Fitness Travel Dominican Republic

Experiences describing what it’s like to teach fitness @ resorts by traveling there as a guest instructor. My boyfriend comes along and we both stay in exchange for the classes I teach.

First day teaching at Secrets Sanctuary

by Lisa Marie Snowden.

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Punta Cana’s airport is cool and welcoming. The airport roof is grass and they have super big ceiling fans to keep the indoor spaces breezy. We were greeted with smiles everywhere and lots of positive energy. It was easy to move through customs, collect luggage and move on to a taxi service outside. Per person, there is a US $10 entry-tax when you arrive. The gentlemen running the taxi services are friendly and we found the $30 taxi rate to the hotel very acceptable. After the 15-minute drive, our driver made sure we made it to check-in without confusion. BTW “Sanctuary” is not a Spanish word and the taxi drivers did not understand us at first. Secrets “Sanctuario” is better understood.

We waited only 10 minutes for our room, which was impressive since we arrived prior to check-in time. Our room is beautiful and I like the location, as I have realized we are in close proximity to all the resort activities. Words really cannot describe the style and beauty of this resort. I want to call it beach contemporary, but really it is so much more elegant and majestic. As for how the resort is ran, so far the word constantly coming to mind is “immaculate.”

Secrets Sanctuary is the most elegant, relaxing resort I have ever visited. Everything is immaculate from check-in, to the service all the way to the pristine gardens surrounding this huge property. The resort only has 175 rooms but based on the property grounds you would think they could host an army. There is space to go anywhere and call it your own. There are two beaches here. The beach pictured from our balcony is relatively small but spacious with beach chairs everywhere. No pressure to be out early for the sake of claiming beach or pool chairs. They are plentiful. But on the other side of the resort is a huge, expansive and smooth beach where in the nighttime distance you can see the airport runway lights. We had a lovely dinner at “Wok” the Asian restaurant. I love sushi and can tell you this sushi is very good. Very fresh and the service was excellent. Walking around the resort at night is an activity in itself and I could spend every night here doing this exact same thing.

Carlos called me to introduce himself as the assistant activities director and I met him during our poolside lunch yesterday. He is very nice and was very gracious and receptive to my presence. I forgot to ask him where the yoga mats are, so I will track them down today for the remaining classes this week.
I taught a private yoga session today but expect more students as the week progresses. During breakfast I introduced myself to some guests and told them about the yoga classes being taught this week. Through the week I will continue the shameless self-promotion of the wellness programming at Secrets Sanctuary.

Learn more about Fit Bodies Inc. and travel to an all-inclusive resort to teach your fitness specialty.

Dominican Republic, here we come!

Apr 23rd, 2010

by Lisa Marie Snowden.

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First stop, Dominican Republic!! Woo hoo!
Chad and I leave Saturday for my teaching vacation in Punta Cana. Oh my, Saturday is tomorrow~! I found us a direct flight from Cincinnati at a very reasonable price. We come home on a direct flight the following Saturday. I’m noting the “direct flight” part as since it should truly cut down the length of a typical Caribbean travel day and this makes me smile.
I am preparing my yoga classes, mostly through experience and practicing rather than flash cards with Sanskrit names. Some of them I know from experience but I am finding it is much better for me to spend time explaining what the body and breath are doing during the asanas then to know their names. So far I know the resort is gorgeous, the yoga room is out on the water and looks super cool, and I will be teaching two classes everyday, at 9:30am and 5pm. In Newport, I teach to friends and acquaintances for free in my home. At the resort, I will be teaching to people who speak other languages and will probably be older than my friends at home. My peers are lucky to find yoga because they have so much time to incorporate yoga into their lives. But I really enjoy teaching people who have given their bodies hell for years and years because they feel it more easily, so to speak. They have lived long enough in their bodies without yoga, that the practice’s affects are obvious to them. It’s gratifying teaching others to breathe more deeply and to know what it feels like to stretch and breath into a straight spine. Maybe what I’m really saying is I enjoy teaching beginner’s yoga?
I know regardless of how nervous I am, once I arrive at the resort my anxiety will be relieved with the cool cloth handed to me upon check-in. Already I imagine introducing myself to these new students of mine, and I smile just thinking about it. While at the resort, my classes will be dedicated to their satisfaction, regardless of their previous yoga experience. I look forward to providing them with the yoga experience they deserve to have while vacationing.
We still have much to do before departing Cincinnati tomorrow morning. Oh, and I need to brush up on my Español.
Hasta la próxima!

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Traveling to teach for Fit Bodies, Inc.

Apr 23rd, 2010

by Lisa Marie Snowden.

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This blog is, at its essence, about resorts and their wellness programming.

I am a new yoga teacher with 200 hours of teacher training, completed December 2009. My boyfriend and I share the responsibility of owning and operating a screen printing company. A few years ago when our start-up wasn’t exactly paying bills, I took on a few hours each week in the office upstairs, better known as Fit Bodies Inc. Fit Bodies Inc. is ran by Suzelle Snowden, my boyfriend’s Mother. She is an amazing person who created an amazing company.

Suzelle and I work very well together, especially motivating one another to “move away from the computer,” for a yoga class. We always agree taking the time for a class helps us complete tasks more efficiently once back in front of the computer.

Fit Bodies Inc. is a wonderful company to work for, even if only based on the day to day interactions made with our clients. Generally, answering the phone means spending about seven minutes explaining our program to a fitness or wellness specialist. They usually begin the conversation, “I heard about your program from a friend. What exactly do you do?” I start something like this…, “We send certified and experienced fitness instructors, personal trainers, tennis pros and yoga teachers to teach classes while they vacation throughout the Caribbean.” And then we continue the conversation about fitness. The pro tells me more about what they do and I tell them about resort openings, the cost, class schedule and how to choose and book a resort once they have decided. When speaking on the phone, I receive a lot of, “This sounds too good to be true.” What I love replying is, “It’s not”. It’s not too good to be true….Fit Bodies experience in the fitness industry began in 1986 and in 1995 instructor placement began.

How it began for me was taking a beginner’s yoga course in college six years ago and I have not stopped my practice since. Yoga has changed my life, and my body. It has changed the way I feel about myself and the way I see the world and view other people. I realized the value of the wellness industry, and more specifically the value of those fitness professionals who wake up everyday to change a person’s life through encouraging wellness.

Resort wellness programs encourage guests go home renewed. Fit Bodies fitness program sends guests home after their vacation and hopefully they take a little less than 3 pounds of gourmet food and drinks home with them, too. Maybe also a new sense of wellness, or favorite fitness formats, to take home and to keep. After all, wellness may be the most sought after vacation souvenir of all.