Sports Vacations in Italy with a Twist
It’s no surprise that fitness has undergone a revolution in the last 20 years as men and women have turned to other methods of fitness in order to stay in shape. In Italy, a new health boom is taking fitness to yet another level – it’s called “mountain fitness” and it’s not only helping men and women of all ages stay in shape, but its increasing individual awareness of the great outdoors, in addition to assisting many men and women overcome their fear of heights.
According to the Director of Sports Medicine at the “Centre for Isokenetic Studies” in Bologna, Doctor Giulio Sergio Roi, “mountain fitness” has always comprised several areas: walking, trekking, trail-running, mountain biking and orienteering. And each discipline involves cardio-vascular conditioning while offering an aerobic workout that most fitness instructors would be envious of.
Says Roi, “…Not only athletes, but also your average healthy individuals are demanding more of their workouts and the way they go about getting and staying in shape…”
The CIS has recently recognized 3 new disciplines into its mountain-fitness philosophy: sky running, yoga trekking and tree climbing. Let’s take a look at what each one has to offer, and how you can plan your next vacation around these athletic pursuits.
Sky-Running:
Started to gain popularity in the early 1990’s as an “extreme sport” but is only now has gaining acceptance in fitness circles. Sky-running takes place at heights ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 meters. And is at its most challenging when it involves a variety of slopes for up and downhill running. A sport that demands participants to be in shape ahead of time. For more information check out www.fsa-sky.org.ita
Yoga Trekking:
Takes the best of the disciplines of meditation, yoga and trekking and combines them all into one enjoyable experience. Trekkers are accompanied by a spiritual guide to enhance the time spent outdoors. Contact Paolo Ricci at 06-80690188 or www.trekkingyoga.com.
Tree Climbing:
Fast-becoming the most exciting of the mountain-fitness past times, tree climbing takes climbers to heights of 50 to 100 meters and more, where individuals quickly overcome their fear of heights while depending on their coordination, endurance and strength to get them from tree to tree. For years a popular extreme sport in the rain forests of Ecuador, tree climbing is now making waves in Italy. Tree-routes are pre-selected and have built in platforms within their canopy. Tarzan should have it so good. Contact the Adrenalin Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo at 0436-860808 or log on to www.adrenalincenter.it.
Courses are conducted throughout the year. With a little coordination of your travel itinerary, you can surely find a way to squeeze in one or more activities and still have time to throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain.
