All posts by roger

Searching for Unspoilt Tenerife – Up Mountains and Down Water Slides

Travel, , , , , , ,

Where can you experience most of the world’s climate zones in one day?

On Tenerife. The largest of Spain’s Canary Islands and home to some of the most stunning scenery in Europe.

unspoilt tenerife
Masca Trail

Like Mallorca, Tenerife has a reputation for being nothing more than a party island. The infamous Playa De Las Americas conjures up images of British themed pubs, hoards of drunken party-animals, fish and chip suppers, black sand beaches and the thudding bass of techno dance music.

If that’s what you want then you can’t go wrong with Tenerife.

But drive two kilometres inland from any point on the coast and you find unspoilt Tenerife. Sleepy villages, orange groves, hidden treasures. You’ll also climb steeply up twisty turns and before long will be able to gaze back at the coast thousands of feet below you.

unspoilt tenerife
Mount Tiede and Las Canadas Caldera

At the centre of Tenerife is Mount Tiede. At over 12,000ft, it is Spain’s highest peak. Ascend by cable car for amazing views of the island and the curvature of the earth. A hiker’s paradise, in winter, Tiede gets buried in white snow and ice.

The crater from which the mountain juts is called the Las Cañadas Caldera. A stark landscape of impossible rock formations resembling the desert in Arizona. You’ll notice the deafening silence here as there is no vegetation and no birds to create a background melody.

If you twist and turn your way around the rest of the island you’ll see pine forests, grasslands, green valleys and other magnificent peaks; some shrouded in cloud and fog. Explore the lovely village of Santiago Del Tiede in the shadow of the mountains.

unspoilt tenerife
Los Gigantes

Back on the coast you can find many smaller resorts offering a more relaxing atmosphere than the bustle of Las Americas. Los Gigantes offers a compact town nestled beneath sheer cliffs. From the harbour you can take boat trips or hire a jet ski or simply sit in one of the many restaurants and eat a plate of Tenerife’s signature dish – the “wrinkled” salty potato with hot pepper sauce.

unspoilt tenerife
Swimming With Turtles

Learn to suba dive from Los Gigantes or if you are a seasoned diver go with the learners as they swim with turtles in the crystal clear blue sea.

unspoilt tenerife
Statues in Candelaria

Candelaria to the east offers a long sweeping coastline lined by statues, bars, restaurants and low-rise hotels.

unspoilt tenerife
Hotel Abama

For more luxurious surroundings check out the Hotel Abama – part of the US Ritz Carlton chain – with its own man-made white sandy beach and several Michelin starred restaurants. Whilst it is expensive, consider tagging a few days on your stay and take a room here. They know how to pamper and the resort is sprawling and immaculately maintained.

unspoilt tenerife
Siam Park – ProSlide Tornado Dragon Ride

For thrills go to Siam Park. A water slide paradise with rides such as the ProSide Tornado as big and scary as some steel rollercoasters. Authentic theming transports you to the Far East with accurate and detailed temples and statues. It’s so real you really could be in old Siam.

At only 4 hours flight time from the UK Tenerife offers a perfect combination of vibrant nightlife, picturesque scenery, stomach churning thrills and chill out luxury.

Now it’s your turn: Have you been to Tenerife recently? Where did you stay? What were your favourite parts of the island to visit. Please leave a comment or share a link to your own article.

If you want to find out more about Tenerife check out:

 

Spoiler Alert – Track List for Les Mills Body Combat release 60

Fitness and Yoga, , , , , , , ,

In less than a month we’ll see Les Mills Body Combat release 60. Do you want to know which tracks we’ll be burning calories too and sculpting our bodies?

If you don’t want spoilers look away now. Other wise scroll down past the picture.

les mills body combat release 60
Dan Cohen and Rachael Newsham – Body Combat Programme Directors.

