Ohm for the Holidays – PILATES+SPA - $760
Pilates private sessions, 6 pack
Spa massages or facials, 2 sessions

THE SPA – Peace of Mind
Present Tense – Choice of any 50-min massage – $99
Face the Present – Choice of 50-min facial – $99
Exercise Your Options – Choice of (1) 50-min massage and (1) 50-min facial – $180
Past, Present, Future – Year of (12) massages or facials – $1100

FITNESS PACKAGES – The More the Merrier
Presents of Mind – PT+PILATES+SPA - $3501
Personal Training 24 pack at Tier 3
Pilates private sessions, 6 pack
Spa massages or facials, 6 pack
Present Perfect – PT+PILATES+SPA - $2069
Personal Training 12 pack at Tier 3
Pilates private sessions, 6 pack
Spa massages or facials, 3 pack

THE SHOP
Stock up on stylish gifts at The Shop.
Spend $100 receive 10% off, spend $200 receive 20% off, spend $300 receive 30% off.

1. Stephanie Quadri has the scoop on must-have fall fashion.

2. Sarah Eveans, Allison Hatfield, Tim Rogers, and I bring you the 11 Dallas Style Setters You Need To Know.

3. Laura Kostelny wants you to look beautiful at any age.

4. The D Beauty staff rounded up the latest and greatest Dallas beauty news.

5. Raya Ramsey knows purple is fall’s signature color, and she’s found the products to prove it.

(Photo by Maxine Helfman)

The facility  includes a sports apparel retail boutique with lines such as Sergio Tacchini, Tail, andFila, to name a few; a proprietary LifeStyle Performance Center providing extensive scientific and fitness testing; fitness and nutrition counseling; a selection of supplements from Vemma, Verve, and Advocare; private one-on-one personal training in four different studio settings; and sports massage.

Champion4Fitness offers clients an innovative scientific approach which integrates fitness and nutrition with science and technology at a personalized level like no other wellness resource in the market.  Each client receives a framework of support from industry leaders utilizing a fully integrated testing, training, and nutrition system.

Among the Champion4Fitness leaders are chief medical director Jeffrey C. Caruth, M.D., chief of staff in the Ob-Gyn department at the Medical Center of Plano and founder of Plano Aesthetics. You might also recall the article about the Dr. Ted diet in D Beauty. That was Dr. Caruth, too.

(*photo  above by Gregg Ellman)

photograph by Nancy Newberry

Stephanie wanted me to try this Equmen shirt. I do what Stephanie tells me to. Into the men’s bathroom I went, trading my comfy white short-sleeve Hanes undershirt for this tight, black, long-sleeved number. When I took it out of the box, it didn’t look big enough to fit my 10-year-old son. It’s like one of those Speedo suits you saw in the Olympics: you need a squire to help you get into it.

I’ve been wearing the thing for an hour or so, and I must now remove it. It performs as promised: it makes me stand up straighter and improves my posture (mostly because if I slouch I can’t breathe). Surprisingly, it’s not hot. Even in the office, with a dress shirt worn over it, the Equmen feel good temperature-wise. But the squeezing is too much. My hands are turning red because my tiny heart can’t pump the blood out of them. And I feel — uneasy. On edge. Like I’m wearing a boa constrictor, and if I exhale at any point, he’s tighten up on me, slowly but surely crushing me to death. In short, I feel uncomfortable.

Raya Ramsey, from our wonderful web staff, made a great observation: guys are used to feeling comfortable. Women are used to be squeezed. Girdles, pantyhouse, pointy-toed shoes — not to mention thongs! You ladies have it tough. But we men get it easy. So this Equmen thing is probably just fine for a woman. But this man? He’s going back to Hanes.

I bet he’d do better with the V-neck or tank version. If you’re an adventurous male, get one for yourself here for $89-$110. Jump for more on the undershirt, including tips on how to get it on and off.

