fitness fun fantastic places cruises

Fun, fitness & fantastic places

June 24, 2018

From AMA Waterways Blog | Kristin’s Blog Last June I introduced you to Selina, AmaWaterways certified Sports Scientist who was on the AmaLyra developing our Wellness Program. March finds her busier than ever as she prepares to launch our Wellness Program on six ships – AmaCerto, AmaPrima, AmaSonata, AmaLyra, AmaDante and AmaDolce. Selina and our Operations team in Basel have adapted the timing and nature of the fitness classes to best fit each itinerary but I do have to share my personal favorites –…

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free or discounted tickets in NYC

9 ways to score free or discounted tickets in NYC

April 5, 2018

I love the theater and live music events. There are so many options here in the Big Apple, and finding free or discounted tickets in NYC has become a full-time hobby. Live TV audience opportunities, Broadway lotteries and rush seat alerts have become my pastime, and, despite recent disappointments, my hopes remain high that I will continue to finesse live performances at bargain prices. This week alone, I failed miserably with getting free or discounted…

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ashtanga yoga

India: Mindfulness. Meditation. Detox.

January 5, 2018

I’ve been back in New York for three weeks now, and have yet to document my recent trip to southern India to attend a 200-hour yoga teacher training (YTT). This is probably because I am still trying to characterize and make sense of it. Now, mulling it over, I ask myself, was this a fun trip? No! Was it a good experience? Perhaps. Was it transformative? Somewhat. When I first arrive, thoughts of  “WHAT was I thinking?”…

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fire ceremony

Sanskrit chants and rituals

January 4, 2018

The program begins and ends the same, with a fire ceremony. We all wear white, and take turns tossing in offerings of fresh herbs to purge our negativity while our leader, Sachin, feeds the flames with ghee (clarified butter) and balsa wood. Our wrists are tied with red and yellow threaded bands, worn by most on the right. As a married woman, I will wear mine throughout the month, as a symbol of my devotion to the program. Two…

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rock & roll hall fame rolling stone fifty year exhibit

Cleveland do’s and don’ts

June 14, 2017

The only reason I ever considered visiting Cleveland was to see the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Period. It turns out there was a lot more going on the weekend we visited this down-but-not-out city. Still struggling economically after the Great Recession, Cleveland ranks as the number two economically distressed city in the US (after Camden, NJ). Empty downtown office buildings. Abandoned housing projects. Unfinished retail landscapes. Polluted rivers and lake. Old city charm vs. reality.…

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