Posts Tagged ‘pilates’

« Older Entries

Join now!

Thursday, August 14th, 2008

fitness-center.jpgAlthough most of us will be less than thrilled to say goodbye to the long summer days where the sun is always shining and the warm air heats our skin, it will soon be time to put away our hiking shoes and concentrate on the upcoming winter season. With the slopes opening in just over 100 days (wooohooo!), now is the perfect time to get in shape for those treacherous Highland’s bowl hikes and unbelievable powder days.

With the conceptual approval of our Aspen Living Project, changes at the club are in the near future. The Aspen Club is proposing to establish a healthy living community that will be an internationally renowned model for sustainable, healthy living development. With this, the club will be revamped and redone, allowing it to remain the valley’s premiere health club and spa. As we head into the future, we will begin to limit our membership so that can continue to live up to the reputation our members have come to expect. Now is the time to join our community and get a membership!

As a member of The Aspen Club & Spa, you will get your muscles moving in a setting that will make you want to work hard for your health. Member privileges include discounts on personal training, spa and salon services, boutique purchases, tennis and private Pilates. We have a full cardio deck with cardio theater, a massive weight area, a heated lap pool and over 50 fitness classes a week!

We have a membership for anyone’s needs. Please see Erin or Robert in membership to get in on this amazing opportunity!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Aspen Colorado, Aspen Members, Health and Fitness | No Comments »

Snowmass Wellness Experience Featuring

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

snowmass-wellness.jpg

THE SNOWMASS WELLNESS EXPERIENCE FEATURES TOP ORGANIC GARDENERS, YOGA GURUS, ORGANIC PRODUCE, AND MORE.

Tickets now on sale for this hands-on festival celebrating its 5th anniversary

Snowmass Village, CO (July 31, 2008) –The Snowmass Wellness Experience (Aug. 15-17), which was written up last year in the New York Times, celebrates its fifth anniversary and the art of healthy living from the earth up with a hands-on festival that keeps participants engaged, learning, and sampling all weekend long.

Encompassing all the elements of a balanced lifestyle, this unique wellness event offers the chance to hear nationally-respected experts and participate in enriching workshops, cooking demonstrations, al fresco yoga and pilates classes, nature walks and more.

Tickets are now on sale at www.snowmasswellness.com. For the complete schedule, ticket prices, lodging specials, and presenter information, visit the website or call 1-800-SNOWMASS.

Top Reasons to Put Wellness on Your Calendar:

Hands on: It’s a Different Type of Wellness Festival. Many wellness festivals involve sitting in lecture halls listening to speakers—that’s not our idea of Wellness! Wellness starts from the earth up, and attendees can get their hands dirty in this novel approach. Fitness classes, cooking demonstrations and tastings, how-to workshops, a green expo, nature hikes, a spirits tasting, comedy, an on-site spa, and more mean attendees aren’t merely observers– they’re participants.

Learn how to grow your own food. As fuel and food prices continue to rise, more people are interested in growing their own food. From never-evers to seasoned gardeners, the Snowmass Wellness Experience provides access to top experts who share how to grow and cook your own food and eat nutritionally and sustainably. In their ONLY Colorado appearance, internationally respected organic farmers Eliot Coleman and Barbara Damrosch of the Four Seasons Farm in Maine have over sixty years of combined experience with organic farming and will explore everything from the seduction of a kitchen garden to the how-tos of sustainable organic gardening.

It’s an Edible Extravaganza. From chocolate and yoga classes to an organic spirits tasting to cooking demos and a wellness expo with plenty of free goodies, Snowmass Wellness Experience participants won’t go home hungry. They’ll also learn how to design and incorporate edible plants into residential landscapes from Jerome Osentowski, one of the foremost permaculture practitioners in the United States who will share insights into agroforestry and other new methods of organic farming and landscaping.

