Maryam Kaba

Leave it to Carine Roitfeld to find a sexy form of exercise: Afrovibe, developed by her amazing coach sportif, or trainer, Maryam Kaba. On 17 December, Kaba posted on her Facebook page, "Carine Roitfeld quitte vogue mais ne quitte pas sa coach préférée!!!! au contraire elle aura plus de temps à lui consacrer et les cours seront moins tôt le matin!!!" or in English, "Carine Roitfeld left Vogue but did not leave her favorite coach!! On the contrary, she will have more time to devote to it and the courses will be less early in the morning!"

Kaba's technique consists of two parts: Echauffement Afrovibe to warm up and stretch your head, shoulders, and pelvis before moving into Cardio Afrovibe, a choreographed cardiovascular routine that lasts for a minimum of 40 minutes. While you enjoy moving to the rhythms of the music following Kaba's lead, you are actually targeting various muscle groups to draw on your fat reserves and improving your coordination and rhythm at the same time. Incroyable ! A former French gymnastics champion, Kaba especially likes helping her clients stay focused on the particular goals they envision such as losing weight, quitting tobacco, and building confidence.

Engaging, dynamic, powerful, Afrovibe will have you working out and loving every minute. Try it yourself in the brief videos that Maryam Kaba has kindly shared on YouTube:

Echauffement Afrovibe
Cardio Afrovibe I
Cardio Afrovibe II
Taille/Hanches/Abdos
Renforcement des Bras

Unfortunately we cannot see Carine in the videos but Kaba's style is infectious whomever she is teaching. Even if you do not understand French, simply imitate her movements and you will be working out like a Roitfeld.

Maryam Kaba images courtesy of her Facebook and Youtube pages

Chiva-Som

In a recent interview with the London Evening Standard, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld mentioned that her mother, Carine, was taking a well-deserved break at Chiva-Som or "Haven of Life," an exquisite seven-acre resort located in the Gulf of Thailand. While one may imagine that La Roitfeld chose the crème de la crème of spas simply to relax, there is more to Chiva-Som than luxury: the resort promises that guests will leave with a completely new perspective on personal health and well-being that results in a lifestyle transformation. While visiting, the spa invites guests to partake in physiotherapy, holistic health facilities, fitness classes, and over 150 treatments. With a stunning average ratio of 350 employees to 116 guests, every possible need is sure to be met by the capable and pleasant staff.

Let’s not dismiss the luxury aspect of the experience. While vacationing at Chiva-Som, guests can select from a range of 58 elegant private rooms or suites decorated in gorgeous woods and sumptuous fabrics. Perhaps the lovely scented La Roitfeld keeps the "Fragrance Suite" at her disposal, complete with butler and ocean view. Chiva-Som is the perfect place for Carine’s restorative holiday, she can seek advice on her health status, take a massage, eat well, and relax by practicing Tai Chi or Pilates at the ocean's edge. Considering the chilly temperatures in Paris it seems likely that she might even pack a few books from her library to read poolside. What better way to escape from the stress of life in a modern metropolis than by lounging with a beverage and a favorite book in the tropical air? If only we could accompany Carine on her life-changing adventure...

Instead, enjoy some of the goodness of Chiva-Som in the comfort of your own home. Visit epicurious.com for healthy Thai recipes courtesy of Chiva-Som's esteemed executive chef, Paisarn Cheewinsiriwat, who explains his culture and his cuisine thusly: "Thai lifestyle is laid-back, and so is the cooking style. Open your mind and explore some ingredients such as lemongrass, galangal, and sweet basil." His Thai-Spiced Watermelon Soup with Crabmeat looks amazing, a complex mix of unusual flavors... Who knows, you may be enjoying the same delicious meals as Carine soon. Bon appétit !

Chiva-Som images © 2010 Chiva-Som International Health Resort. All Rights Reserved.

Update on mercredi 14 décembre 2011 by kellina

If you would like to try creating more of the culinary delights from Chiva-Som, may I suggest the recently published book Thai Spa Cuisine by Chiva-Som which features more than 50 recipes from Chef Paisarn Cheewinsiriwat and his team at the world's top spa retreat.

L'appartement 217

Carine Roitfeld likes L'appartement 217 for her body treatments, or as the spa's web site states, "soin de corps et d'esprit" (care of body and spirit). Located in the first arrondissement on rue Saint-Honoré in Paris, this sanctuary in the Hausmann style has been perfected by Feng Shui experts to be a place of total calm. All products used are natural, the kimonos for guests are made out of organic pine tree pulp "soft and downy as silk", the water in the spa is decalcified, and the electrical waves are insulated to neutralize any harmful effects. Conceived by Stéphane Jaulin (formerly beauty director for Colette), this spacious, well-lighted setting is a haven of calm in urban Paris. Stop into L'appartement 217 for a facial or massage and soothe your body and spirit beautifully.

Image of L'appartement 217 courtesy of vogue.fr

Pilates

If you want to be a Roitfeld, then you need to have the body to fit the clothes. Although Carine attributes her perfect figure to the fact that she has been blessed with a meager appetite, she also begins her day with Pilates at 8 a.m. every morning. If you have never tried it, you may be surprised at how fast even a few minutes of Pilates practiced regularly will reshape your form.

Combining moves from aerobics and yoga, Pilates focuses on strengthening the core of the body, lengthening and toning rather than adding bulk as some workouts tend to do. I love Pilates but have limited time to work out; the great news is that practicing even ten to twenty minutes every other day can prove beneficial. If, like me, you don't have time or money to allot to the gym, pick up a copy of the new DVD Exhale: Core Fusion Pilates Plus. Each of the routines is only ten minutes long but I promise you will feel the burn and see results. Surely you have ten minutes a day to invest in a slim and fit physique. There are also free Pilates videos available via YouTube.

Carine Roitfeld in python ankle boots photograph source: stylesightings.com