TLH Leisure Resort, Torquay

It’s Christmas party season! You’ve got a new frock, shoes and sparkly handbag so all that’s left is a spot of pre-party pampering. We all know that whipping on some nail polish 10 minutes before you’re due to leave is not a good idea and come on own up, you’ve only painted the few toe nails on show in those new peep toe shoes haven’t you? Why not do it in style instead and treat yourself to a professional manicure and pedicure at the Aztec Spa?

Not only can you have your toenails and hands attended to, but you can also get your eyebrows tidied up as part of their Christmas Sparkle package – all for just £34. And if you have a really special event to go to, or just want to splash out, then the Ultimate Christmas Cracker will give you an upgraded Replenishing Manicure, an Aztec Feet Treat plus an Elemis Taster facial.

Both packages will also make great Christmas gifts, as they are available until the end of January 2010. Of course there are a whole range of other treatments and gifts available at Aztec Spa, including spa vouchers.

 Call 01803 400190

Special offer Elemis Spa Break for ‘Girls who just want to have Fun’

What better way to restore the Christmas and New Year party wear and tear than by spending 2 whole days in your dressing gown having a girlie catch up so you’re ready to step into Spring with renewed vigour!  It really is ‘All about You’ ! You don’t have to win the X Factor to feel like a million dollars!

Girly gossip on a spa break

Stay for a 2 night spa break (2Jan – 11 Feb 2010, Sundays to Thursdays) at the 3 star Carlton Hotel, one of the 4 hotels at TLH Leisure Resort on the English Riviera from only £129 per person.  We even have apartments so a group of you can have your very own pyjama party! A perfect choice for Brides-to-Be.

Float and dream  (or work out!) in  our luxury 25 metre indoor swimming pool
Gossip in our pool-side sauna, jacuzzi & steam room
Browse for a new outfit in the ‘glossies’ in the Spa relaxation area
Savour a delicious Spa lunch in our Aztec Bistro

Superb indoor pool

Your break includes the chance to:

And the real treats……..

Elemis Frangipani Wrap

Elemis Taster Facial

OPI Juicie Minicure

Go on – spoil someone you love ……. or yourself  ‘because you’re worth it’ !

Call 01803 400500 to book.

Have the UK gone mad with doggie Spa breaks?

We love our dogs in the UK; we buy them all kinds of treats and toys and even check into hotels that cater for them. But, is spending hundred of pounds on our furry friends to our detriment?

Do we spend to much on our pets?

Last year we Brits spent more than £2.4 million on our pets, 40% more than we ever did 10 years ago. The experts have even adopted a new term for this phenomenon, they call it ‘fur babying’.

Every year in November Harrods hold a doggie fashion show with pugs and poodles strutting their stuff in Vivienne Westwood couture.

Animal trainer Rona Brown, who promotes the event said ‘People like it best when it doesn’t go right,’ she says. ‘We had a pug in a little sailor’s hat that slipped down over its eyes. It sat down and wouldn’t move, and everyone clapped.’

Spa breaks in the UK – for Pugs?

Spa treatments designed for dogs are something else that we Brits are buying into. This little pug is shown indulging in all types of spa treatments like swimming, facials and massaging, and little Mimi does not always look very happy at the prospect.

Is it all about health benefits?

I can see why people would consider some of these treatments, if it were for a pet that was ill or old. After all a massage is wonderfully relaxing and eases any one’s aches and pains. Swimming as we all know is a really great exercise and is even recommended by vets in some cases. Mimi looks a little out of her depth in this one (throw her a life belt).

Why would we spend our money on doggy pedicures for our poodle or little Chihuahua sized dressing gowns? The sad thing behind this ‘fur babies’ phenomenon is that although we are spending money on our pets, we are desperately neglecting ourselves.

I personally think you should be spending more money on pampering YOU!, I would personally never consider a spa break for my dog or cat, but i’d happily book a whole weekend spa break for myself and a friend. The great thing about pampering ourselves is that it works, we have busy, stress filled lives and we need someone to press the off switch. Lets face it, we don’t spend all day staring at invisible flys on the wall or barking at the neighbours cat, we work in office, run households and hold down high powered jobs.

When we get pampered, it feels like a clean slate, its gives our bodies time to heal and we feel ready to face the world again. A spa make us feel special, less stressed with our pets, our families and much more pleasant to be around. So lets leave the doggles and the cutesy frocks to the Hiltons of this world and enjoy ourselves for once.

My dog would prefer a moldy old tennis ball to a spa treatment any day of the week; I know what i’d prefer.

Being pregnant is great – once you get over the morning sickness, swollen ankles, indigestion, mood swings, aching back………apart from that, it’s wonderful!

To help ease any of these niggling aches and pains, the Aztec Spa has a fabulous new Elemis treatment, specifically designed for mothers to be. You will be treated to a wonderfully relaxing massage specially adapted to each stage of pregnancy using the unique Elemis beanbag. The technique used will help relieve tension in the back and alleviate those swollen ankles. As if that wasn’t enough, also included is a relaxing scalp massage and Elemis facial. You can then unwind some more in the tranquil Aztec relaxation area – just what you and baby need!