Check out this Whole Food philosophy: We’re not talking a grocery store, but rather education about the entire food cycle. With the motto of Wellness From the Earth Up, The Snowmass Wellness Experience offers the chance to learn about healthy eating from a myriad of angles: growing to cooking to preserving to nutrition to incorporating food into your fitness routine.

Foster healthy eating habits. As diabetes and obesity continue to be two of the nation’s top health concerns, this festival teaches the tools needed for healthy eating. Mariana Bozesan, author of Diet for a New Life, shares her highly respected integral 8-step approach to life that also reveals the weight loss secrets of centenarians and successful dieters. Other wellness workshops include how to harvest and preserve an organic garden, how to create healthy snacks for people on the go, and how to read nutritional labels.

Focus on the moment. In his only Colorado appearance this summer, nationally respected and popular Yahoo Mind-Body Expert David Romanelli leads Yoga and Chocolate, Yoga and Wine, and Living in the Moment workshops. Romanelli is the co-founder of At One Yoga which has gained national renown by fusing Western culture’s fashion, music and technology with Eastern culture’s sacred rituals and ancient tradition. He now teaches at Exhale in California and tours the world with his Yoga and Chocolate class, designed with Vosges Haut-Chocolat founder Katrina Markoff. Diverse additional yoga and pilates workshops are available through the Shakti Foundation and the Aspen Club & Spa, including yoga guru Simon Park’s popular Thai Massage class.

Get well through laughter. Comedy can be used as a healing art, and Steve Bhaerman, has audiences laughing until the sacred cows come home while sharing insight on how to make positive changes in life. Bhaerman, who performs as Swami Beyondananda, the “Cosmic Comic,” is an internationally known author, humorist, and workshop leader and offers a comedy show and workshops at this event.

Bring it all home. How can you eat locally and sustainably at Colorado’s altitude? The Snowmass Wellness Experience brings together a talented regional roster of chefs, nutritionists, gardeners, and experts so participants can begin making connections to local sources of food, spirits, and inspiration.

Relax and Retreat. Everyone is entitled to a little R&R. Yoga classes, nature hikes, morning meditations, and a spa pavilion all offer opportunities to relax in Snowmass. Each day pass comes with one complimentary mini-spa treatment through Aspen Club & Spa, and participants are welcome to sign up for more as space allows.

Costly?  Well, no. Wellness shouldn’t come at a price that’s painful to your mind, body, or spirit. The Snowmass Wellness Experience is substantially more affordable than other wellness festivals. An all-inclusive weekend pass is only $175, while day passes, keynote speech passes and fitness/expo passes start as low as $30, allowing attendees the flexibility to see it all or just a little. For every yoga pass sold, the Shatki foundation donates $2.50 to a local nonprofit. Volunteers are needed! Earn your ticket for free! Call Anita Manchester at 923-5678 or e-mail at mtnfun@comcast.net

Lodging Specials:

Just for the Girls: August 14-18, 2008 For the ultimate girlfriends’ mountain getaway, Snowmass Village, Colorado, offers adventure, relaxation, and pure rejuvenation August 14-18, 2008. Timberline Condominium rates start as low as $52/person (double occupancy) for a deluxe studio within walking distance to all activities and includes free airport transfer and on-site yoga classes. Stay at the Timberline and additionally receive $15 off your weekend pass to the 5th annual Snowmass Wellness Experience (August 16-17). Finish off the vacation by signing up with the award-winning Snowmass Club for a special rate of two spa services for $185. To book, visit www.snowmassvillage.com

Massage in the Mountains Package. Relax and rejuvenate in the mountains with this special Snowmass package. Stay at the Silvertree Hotel and choose a spa treatment ranging from a standard massage to a Jet Lag massage to reflexology or an 85-minute couple’s massage. Rates start at $326/person based on a 2 night stay and a spa service per person per day. Package is per person based on double occupancy, not including tax. To book, visit www.snowmassvillage.com

Consider bringing your group, family reunion, or meeting to Snowmass Village. For more information on vacations, meetings, and lodging specials, visit the official Snowmass Village website at www.snowmassvillage.com or call 1.800.SNOWMASS. For media information, contact Allison Johnson at 970.309.5485 or visit www.snowmasspress.com.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Aspen Colorado, Aspen Members, Aspen Schedule, Aspen Yoga, Corporate Retreats | No Comments »

Spa Experience Aspen

Tuesday, April 8th, 2008

Expanding to a two-day festival following the success of last year’s inaugural event, The Spa Experience Aspen will make Aspen the place to be for spa enthusiasts this August.

