Posted by Jane Carswell on Wed, Aug 11, 2010 @ 05:37 PM
from The Wild Pair
Is traveling with your sister on vacation a recipe for disaster? It doesn’t have to be as long as you lay down some ground rules first. Here are a few travel-tested truths for keeping peace in the sister hood.
1. Leave the baggage at home. Traveling with sisters should be easy. You carry the same DNA. You’re alike. Right? Wrong. Sibling relationships can be fraught with the peril of childhood roles, divergent interests and unspoken resentments. So, no matter if you’re the big sis used to being in charge or the baby accustomed to being indulged, leave the birth-order baggage at home. Commit to appreciating each other as you are NOW and let the magic begin. The bonds born out of the shared experience of upbringing is like nothing you can ever have with a friend, partner or coworker. Let it blossom.
2. Privatize: Allow for private time in your itinerary. Even if you and your sister(s) are BFF, heading off on separate adventures gives you something to chat about when you regroup. Compare wish lists and decide which activities are best suited to individual exploration. If you love tromping through museums and castles and she thinks the perfect vacation is watching life from the seat of a café table, then one of you is going to be disappointed or resentful. Make time to break away and do your own thing. It will enhance your experience and the quality of time spent together.
3. Get thee to chocolate. Not much sweetens a disagreement or hurt feelings better than chocolate. If you start to get snarky, or she does, take two chocolates and another in the morning. If symptoms escalate, wine is also recommended.
4. Play well with others. Remember those grade school report cards with a check box for plays-well-with-others? Well the rules haven’t changed much. Return home from your vacation with top marks. Say please and thank you a lot. Show respect, admit your mistakes and never be a tattletale. What happens in Nevis, stays in Nevis.
5. Money, money, money. Communication is important when it comes to money, especially if one of you has to watch your pennies more than another. Sharing the expenses can be a big motivator for traveling together. But, don’t insist on eating at the most expensive restaurant in Paris and expect your unemployed sister to split the bill. Or, book $150 Cirque du Soleil tickets on a whim and then ask to be compensated after the fact. Be sure to discuss in advance your expectations for sharing costs, the level of accommodation or how paying for meals is to be handled.
Hat tip for some great suggestions from our virtual Twitter sisters: @swellwomen; @pen4hire; @ableimes. If you’re not following them, you should be!
CMH Sister Getaways
CMH has a handful of women-only adventures. A great way to explore the mountains with your sisters and friends.
1. Be Bodacious! CMH’s Hostess with the Mostess, Ellen Slaughter joins forces with Yoga instructor Angie Smith for a bodacious combination of fun, pampering, physical fitness & challenge, shopping and friendship. Bodacious in the Bugaboos comes in three flavours: Classic, Yoga and Bold offered throughout the summer at the Bobbie Burns and Bugaboo Lodges.
2. Stretch ‘n Stir Sisterhood. Join sisters Julie and Sandra for a weekend of cooking demonstrations, yoga and heli-hiking. Hike at your own pace amid the dramatic Bugaboo Spires, through alpine meadows and explore ancient glaciers with like-minded, fun-seeking pals and certified mountain guides. Bugaboo Lodge August 19-23 2010 and 2011.
3. Bikini Boot Camp. Calgary-based fitness instructor and Bikini Boot Camp founder Dawn Kosloski puts her own spin on a women- only Heli-Hiking trip. Combining high –intensity workouts with energetic heli-hiking makes for a great girlfriend getaway to kick-start your fall fitness routine. Bugaboo Lodge, September 4 – 7, 2011.
BON VOYAGE from the Wild Pair!
ABOUT THE WILD PAIR: Ellen Barone and Judith Fein,
They’re smart, sassy, savvy, award-winning travel journalists and photographers and now they’ve joined forces to become THE WILD PAIR, bringing you cutting-edge information and tips on how to turn your next vacation into a life-enhancing experience.
© Ellen Barone and Judith Fein. All Rights Reserved.
