Bikini Boot Camp

Those three words invoke images of a drill instructor barking orders at a group of women clad only in their two piece 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 (translation: "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.

This article first appeared in Portovert's May 2007 Issue.