Presented by SpaFinder, the global spa resource, The Spa Experience Aspen will give thousands of visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in everything the spa lifestyle has to offer – from travel to beauty to wellness. For two days, guests will be able to experience free spa treatments, sample cuisine, and plan and book a spa vacation from more than fifty of the world’s finest spas and spa lifestyle companies. Last year, more than 57 million Americans visited a spa.

Participating spas range from Mexico’s Rancho La Puerta to California’s Cal-a-Vie to Tucson’s Canyon Resort & Spa. Special exhibits will include demonstrations and treatments from presenting sponsors Sphatika Spa & Skincare Line and Pevonia Botanica, as well as wine tastings with spa café sponsor Red Rock Winery. 

For the first time, SpaFinder will also be offering VIP Passes and Travel Packages, allowing guests to create the ultimate Aspen spa weekend. VIP Passes ($100/one day, $175/two day) will provide festival-goers with exclusive early admittance to the event and special discounts from exhibitors and local retailers. The Spa Experience Aspen Travel Package offers spa enthusiasts three nights at Aspen’s celebrated Sky Hotel, spa treatments at the Aspen Club & Spa, tickets to the Healthy Gourmet Spa Soiree, VIP Passes, and more. See full details on both programs below.

“Spas are the driving force behind so many of the trends that are reshaping how we live today –rejuvenating travel, wellness, healthy cuisine, and more,” said Sallie Fraenkel, Chief Operating Officer of SpaFinder. “This is an extraordinary opportunity for both spa enthusiasts and beginners alike to learn more about what the spa lifestyle has to offer and discover how to get the most out of their spa experience.”

The Spa Experience Aspen sponsors include Sphatika Spa & Skincare Line, Pevonia Botanica, Red Rock Winery, Aspen Center for Integral Health, Aspen Club & Spa, and Aspen Magazine.

VIP Passes

Price is $100 for a one-day pass, $175 for a two-day pass. Benefits include:

•         Early admittance

•         Exclusive VIP gift bag

•         Special discounts from exhibitors

•         Special discounts from local retailers

•         A copy of 2008 Global SpaFinder: The Definitive Worldwide Directory

Travel Package

Travel Packages can be purchased by calling 1-800-882-2582 and requesting “SpaFinder Spa Experience Package.”Availability is limited, and the deadline for purchase is June 15, 2008. Prices and benefits are as follows:

Price is $1,995 for single occupancy, $1,497.50 per person for double occupancy ($2,995 total). Benefits include:

•         3-night/4-day package at the Sky Hotel (August 7 – 10)

•         Special welcome from the Sky Hotel

•         One VIP pass to The Spa Experience Aspen

•         One VIP gift bag

•         Wine and cheese reception at The Aspen Club & Spa

•         Two 50-minute spa treatments at The Aspen Club & Spa

•         One personal yoga or pilates class at The Aspen Club & Spa

•         Use of exercise facilities at The Aspen Club & Spa

•         Ticket to the Healthy Gourmet Spa Soiree (evening of August 8)

•         One half-day guided hike in the beautiful mountains of Aspen

•         Complimentary transfers to/from Aspen Airport

About SpaFinder:

The world’s largest spa media, marketing and gifting company, SpaFinder, Inc. connects millions of wellness-focused consumers with thousands of spas worldwide. SpaFinder’s media properties include the award-winning Spafinder.com, Luxury SpaFinder Interactive and the worldwide spa directory, Global SpaFinder. Spa Finder Gift Certificates and its new gift division, Spa & Salon Wish, offer spa gift certificates and cards that are redeemable at a combined network of over 5,000+ spas and salons worldwide and are available at thousands of retail outlets. The company’s software division innovates new solutions to help spas build and streamline their businesses, including the popular SpaBooker online booking system. SpaFinder Europe and SpaFinder Japan offer regional spa marketing and gifting programs, including localized, native-language websites. Founded in 1986, the privately held company is headquartered in Manhattan.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Aspen Colorado, Aspen Schedule | No Comments »

Congratulations to Jack and Bonnie Wilke

Friday, February 29th, 2008

feb-members-of-the-month.jpg

Congratulations to Jack and Bonnie Wilke

Aspen Club Members of the Month!

Jack and Bonnie have been members here few quite a while. They have been very active in the Aspen community and have been role models to all on what it truly means to live the Aspen Life! They have been committed to their own health and wellness by taking Pialtes and personal training sessions and their dedication to their fitness program is setting the precedent for healthy living.

Both Jake and Bonnie have had to address some injuries and/or health issues but this proves to be no set back to achieving their health and fitness goals. Catherine Cussaguet, their Pilates Reformer instructor praises their consistency, labeling it as remarkable! What she finds inspirational is that do not limit their workouts to trainer only sessions, they also include cardiovascular workouts into their daily routine. Besides training at the Club the Wilke’s enjoy the beautiful outdoors, whether it is walking their dog every day, Bonnie enjoying the numerous Nordic ski trails her in Aspen or Jack taking a few runs down the mountain they are incorporating health and fitness in their everyday life.

Dawn Shepard, their personal trainer, agrees, that the Wilkes are truly inspirational. “They live a very active- Aspen lifestyle. I really appreciate their sense of humor, their tenacity when dealing with injury and how much they really care about each other. Having loving relationships in your life is key to being happy and healthy.” We are excited and proud to have the Wilkes as part of our Aspen Club Family. We wish them continued success; we are honored to be part of their journey.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Aspen Members | No Comments »

Aspen Gay Ski Week

Thursday, January 3rd, 2008

Welcome Gay Ski Week 2008 Participants!

Monday is “Aspen Club Day” and we have discounts and special offers for you all week long. Show your Ski Week ID to check in and book all services. “We have everything you need for everything you do!”

Discounts and Specials good all week.

Spa/Salon Discounts :

Book your appointments:

  • · 7 days in advance and receive 20% off all services
  • · 3 days in advance and receive 15% off all services
  • · 1 day in advance and receive 10% off all services

Book your appointment at the ‘Ski Week’ Aspen Club hospitality kiosk and receive 10% off all services

Membership/Massage Package:

Day Pass for VIP’s

50 minute massage and 3 (out of 5) day membership package $199.00 – must book at ‘Ski Week’ Aspen Club hospitality kiosk.

Aspen Club Boutique:

20% off everything!

Fitness

Choose a scheduled Group Fitness Class and receive full access to the Aspen Club facility after!

Monday- Pilates Mat 5:30pm

Tuesday- Body Pump 5:30pm

Wednesday- Deep Stretch Yoga 6:30pm

Thursday- Lunch Time Yoga at noon

Friday- noon spin class

10% off all PERSONAL TRAINING appointments!

aspen-club-fitness-center.jpg

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Aspen Club’s majestic setting attracts those in need of fitness, adventure and of course, pampering. We invite the outdoors in with skylights, expansive windows and Colorado’s natural elements throughout 77,000 square feet of open space and relaxing getaways.

The Aspen Club is a private membership club and offers highly advanced fitness equipment, the world-renown SpaAspen™ and the internationally recognized Sports Medicine Institute, a healing center that combines time-honored knowledge with contemporary medicine.