Posted by Jane Carswell on Sun, Jul 18, 2010 @ 09:06 PM
Article by Ellen Slaughter
Angie Smith, our yoga instructor, and I are just back from hosting the first “Bodacious in the Bugaboos” girlfriend getaway of 2010. And all I can say is...WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
In response to requests from last year’s “Bodacious Babes” for more of Angie’s soul-soothing yoga on a future trip,our “Yoga Rocks” firlfriend getaway was born. With all the classic elements of our popular “Bodacious in the Bugaboos” getaways – guided alpine hiking, sunrise yoga, laugh-out-loud fun and friendship intact, we added daily après-hiking yoga to this trip. So, late each afternoon we flew back to the lodge, and led by Angie, we quieted our minds and stretched our bodies. Everyone agreed it was the perfect complement to our high-octane days of hiking.
Little did we know that our CMH mountaineering guides in the Bugaboos had a big surprise in store for us. On our third day after a spectacular ridge hike in the morning, the “Bodacious Babes” geared up with climbing harnesses and helmets and pushed their limits on the brand new breathtaking Bugaboos via ferrata. What a thrill for each and every one of us!
A night of wacky celebration was the icing on the cake as the Bodacious ladies, lodge guests and staff danced, “limbo-ed” and “hoola-hooped” the night away at the “Tight ‘n Bright” party.
Add to all this Chef David Weslowsky's scrumptious meals, Guylaine’s mouth-watering baking, welcoming hospitality from all the staff and guides and a BIG dose of ROTOR FEVER and voila, we all came home with big smiles on our faces and memories to treasure!!
Stay tuned for news of two more “Bodacious in the Bugaboos” girlfriend getaways this August. A couple of spots are available on our August 26 – 29th trip. I invite you to come and live large with us in the Bugaboos! For more information please call 1.800.661.0252.
Ellen Slaughter
CMH Bodacious Trip Host
Posted by Jane Carswell on Wed, May 05, 2010 @ 05:18 PM
I love my kids, my family and my job but there's no denying it. Sometimes you just need to break away with the gals for a short time and be free of responsibility.
This morning we hosted our second Live Chat Webinar here at CMH and our theme was Girlfriend Getaways. Listening to yoga instructor Angie Smith and our Bodacious hostess Ellen Slaughter made think again about getting a trip together this summer with some gals. This is now item #1 on my Must-Do list!
For those of you that missed the webinar, I would highly recommend watching it when you have a chance. Ellen and Angie were their entertaining selves, the photos were fantastic and after listening to them you'll have a hard time not recommending this Girlfriend Getaway to your favourite gal for Mother's Day.
Show Mom how much you love her with the gift of adventure! Call our Heli-Hiking experts at 1.800.661.0252 for more information.
Posted by John Entwistle on Thu, Mar 25, 2010 @ 04:34 PM
By: Ellen Slaughter
Each summer a growing number of women join us on our Heli-Hiking adventures. In 2009 Dawn Kosloski, co-owner of Bikini Boot Camp, was one of these women. This summer Dawn is hosting a trip for Bikini Boot Camp recruits. I had the chance to sit down with Dawn and ask her a couple of questions about the trip.
Ellen: Dawn, you were a successful geologist in Calgary's oil patch. What prompted you to switch gears and build Bikini Boot Camp across Canada?
Dawn: I have always been passionate about physical activity and the outdoors. When my best friend Lindsay started Bikini Boot Camp in 2004 and asked for my assistance, I loved the idea! As the business grew I realized how excited I was about the company and what it stands for.
Ellen: Where do you get your satisfaction as an owner of Bikini Boot Camp?
Dawn: I am so happy to be a part of building such an amazing company that empowers women in a positive, fun and supportive environment while challenging them to be their very best. It's an incredible feeling to be able to celebrate the success of our participants and trainers.
Ellen: You were on a CMH women's Heli-Hiking trip last summer. Now in 2010 you are hosting a Heli-Hiking trip for Bikini Boot Campers. What is it about a CMH women's trip that matches up well with Bikini Boot Camp's core values?