Upper body warmup – Hit me with your best shot (BassLouder Remix Edit) – Neon Ninja
Lower body warmup – Roar (Bass Rayders Remix Edit) – Hot Cherry
Combat 1 – Black or White (Combat Remix) – The Treat Ring
Power 1 – Fly Away – Deer Between
Combat 2 – Emergency (Clockwork Remix) – Steve Aoki feat. Lil Jon, Chiddy Ban
Power  2 – Rise Again  (Sy and Unknown Remix) – Breeze v Lost Witness
Combat 3 – What’s Love  (Kandy Man Remix Edit) – Ste Ingham and Nick Stitz
Muay Thai – Kryptonite – Proof Luke
Power 3 – Sunshine On a Cloudy Day  (Eufeion Remix)
Conditioning – You’re the Best – Blazed Calm
Cool down – Now We are Free – Lisa Kelly

There are a couple of tracks we have seen before. Fly Away appeared in release 29 way back. And Now We Are Free was also the cooldown in release 20. I usually get grumpy when Les Mills reuse music. But on this occasion I’ll let them off “Now We Are Free” as I trained on BC20 and loved it then and I love it now.

I can’t take the credit for finding this track list – that accolade goes to Simon – check out his blog  – you’ll find much more here!

Now it’s your turn: If you want more spoilers you can click on the links above to see the music on Amazon. They might not be exactly the same mixes because Les Mills often edit the tracks. But it will give you a good feel for what’s on its way. If there’s no link it’s because the track is a Les Mills cover version.

Indoor Cycling – New Group Fitness Over Coffee Episode

Fitness and Yoga, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Let’s talk about Indoor Cycling.

My latest guest is Stephen Breakwell. He’s a Black Belt Taekwondo Teacher, rock guitarist, cyclist and now a Les Mills Body Combat, Body Balance, CXWorx and RPM instructor as well as a freetstyle Kaiser Spinning instructor.

Indoor cycling

It’s not only about indoor cycling. We get to hear a motivational story about how Stephen overcame a critical illness to become the accomplished group fitness instructor that he is.

With tips, tricks and stories about all the programmes he teaches, you really cannot miss this interview with Stephen Breakwell.

Listen to the podcast by clicking here:

Download the podcast by RIGHT clicking here:

You can also find the podcast on iTunes HERE.

Subscribe on Stitcher Radio HERE.

Now it’s your turn: If you enjoyed this podcast about indoor cycling please share it with your friends, leave a comment or go to iTunes and leave a review.

Spoiler Alert – Les Mills Body Balance release 65 Track List

Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , ,

Look away now if you don’t want spoilers.

Carry on reading if you would like to know which songs we’ll be working out to in Les Mills Body Balance release 65.

Les Mills Body Balance release 60 tracklist
Body Balance programme directors Diana and Jackie Mills developing BB65

Tai Chi: Dark Horse – Katy Perry feat. Juicy J
Sun Salutations: Take Care – Drake feat. Rihanna
Standing Strength: Ordinary Love – Peaceful Gate
Balance: Strange Birds – Birdy
Hip Openers: Hold On, We’re Going Home – Drake feat. Majid Jordan
Core Abs: Happy – C2C feat. Derek Martin
Core back: Counting Stars – OneRepublic
Twists: You – Nathaniel
Forward Bends & Hamstrings 1: Falling Slowly – Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
Forward Bends & Hamstrings 2: How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
Relaxation: Open Spaces – Stanton Lanier
Meditation: Imber – Rhian Sheehan
Bonus Sun Salutations: Myth – Delerium

Once again thanks to Simon Philp for pointing out the list. Check out his blog   – you’ll find much more Les Mills stuff here!

With a month to go before the next round of Quarterly Workshops it might be early getting excited about a new release. But that’s a great track list. Can’t wait.

Now it’s your turn: What do you think of the Les Mills Body Balance release 65 track list? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.

If you want more spoilers you can click on the links above to see the music on Amazon. They won’t be exactly the same mixes because Les Mills often edit the tracks, and some are Les Mills cover versions and not available commercially. But it will give you a good feel for what’s on its way.