970.925.8900
1450 Ute Avenue
Aspen, Colorado 81611

www.aspenclub.com

The Aspen Club & Spa is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

HOURS OF OPERATION: SPA HOURS:

Monday- Friday 6 a.m.- 9 p.m. Monday- Friday 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday 7 a.m.- 8 p.m. Saturday & Sunday 10 a.m.- 7 p.m.

RESERVATIONS:

All reservationists are required to ask for the following information when making an appointment:

1. Names of each guest booking – MUST identify “GSW” at time of booking for discount

2. Cell phone of client

3. Credit card to hold all reservations

4. Please notify all clients of our 24-hour cancellation policy. There will be no charge to cancel or reschedule a service if cancelled more than 24- hours prior to the appointment.

Gratuities are not included in the price of services. An 18% gratuity will automatically be applied to all services not checked out.

TRANSPORTATION:

Complimentary transportation is available for door-to-door service in Aspen. Call 925.8900 for a pick up.

GARNISH CAFÉ:

cafe-counter.jpg

Enjoy breakfast and lunch at the Garnish Café! Open 7 a.m. -2 p.m. Monday-Friday.

BOUTIQUE: Come in to the Aspen Club & Spa boutique and experience Aspen’s best kept secret.

FITNESS

The pulse of The Aspen Club & Spa is undoubtedly the Health & Fitness center, where members and guests not only exercise their bodies, but also expand their minds and rejuvenate their spirit through fitness training, mind/body classes and an array of other progressive offerings.

dirk.jpg

The fitness team is certified and credentialed from the most prestigious programs.

SCHEDULES:

We offer as many as 50 classes per week. Ski conditioning, BodyPump®, BodyFlow®, Hatha Yoga and spin classes are just some of classes offered. For a full schedule of our GROUP FITNESS, MIND & BODY and TENNIS SCHEDULES, please check out website at www.aspenclub.com and click on “Fitness Schedule” under Aspen Club & Spa.

PERSONAL TRAINING:
The personal trainers are experienced and certified fitness professionals who design programs for each individual’s needs. The fitness facilities at The Aspen Club & Spa feature over one hundred strength training machines and cardio equipment, as well as abundant free weights and strengthening tools.

PILATES:

The beautifully situated Pilates studio features an extensive array of equipment including a trapeze table, wall unit reformer, Wunda chairs and several reformer units as well as large skylights with views of Aspen Mountain. We are the only fully Pilates Method Alliance certified studio in Aspen. The “Pilates Reformer” studio, offers group classes daily.

YOGA:

Allow our advanced yoga instructors to assist you in deepening your yoga experience. Yoga is, at its depth, intensely personal. Together we will find a practice that fits your purpose. We offer group classes as well as private sessions.

massage-at-the-aspen-club.jpg

SpaAspen™

Boasting the largest spa in Colorado, the beautiful SpaAspen™ offers a wide assortment of luxury spa services, signature body treatments and spa packages to fulfill your needs. No matter what you are looking for, SpaAspen™ is sure to please. Groups are welcome and customized spa packages are available.

Access to the club is FREE with any spa treatment!

SPA MENU HIGHLIGHTS:

· Thai Massage- Massage performed on a mat incorporating limbering passive stretching. Wear loose clothing.

· Ashiatsu massage- Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy is a barefoot massage technique using deep compression effleurage gliding over the body, providing deep relaxation and stimulation of the lymphatic system of the body.

· Anti-Aging facial- Lifts and firms the skin. Helps to alleviate fine lines and wrinkles. Uses a cinnamon exfoliant mask which heats up on the skin to open capillaries. Immediate results are seen. Also evens the skin tone.

· Warm Stone Facial -Our most relaxing and rejuvenating facial. Your skin is gently cleansed and exfoliated. A green tea infused collagen mask calms, nurtures, and hydrates. Warm stones melt away stress in the face, neck and shoulders while crystals balance your chakras. A hand and foot massage followed by warm mitts and booties round out this blissful treatment.

