1. 6 Ways to Embrace Adventure

Let me know if you are ready to embrace adventure!

2. Women's River Cruise - Wellness on Water

Check out this ad appearing in PostMedia newspapers across Canada.

And check out this Daytime Ottawa TV appearance. Here's my interview talking with Derek Fage .

Just remember, there are three steps to Embrace “Your Grace”:

STEP 1.) STEP ON UP - savour, sip, self-care

STEP 2.) STEP ONBOARD your moving boutique hotel room

STEP 3.) STEP ONSHORE to cities and towns along the Danube River

Let me know if you'd like to secure your spot.   (And yes, there are some husbands coming. At least 3 are booked thus far!)

This will be a 7-night Danube River cruise, that sets sail from Budapest on Oct. 4, 2024, and heads to Nuremberg, before finishing its voyage with 2 nights in Prague on Oct. 13, 2024. See all the details : https://tinyulr.com/LushWellCruise 

3. River Cruise Corner -  Regensburg

Let me know if you'd like to visit Regensburg! 

4. Adventure Travel Corner - William Shatner on Life, Eclipses, and Antarctica

William Shatner was on "Bill Maher" on Friday night, and he continues to amaze with his stamina (at 93), his outlook on life (and how he went from being the biggest TV star to watching an eclipse in his truck 6 months later), the changes Star Trek made (including that kiss), and his continuing to go on adventures. Yes, he went into space. And up next: Antarctica!

William Shatner is going to Antarctica at 93. See https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/william-shatner-is-heading-to-antarctica-and-he-wants-you-to-join-him/ar-BB1kINmi 

and 

https://www.insidehook.com/television/william-shatner-bill-maher-real-time 

How wild is that?!

What is your excuse from not taking an adventure?  

See https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/william-shatners-next-bold-adventure-facing-death

So what does “to boldly go” mean now, then? What does it mean for someone who has been saying it for over half his life—someone who has legitimately been where none of us will ever dream to go? Now, as Shatner faces down the last stretch of the causeway, does it mean something new?

“I always meant to go boldly into life as best you can,” he said.

There are so many people “that you and I know,” he said, that face disappointment, tragedy, or heartbreak, and wallow in the negativity, stalling their lives. “It’s so easy to hide in your bed and not participate in life.”

What a waste.

“I don’t think you come back,” he said. “I don’t think there’s life after death. I think this is it. This is the journey you take. This is the sadness, the joy, the ecstasy, the love that you feel in this one participation in life. So you have to take the bad with the good. Let the bad wash over you. And I’m saying this theoretically, because so many times in the bad parts, it’s awful. It’s hard to do. But if you keep that in mind—I will do this; I will participate in life and not hide; I will boldly go into that hurt locker again—that’s the only way to do it. The only way to live.”

Let William Shatner be your siren call. Antarctica is waiting for you too!

There's a new documentary out about William Shatner - and I suggest you also find the rest of the full Bill Maher episode from Friday night online (it doesn't seem to be posted on youtube yet, so check out HBO), and watch the documentary.

Let me know if you'd like to plan your next adventure.

5. Wellness Travel Corner - The Importance of Stretching

On my Scenic Amber cruise last week, I took part in morning stretching classes.

It was awesome.

Do you know about the power of stretching already?

See https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-importance-of-stretching which notes:

It's not enough to build muscle and achieve aerobic fitness. You need to think about flexibility, too. Stretching can help.

You may think of stretching as something performed only by runners or gymnasts. But we all need to stretch in order to protect our mobility and independence. "A lot of people don't understand that stretching has to happen on a regular basis. It should be daily," says David Nolan, a physical therapist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

Why stretching is important

Stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong, and healthy, and we need that flexibility to maintain a range of motion in the joints. Without it, the muscles shorten and become tight. Then, when you call on the muscles for activity, they are weak and unable to extend all the way. That puts you at risk for joint pain, strains, and muscle damage.

