New skill: Aerial yogaWhere? TecateHow much? Seven nights at
Rancho La Puerta from £3,300;
rancholapuerta.comA ranch... that’s
for horsey-type
activity, right?
Not a horse in
sight – this ranch
is a five-star
family-run
haven that’s been a top-secret
destination for celebrities and
those in the know since the
1940s, with the price tag to prove
it. What makes it so special?
Well, there are over 50 classes
to choose from when you’re not
eating or relaxing by the pool,
including hiking, Pilates, Zumba,
aqua aerobics and boxing, as well
as lectures, concerts and writing
and cookery courses. It’s like a
fun, cool school for adults; one
with luxurious cabins that
overlook rolling hills. The crowd
was a mix of solos, groups and
couples and I fitted right in –
everyone was so welcoming,
it felt like joining a big family.
With so much on offer, why
aerial yoga?
I decided to focus on aerial skills
as my unflexible limbs make
traditional yoga a challenge.
The daily classes involved being
suspended in a silk hammock
that descends from the ceiling.
Instructor Aileen guided us
through all the positions and
I found that being suspended in
the air took the pressure off mybody, helping me to get deeper
into stretches than I usually can.
The feeling of weightlessness
and the gentle swing sent me
into a trance-like state, and I
was left feeling completely Zen
after each class. By the end of
the week, I was definitely more
flexible, too, and a new convert
determined to carry on with
lessons back home.
After all that stretching,
what about the chill factor?
Well, this is where the ranch
really comes into its own,
especially the spa, which has
won numerous awards. My
highlight was the Core Facial;
a 90-minute treatment using
the spa’s own range, where I was
cleansed, polished, masqued
and massaged until my skin
glowed. I also tried the Xocolatl
Skin Replenishment Treatment,
which involves your entire body
being scrubbed with a chocolate
concoction and then wrapped
in a creamy body masque made
of yoghurt and, yep, chocolate.
I lost layers of dry skin and the
result was baby soft, chocolate-
scented skin. After being
pampered, I relaxed by one
of the pools dotted around the
ranch. The only downside of
coming to this haven is knowing
that you’ll eventually have to
leave the fantastic staff and
new-found family and fly back
home. However, I have a sneaky
feeling that I’ll be back soon,
though perhaps next time I’ll
try a more easy-on-the-arms
cookery course.MEXICO
Effie Kanyua,
WH contributor
124 | SEPTEMBER 2019