· Alpine Rejuvenator- a SpaAspen™ signature treatment. Three part treatment: exfoliation, mask/wrap, pine oil application.

· Bindi- Based on an ancient Ayurvedic rejuvenation therapy. Includes an herbal body mask, dry brush detoxification, warm aromatic oil massage, mini-facial and finishes with a moist heat wrap. The ultimate experience calms the mind and rejuvenates the body.

We also do an assortment of waxing. Please see our brochure for a complete listing of spa services, including prices.

SALON:

At our full service salon, we offer everything from hair services to spa pedicures to acrylic nails. See brochure for prices.

TEETH WHITENING:

The Aspen Club and Spa is now offering cosmetic teeth whitening. The Beyond® WhiteSpa system can restore your natural white smile, removing years of stains. The painless procedure lasts one hour.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Aspen Colorado, aspen, class, fitness, gay, gym, massage, personal trainer, pilates, salon, ski, spa, week, yoga | No Comments »

Aspen Life TV

Tuesday, November 20th, 2007

aspen-life-tv.jpg Be sure to check out the new Aspen Club and Spa show on Grass Roots TV. Here is a schedule of airings.

Aspen Life
Join host Sarah Kochis from the Aspen Club and Spa as she talks about fitness and wellness. Guests include local health experts and individuals who have implemented sound health practices into their daily routine. “Aspen Life” Winter 2007 Airtimes Starting soon:
Sunday 5pm
Monday 8:30am
Tuesday 11:30pm
Friday 3pm, 7:30pm

Aspen Life Fitness
Pilates, Yoga and Fitness training you can do in your home. Watch Monday – Friday at 8am as the Aspen Club and Spa fitness team bring you a variety of fitness classes.“Aspen Life Fitness” Winter 2007 Airtimes:
M-F 8am, 10:30am & 3:30pm

You can also click here to view our shows on Aspen Life TV 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Aspen Colorado | No Comments »

Getting Ready for Ski Conditioning Class

Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007

By Asia Jenkins from the Aspen Daily News

With winter around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about getting your body ready for ski season.

I have taught ski conditioning on and off for the past five years and I am consistently hearing the same question from clients: “How do I get my body ready to take a ski conditioning class?”

Going from zero to 60 in 10 seconds is OK for a car, but our bodies need a little bit more of a warmup. Pulled hamstrings and twisted ankles are no way to start the ski season. Those who did not do much physical activity this summer except maybe a couple hikes may want to get their heart rates up before the first class.

Since skiing is an explosive sport, plyomectric workouts are the perfect fit. Plyomectric means to jump up and down or side to side. So class is full of jumping on and off steps, lateral side-to-side movements, and high and low squats. A good class will also include lunges, loaded squats and single-leg balancing.

Trying to build up endurance for that first top-to-bottom run takes time. If you are starting with no aerobic background, it could take you four to six weeks to build up a solid base. The basic idea is that you can go hard for about two minutes because that is the average length of a run. Then when ski season hits you can handle that first big powder day and keep up with the pros.

So lets start with the basics:

• I found that jumping rope is a good way to wake up the muscles and get the heart rate up. Start by jumping for two minutes at a time. It’s OK to take little breaks. Jump rope for 10 to 15 minutes. Once you are finished, stretch the muscles of the legs – gently — not to overdo it.

• Next, move on to walking lunges. Walk back and forth across the gym, or for a more challenging exercise, hold hand weights while lunging. Perfect form is the front knee staying over the ankle not angling towards the toes. If your legs do not feel fatigued try another jumping exercise.

• My favorite is jumping squat thrusts. Bend your knees to touch the floor with your fingers, then jump up, reaching your hands to the ceiling. Try to complete three sets of 15 thrusts.

• Add in a little balancing act. Stand on one leg on some kind of balancing device like a disk or Buso Ball. Try touching the floor and then the sky. Keep the chest lifted, head up, eyes forward; try not to break at the waist. Keep the non-standing leg bent and try not to touch it to the floor. Do two sets of 10, a total of 20 on each leg.