Back to those aches and pains…….gentle exercise can really help, as long as you don’t over-do it. The new Aztec Studio is running Ante-Natal Pilates sessions, tailored especially towards pregnant ladies. Pliates concentrates on the core muscles of the stomach and pelvic area which can help ease any backache and posture problems you may be getting. The deep abdominal muscles and all-important pelvic floor muscles are strengthened, which will help during labour and post recovery. The best thing is though that you can exercise in a class of other pregnant women, so you can compare bump size and any niggling problems without embarrassment!

When expecting, sometimes you feel like a little extra TLC so why not consider a Mother-to-be treat in the Aztec Spa or some gentle exercise with Ante-Natal Pilates – or do the both and help those 9 months sail by.

Call Aztec Reception for information on either of these Mother-to-be packages on 01803 400190.

Jumping up and down until you’re blue in the face may have its attractions, but with an ever increasing list of minor injuries, I’ve been looking at alternative ways to stave off the middle aged spread and the effects of gravity.

It seems that the Aztec Studio at the Carlton Hotel has it covered with a range of new classes focusing more on the slow burn rather than feel the burn (and the tomato red face and pulled muscles!) The Studio opened last week with over 300 people keen to try some of the new classes. Everybody was talking about Zumba – a Latin inspired fitness routine, whose tag line is ‘Ditch the workout, join the party!’ – sounds good to me. Apparently you get a good workout without actually feeling like you’re working out – how amazing is that!

If that still sounds like too much face-paced activity, then maybe Pilates or yoga would be a safer bet. That’s not to say either is an easy option. Having tried both in the past I know that your muscles can be crying out for mercy at the end of a class – but in a good way! The aim being a leaner, more toned body and a soothed soul – both disciplines really help clear your mind and are suitable for all ages and abilities. And if you happen to be pregnant, the Studio have also started Ante-Natal Pilates classes, much sought after in the area. Suitable for all levels of pregnancy, these classes concentrate on the pelvic muscles and are said to help prepare your body for labour.

What I’m really interested in though is Body Revive, a blend of Pilates, yoga and tai chi set to a funky soundtrack. I tried a taster class and really felt like I’d worked out, but in a low-impact way. The warm-up raises your heart rate slightly and warms your muscles then you’re in to a range of flowing movements to help increase flexibility, balance and tone. Those all important core muscles, which help us stand tall and drop a dress size (honestly!), are engaged throughout so you really feel the benefit.

So, I’m off to my first proper Body Revive class at the Aztec Studio this evening with high hopes of feeling fighting fit before the festive onslaught. I’ll let you know how I get on.

You don’t have to be an Aztec Club member to use the Aztec Studio but they do advise you book in advance. Call 01803 400190.

It only seems like a few weeks ago that we started planning for the autumn launch of the Aztec Fitness Studio, but it is nearly ready to go!

The finishing touches are now being put into place and the room looks great. We are now starting our marketing campaign ready for 2^nd November 09 – Aztec Studio Launch Week.

We will have a series of taster sessions running all week from Monday 2^nd to Friday 6^th November. This is your chance to come along and try Zumba, Pilates, yoga, aerobics, Strike! and many other classes. Also look out for the tokens appearing in the Herald Express to come along for a free Zumba class.

More of our popular Aqua Aerobics classes will be running too, both in the daytime and evening.

The Aztec Studio is going to be one of the most modern class facilities in Torquay, holding classes that are not available anywhere else locally. It will have classes for all abilities including over 50s fitness classes, ante natal Pilates classes and many others. For more information call 01803 400190 or look at the website www.tlh4locals.co.uk where you’ll find the full timetable.

Zumba is a Latin-inspired dance fitness class for all fitness levels to attend. You do not have to be a dancer or fitness fanatic to attend but just the ability to let go, have fun and shake that booty!

I attended a Zumba training course to find out more and become fully qualified to run these classes in the brand new Aztec Studio at TLH Leisure Resort in Torquay. The course itself was held in Basingstoke and started at 8am to 5pm, and on a Sunday!! It was an intense crash course of the practical and theory behind the magic that is Zumba! I firstly took part in a master class which is similar to what I will be teaching you. I have attended many fitness/ dance classes/ courses and workshops but none quite like this! The emphasis was on the joy of movement to funky, spicy tracks and to literally have a laugh! All while burning fat, toning up and sculpting the body and the best part, without even realising, can’t be bad, eh! If mistakes were made it really didn’t matter as long as you were moving and have fun. On the course itself the age range was from 18 to 65 and that was for instructing! Every movement is designed for everyone, all ages and all abilities, it’s easy and effective and everyone has a good time.

For me, the music is probably the most important part to a work-out to get your clients motivated, in the master class of 50, let me tell you no-one was lacking in any way! The music is such a fantastic mix covering Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia, Reggaeton to name just a-few. The moves themselves are very easy but still fresh and exciting. The founder of Zumba, ‘Beto Perez’ even has signature moves which I will certainly be adding to my programme. Being a dancer, I was surprised that there were even some  styles I had never heard of, but it really didn’t matter, the music gets you moving gives you the feel good factor and really makes you shake your thang!

The whole day was thoroughly enjoyable and I really can’t wait to get into the new Aztec Studio and get the party started along with you guys!

I hope to see you there

Zoe

Find out about our brand NEW Aztec Studio and the new exercise timetable, including Zumba from Aztec Reception 01803 400190