My
burlesque brand Workin’ The Tease was at the all inclusive spa the Oaks at Ojai
last weekend for a body empowerment seminar Beauty is an Inside Job– How to
LOVE Yourself Naked and our presentation and accommodations were simply fabulous!
It
was a fantastic weekend of sharing all the amazing lessons we have learned from
interviewing women, and men; of all shapes and sizes comfortable enough
to take off their clothes for perfect strangers. Beauty is an Inside Job's seminar aims to empower you to in the
real world, the bedroom, and everywhere in between! We spent the weekend discussing body image,
confidence and beauty with women almost three times our age in the most beautiful
setting: The Oaks at Ojai!
Nestled
in northern Ventura County, a 90-minute drive from Los Angeles, the Oaks at Ojai is a
peaceful, healthy fitness retreat offering guests everything from guided hikes
into the mountains, to aquatic workouts under the warm Southern California sun,
and winding down the day with calming restorative yoga. The Oaks was voted by Refinery29 as one of
the “20 of the Coolest Spas in the States” along with being “One of the top
five destination spas in the U.S.” by Conde Nast Traveler.
Founded
by internationally known fitness expert Sheila Cluff, who began her
career as a Sonja Henie professional showgirl skater. Cluff, known as the Grandmother of Aerobics,
is a wellness visionary who created cardiovascular dance in the 1950s, later
known as “aerobics,” and pioneered the concept of the modern destination spa in
the 1970s. Long before the fitness
industry came up with the term “aerobics,” Cluff drew from her choreography as a
professional ice skater to create “cardiovascular dance,” adding a spark of fun
to exercise. 
In
the ’70s when those seeking to lose weight on vacation had little choice but to
trudge off to the grim “fat farm,” she conceived of a contemporary spa that
combined luxurious European body treatments with exciting exercise and healthy
delicious food. Thus was born The Oaks at Ojai, which would come to be declared
the best destination spa in the United States by Spa Magazine.
In
2005 after a 45-year absence, Miss Shelia Cluff returned to figure skating as Mrs. Santa
Claus in Holiday Magic on Ice and helped raise thousands of dollars for Ventura
County Foster Children, a role she reprises each year. Since 2006, Cluff has
competed in the Ice Skating Institute Adult Skating Championships and in 2011
she swept the competition by skating to perfect scores and wins in six events.
Here’s
to life being delicious, ice skating at any age, and always remembering Beauty is an Inside Job!