• To finish, jump side to side and back and forth, using both feet, like you are tracing the shape of a box. Keep the feet and legs glued together like a fish tail. Hands stay low and in front of the body — imagine that you are holding ski poles. Try to do this just once for three to four minutes. It’s harder than it sounds, so when you start running out of breath think of soft fresh bumps on your favorite run. Bend the knees and absorb the impact softly; think of not making noise with the feet every time you land.

• Remember to be nice to your knees — you only have one pair. If you have any sharp pain in the knees, stop, slow down and listen to your body. You don’t want to go into the season with any kind of injury.

• Mix these great moves into your usual workouts or try all three together. Yes, you will be a little sore, but think about how much better you will feel going into your first ski conditioning class.

Asia Jenkins was born and raised in Aspen and has competed in the 24 Hours of Aspen, X Games, and NBC’s Gravity Games in the skiercross division. She currently works at the Aspen Club and spa as a Pilates/yoga instructor and as a ski condition trainer.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Aspen Colorado, Aspen Members, Aspen Schedule, Aspen Training Tips, Health and Fitness, aspen daily news, heart rates, jumping exercise, ski season, walking lunges | No Comments »

Take it down a notch

Saturday, September 8th, 2007

Most of us go all out when we work out-We want to burn calories, reduce stress, get flexible-all in a short time during our busy lives. But are you really getting maximum benefit when you go hard core? Sometimes. But other times our bodies are tired, and in need of a rest-and a modified workout can be just as beneficial as a longer, harder one. Think about it-walking is great exercise. Take a break from the run, and walk instead. You’ll calm your mind in the process. During a session on the stairmaster, or Precor-try an interval program at a lower level. You are still working out! Just maybe not pounding the pavement as hard. If you are a regular to Pilates and Yoga classes, try the poses in modified form. You’ll discover a whole new “twist” here (pun intended). If your usual workout includes 60 laps of the butterfly in the pool, try 30 doing the breaststroke or backcrawl. Studies have shown too much exercise is not a good thing-resulting in injury and burn out. Give it try one of these days. I guarnatee your bones and muscles will thank you for taking it easier on them. Then, you can gear up for your next marathon or triathalon.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Health and Fitness | No Comments »

It’s round two for Aspen Club redevelopment

Wednesday, September 5th, 2007

By Carolyn Sackariason of the Aspen Times
September 4, 2007

The owner of the Aspen Club plans to submit in the next two weeks a development application that includes building 19 fractional townhomes and transforming the club into a destination holistic health facility.

The proposal is similar to the one that Michael Fox submitted and subsequently withdrew in 2006 because of a lack of support from the Aspen City Council and the club’s neighbors.

Fox said he has tweaked the proposal in many ways, with a focus on environmental sustainability and input from the club’s neighbors.

Called “Aspen Club Living,” the plan has been accepted into a new pilot program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) is a third-party reviewed rating system that integrates the principles of smart growth, new urbanism and green building into the first national standard for neighborhood design.

“We will be the first place in the country where sustainable development merges with holistic health and Aspen is the best place to do it,” Fox said.

One significant change from the old proposal is the elimination of a parking garage underneath the club. Instead, several auto disincentives will be employed, including paid parking at the club’s 95-space lot.

When the proposal was going through the review process two years ago, neighbors came out in full force against the project. They formed an opposition group, hired an attorney and distributed thousands of glossy fliers campaigning against the project.

They argued the city had no justification for approving an overlay to the club’s underlying residential zoning and said it would create more traffic on Ute Avenue.

Fox’s new plan claims to lessen traffic on Ute Avenue and Crystal Lake Road through eco shuttles, stricter employee commuting requirements, and car- and bike-share programs. Fox plans to buy electric or air-powered vehicles for use by guests and employees coming into town.