Dawn: "Bikini Boot Camp Gets Bold" is an extension of our programs which empower women in a positive, fun and supportive environment while challenging them to be their very best. The opportunity to be able to bring together a group of amazing and like minded, active women wanting to take time for themselves or with girlfriends or family is an easy choice. This trip will empower, inspire and amaze you!
Ellen: What are 3 things you would like any woman who is thinking about joining "Bikini Boot Camp Gets Bold" to know?
Dawn:
1. You can do this! The Bikini Boot Camp and CMH team will guide and support you every step of the way and make this fun and incredible weekend one you will never forget. Every detail, from the top of the line equipment to the unlimited home made cookies, is taken care of.
2. You can come alone! You will be with a group of like minded and amazing women who will feel like family by the end of the trip. You will laugh and celebrate your successes and all those fun and breathtaking moments together.
3. You deserve this! What better way to Celebrate Yourself than by treating yourself to a world class, once in a lifetime, fun and fabulous experience. From your first views of the magnificent granite spires to the incredible feeling of being on top of the world in the helicopter this trip will leave you breathless!
Thanks Dawn. It's great to chat. To learn more about the exciting growth of Bikini Boot Camp across Canada, check out the April issue of Alberta Venture. Dawn always inspires me with her positive, fun-loving, can-do approach to life. I'm excited to get out in the mountains with her this summer. I hope you can join us.
Ellen
Posted by Jane Carswell on Thu, Jan 28, 2010 @ 12:30 PM
by Angie Smith
I am a yoga teacher, a yoga student and co-host of Bodacious in the Bugaboos with my dear friend Ellen.
Is this for real? Is this truly my life? There are times when I pinch myself and think only in my dreams would I have a life that allows me to share my passion of yoga and philosophy with dynamic inspiring women every year with Canadian Mountain Holidays.
The setting could not be more inspiring, uplifting and beautiful. With the comfort of the lodge, the mountain views from our yoga room, the friendly staff that make everyone feel comfortable; it all adds up to making the yoga experience that much more special. The lodge acts as our home away from home and sets the tone for us to relax on this 3-½ day trip. Leaving our busy lives behind to revel in the beauty of our surroundings, and most importantly – to be present.
Our days begin with Sunrise Yoga. I wait in our yoga room watching many of our group enter the studio carrying in cups of tea or coffee. We delight in the beauty of the sun coming up over top of the magnificent Bugaboo Spire and Howser Towers – the light is cast, and a magnificent reflection is projected on the lake. This is a wonderful way to begin our day together.
Usually I ring a bell to begin the class amidst chatting in the room. We put down our warm drinks and step onto our yoga mats. Om… The class begins…We do sun salutations, mountain pose, tree pose, breathing in the fresh air and sharing energy amongst one another.
Yoga has many different translations from Sanskrit to English. The word yoga means union / to join; or to use my teacher’s definition – “intimacy”. We don’t just do yoga on the Bodacious in the Bugaboos we experience yoga. Watching the sunrise, walking up the mountain, flying high above the mountain peaks and alpine meadows in our helicopter taxi. You may chat with a new friend and be wholeheartedly attentive and present in the conversation. Sitting in silence, breathing on top of Gemini Mountain beside a waterfall. These are glimpses of what you may experience throughout your trip to help extend your yoga practice.
With a guided morning class, the energetic flow of the yoga practice sets a tone for our day. We experience yoga in the now! We experience the present moment, and to me this is yoga. Of course, we get a little help, and inspiration, from Mother Nature.
Many people ask me – what makes Bodacious in the Bugaboos so special? My answer is simple. Bodacious trips are the perfect combination of pushing your own personal limits, connecting with new and old friends, being connected to nature and being or becoming connected to SELF with the aid of yoga.
In my mind, Yoga is anything that you put your heart and soul into – this can range from a practice on a mat to skiing or hiking. Yoga is about being present.
On Bodacious in the Bugaboos I am considered a teacher, but what I LEARN from being part of these journeys every year is quite remarkable and humbly immeasurable.
Namaste,
Angie Smith