For example, sitting in a chair all day results in tight hamstrings in the back of the thigh. That can make it harder to extend your leg or straighten your knee all the way, which inhibits walking. Likewise, when tight muscles are suddenly called on for a strenuous activity that stretches them, such as playing tennis, they may become damaged from suddenly being stretched. Injured muscles may not be strong enough to support the joints, which can lead to joint injury.

Regular stretching keeps muscles long, lean, and flexible, and this means that exertion "won't put too much force on the muscle itself," says Nolan. Healthy muscles also help a person with balance problems to avoid falls.

and

https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-stretching notes: 

and

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/stretching/art-20047931

Studies about the benefits of stretching have had mixed results. Some research shows that stretching doesn't reduce muscle soreness after exercise. Other studies show that lengthening the muscle and holding the stretch immediately before a sprint may slightly worsen performance.

However, research has shown that stretching can help improve flexibility, and, as a result, the range of motion of your joints.

Better flexibility may:

• Improve your performance in physical activities
• Decrease your risk of injuries
• Help your joints move through their full range of motion
• Increase muscle blood flow
• Enable your muscles to work most effectively
• Improve your ability to do daily activities

There's something wonderful about taking a half hour in the morning, especially outside in the sunshine (and sailing into Vienna didn't hurt!) to focus on flexibility and strength. I really enjoyed my morning stretching classes onboard my river cruise.

And, of course, having Dragon as your wellness coach onboard the river cruise ship was also terrific. He was knowledgeable and accredited, and was easily able to accommodate the workouts to classmates' injuries or issues - but still gave us all some great tips for incorporating stretching in our daily routines.

I think I will! How about you?

Let me know if you'd like to try a river cruise, and focus on your wellness to get started!

See some additional detail on these preferred HOTEL PROGRAMS

• A&K 100 Club ;  
• Accor Step & Fairmont ,  
• Belmond Bellini Club Program ;  
• Couture by Langham;  
• Dorchester Diamond Club;  
• Four Seasons Preferred, 
• Hilton Impresario;  
• Hyatt Privé Program; 
• IHG Hotel Program ; 
• Jumeirah’s Passport to Luxury , 
• Kempinski Club 1897; 
• Luminous Hotel Program ,
• Mandarin Oriental Fan Club; 
• Marriott Stars & Luminous , 
• Pearl Partner Oetker;  
• Peninsula Fan Club , 
• Preferred Hotel Program ; 
• Rocco Forte Knights Program ; 
• Rosewood Elite ; 
• Small Luxury Hotels 

And if you're wondering, here are some blog posts about why you should book with an advisor, rather than book by yourself, see here:

• Why Wouldn't You Do It Yourself
• Booking a Cruise Yourself vs With Advisor
• Booking Hawaii Yourself vs Through Advisor
• Booking Rocky Mountaineer Yourself vs With Advisor

Note: There is a stop gap measure if you are planning a last minute trip, and you only need a hotel stay. If you do not require my assistance, or VIP'ing, or add ons like transfers, concierge service, etc., you can self-book luxury properties on my Virtuoso website.  You can now browse and book hotels online https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sheilagallanthalloran/travel/luxury-hotels  at your convenience.  (If you self-book hotels, I will waive normal booking and management fees. But if you need additional assistance after the booking, VIP'ing, transfers, concierge assistance, etc., and/or the hotel stay is part of a larger holiday, normal professional fees will apply.)  

8.  Special Offers from Lush Life, a Direct affiliate & Virtuoso partner

https://www.visiontravel.ca/sheilagh/en/cruise/14929/Top-Girlfriend-or-Guys-Getaways-with-AmaWaterways 

Life's Unforgettable Moments with Regent 

https://www.visiontravel.ca/sheilagh/en/cruise/14930/Lifes-Unforgettable-Moments-with-Regent

Atlas Ocean Voyages

https://www.visiontravel.ca/sheilagh/en/cruise/14931/Weekly-Cruise-Deal-from-Atlas-Ocean-Voyages

Explora Journeys