For the past year, Fox said he has been talking with residents who live near the club, hearing their concerns and creating a development they can live with. In his first attempt, Fox didn’t do that.

“I did a lousy job listening to the neighbors,” he said. “The town wasn’t ready for it and we hadn’t thought it through.”

The number of fractional units on site hasn’t changed, however. The proposal still calls for 13 townhome units where the club’s tennis courts are currently located, and six other timeshare lodge units above the existing club building. Fox estimates the units would go for between $150,000 and $400,000 for two-week blocks throughout the year.

The employee housing component would consist of 12 two-bedroom units – about 900 square feet each – located behind the club.

“I had an epiphany about six months ago and decided to take out the parking garage and replace it with affordable housing,” Fox said.

In total, the development footprint would be 40,000 square feet and would cost about $20 million to build. Another $7 million will go into remodeling the club, which would include new locker rooms, an outdoor pool and fitness areas, as well as new programs and activities. The project would be financed by investors and cash flow from the club’s operations, Fox said.

Fox’s financial plan predicts that the owners of the residences will help fund the club’s operations. Through homeowner fees and weekly participants in new health programs, the revenue will offset the basic costs of running the club, Fox said.

“We envision Aspen Club Living as a place where families will come annually for a healthy retreat,” Fox wrote in a letter to city officials. “These families will stay in the same units for the same weeks as 18 other families every year.”

When the units aren’t being used by owners they will be available for groups, families and single travelers who participate in special one- and two-week healthy lifestyle programs.

Those programs focus on a wide array of health issues: stress and weight management, diabetes, integrative medicine and aging, as well as retreats, workshops and seminars. Weeklong programs include yoga, Pilates, meditation, cancer survival, biking, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, mountaineering and more.

“Health has changed a lot,” Fox said. “We want to integrate medical and alternative health and define health for the 21st century.”

Fox said the concept is designed around other world-class health and spa facilities like Canyon Ranch in Arizona and the Duke Center for Living in North Carolina.

The difference, however, is that Aspen Club Living would be an environmentally sustainable neighborhood, Fox said.

The LEED-ND program focuses on design and construction elements that bring buildings together and relate the neighborhood to its larger landscape through environmentally friendly construction and technology, alternative transportation and its linkage to trails.

The Aspen Club sits on 5 acres, and is able to utilize geothermal fields for heating and cooling the facility through ground source heat pumps and geothermal exchange. It also has an acre of rooftop space for solar panels that could generate a good portion of the club’s electric needs.

Fox also proposes to reduce energy consumption with more efficient insulation, green roofs, better HVAC systems, and using pools for thermal storage and heat exchange.

“We are dealing with two crisises today – health and the environment,” Fox said. “This project addresses health and sustainability, that’s the exciting part.”

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Aspen Colorado | No Comments »

Fall is in the Air

Wednesday, August 29th, 2007

Ok, well maybe not 100%…but I swear I can feel it in the mornings. Are the trees leaves beginning to change yet in beautiful Aspen? Here in Denver we have typical thunder and rain storms in the afternoons, and the flowers are still in bloom. But there is briskness in the air, its unmistakable. Fall is one of my favorite times of year. It signals “transitions” to me-a time to set a new goal, to ready for the year to come, to reflect on the summer past. Fall is also a great time to begin a workout routine if you don’t already have one-with cooler mornings and shorter evenings begging us to the gym or pilates studio. I am looking forward to beginning a new chapter as a full time Yoga teacher come October. This is my dream and passion. I made it happen, but it certainly wasn’t an easy road. What’s your dream? Perhaps this Labor Day, as we take the day off and relax with friends and family, you might chart a list of goals for the new year coming ahead. Sure thats not til January, but Fall is a perfect time to put plan into play. Maybe its just finishing the tile in the bathroom or losing 2 inches around the waist. Enjoy these last days of summer and take it all in. The winds of change are right on our heels.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Health and Fitness | No Comments »

« Older Entries