 2003. (www.gyrotonic.com)
Water-Moves: Yoga, Pilates™ and Gyrokinesis® mix well with water. Water has 12 times the resistance of air and heightens the strength-training elements of mind-body practices. It adds buoyancy, allowing injury free hops, skips and jumps. It enables stretches to full capacity. Tannis has taught water aerobics for years and makes anyone feel at home in the water. Some HHT journeys will include Water-moves sessions. (www.worldwideaquatics.com)
Active Travel Health Retreats for Women and Men!
Pilates, Yoga, Gyrotonic®, Gyrokinesis® and Water Movement are healthy activities for women and men of all ages Œ guaranteed to enhance luxury travel adventures. These mind-body-spirit activities help promote physical strength and enrich the overall travel adventure experience!
To review and participate in any of our upcoming travel, visit our Pilates Retreats | Spa Vacations | Ecotourism – Travel Destination Calendar Schedule page!