EQUMEN CORE PRECISION T-SHIRT:
How to Get It On and Off

As told by Equmen Managing Director Gavin Jones

Each of the three Equmen t-shirts is slightly different to put on.  While it may seem challenging at first, once you get the hang of it you can do it in a snap!

1.    SLEEVELESS TANK
Put one arm through the armhole, then get your head and the other arm in, wriggle a little and pull it on.  At first it bunches a bit under the arm, so with your thumbs, reach both arms around the back, grab the curled-up fabric and start dragging it down. Bring your thumbs around to the front as you unravel the fabric.  Then you can straighten it up around you.  There is a moon shaped crescent in the fabric on the front that should sit under your pectoral muscles.  Pull it away from the skin all over, let it snap back, and then you are in.

2.     V  NECK T-SHIRT
The V Neck Tee is a little bit more difficult, as you have to get the shoulder strapping over your shoulders.  But again, once you have done it a couple of times, it will come much easier.

Head in first, and then both arms one by one.  Next, bring the thumbs around the back and drag the curled up fabric down as you go.  Then drag the core fabric down in front, again ensuring that the crescent at the front is under your pecs.

Straighten up the arms and shoulders.  Some like to stretch the arms down over the biceps so it ends near the elbow, while others like to end the arm at the shoulder end of the bicep. It’s up to you. Make sure the seam is under you armpit and the largest part of the compression pad is over the largest part of the shoulder’s ball and socket.

3.    LONGLEEVE
While the long sleeve is the most complicated to get on, it provides the fullest range of benefits.  Follow the same process as the t-shirt. Make sure that the seam on the arms runs straight down the inside of your arm from armpit to elbow.

HOW TO GET IT OFF
You do not need someone there to help you if you follow this technique.  To take it off, just cross your hands over at the front.  Hold your breath and pull it off like a sweater.  But this technique might be difficult for someone with shoulder problems.  So you can put both arms inside the core of the shirt and move it up the body that way.  The undershirt is pretty strong and even if it is stretched in many directions, it always will go back to its original shape immediately.

OTHER TIPS:
-    The Core Precision Undershirt is designed to be long in length to take into consideration the diversity in men’s heights and core sizes, to make sure your gut doesn’t burst though when you are reaching for the computer paper, for example.  So it is fine to be a little bunched at your belt, or you can tuck it in.
-    If it feels a little tight under your arms, let it warm up a bit, around 30 minutes.  The state-of-the-art stitching and seaming won’t cut into you.  But the fabric needs time to be responsive. It really does modify to fit you like a second skin.

• Six nights luxury accommodations. (Guests will be paired with a roommate.)
• Vinyasa yoga (unless otherwise stated) taught in the beach side yoga pavilion.
• Beach power walks and Pilates-based body sculpting classes.
• Cooking class of traditional Mexican cuisine.
• Surf lessons for all levels: beginner, intermediate and surf adventures for the advanced.
• Sea kayaking and hiking offered for those not interested in surfing.
• Salsa dancing lessons.
• Day trip to Petatlan and nearby lagoon for a cultural and ecological tour, as well as a private lunch prepared by a local family.
• Beach bonfire night.
• Movie night on the beach, in an outdoor screening room under the stars.
• One Restoring Massage per person at The Tides Spa.
• Three delicious, healthy meals reflective of the region each day. The tasty low-fat meal plan consists of chemical-free food, fresh-catch fish, lean meats, creative salads, healthy whole grains, lots of exotic fruits and juices, even yummy light desserts.
• Round-trip transfers to/from Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo airport.

Grand Opening Event Schedule

January 17, 2009 * 10AM-5PM

10:30am Kick Boxing Demo

11:00am Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Demo

12:00pm Children’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Demo

12:30pm Women’s Self Defense Introduction

1:00pm Muay Thai Demo

1:30pm Boxing Demo

2:00pm Mixed Martial Arts Demo

2:00pm Strength Training Demo

2:30pm Women’s Boot Camp Introduction

3:00pm Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Demo

4:00pm MMA Conditioning Introduction