September 20, 2007

US & Canada | US | Hawaii

Say Aloha to Yoga

By Nicole Cotroneo

Get your shanti on with days of wine and chocolate.

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Keeping fit and staying centered has turned into a tasty — and decadent — regimen at Waikiki’s premier luxe hotel, Halekulani. The “house befitting heaven” is known for offering a world-class spa experience, but it’s about to up the ante with “Yoga + Chocolate” workshops October 6 and 7. In short: prepare for sensory overload. Chicago chocolatier and founder of Vosges Haut-Chocolat, Katrina Markoff, has designed seven exotic truffles meant to stimulate the body’s seven chakras (for non-yogis, those are “energy centers”). Pairing them with postures will be your guru, David Romanelli, the man behind a host of alternative yoga trends, including “Yoga + Wine.” So, before you dip into the downward dog — to center your chakra governing desire and power, of course — you’ll perhaps sample, a “black pearl” truffle with dark chocolate, ginger, wasabi and black sesame seeds. Yes, we can hear the purists’ collective wail — but, come on, at least there are heart benefits to eating dark chocolate. Not to mention the gifts you’ll get for participating: a Zinfandel, a blue Halekulani yoga mat and, yes, more chocolate.