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The Pinnacle Challenge

By Leslie Barrie

"When I picture Palm Springs, I immediately envision cocktails, tans and poolside lounging. So when I signed up to participate in The Pinnacle Challenge, a three day desert retreat geared toward promoting healthy lifestyles through fitness and diet, I was thinking I would get some serious me-time-relaxing by the pool, enjoying some gourmet organic cuisine, with maybe a gentle hike thrown into the mix. Little did I know how serious my "me-time" would be...

The Pinnacle is meant to be an intense, multi-dimensional outdoor workout to basically make you burn. "Challenge" is in the title for a reason. The schedule goes as follows: 6:15 a.m. yoga, 6:45 breakfast, 7:30-12 p.m. hike, 12:30 lunch, 1:30 water aerobics, 2:30 massage, 4:00 circuit class, 5:30 yoga, 6:15 dinner-and that's just the first day.

But this isn't your typical boot camp. The staff, three female trainers all incredibly knowledgeable in nutrition and fitness, push you, but in an encouraging way. They're out there to make you love fitness, not despise the word "exercise."

Even the circuit training, which I have little to no experience doing, felt like a positive endeavor. All the work is done with partners or in groups, so when I had trouble understanding how to do the "icky quick step" (appropriately named) there were 10 high fives waiting for me when I finally got it right.

The best part about The Pinnacle is that it is meant to inspire you to continue your healthy routine, not just leave it in a plastic bag as you exit the oasis. And it did just that. The yoga made me more at peace than I've been in a long time and the hiking reminded me how much better the outdoors is than my stuffy gym at home. Plus, being surrounded by a group of healthy individuals works like osmosis. I felt instantly inspired to go to my nearest health food store and stock up on Goji juice (a Himalayan drink meant to give you an organic energy boost).

"On our last day, as we climbed the Lykken Trail at 6:30 in the morning, one of the other Pinnacle survivors turned to me and said, "Look at them (pointing to the distant homes below). They're all still in bed, recovering from their Mai Tai hangovers, while we get to experience this." I looked up-desert mountains all around, the sun rising over the peaks and waterfall trickling in the distance-it was pretty amazing. That is until one of the trainers suggested we run down the mountain for a little "cardio-fun."

The Pinnacle Challenge or, as I like to call it, Serene Boot-Camp, is an intimate way (there are only 12 participants total), to get your healthy life back on track. The program, once exclusively for professional athletes and celebrities, has opened itself to the public and it's worth taking advantage of. You'll get your "me-time," but it will be more rewarding than downing your daiquiri poolside. I feel like I accomplished something. And not just for that weekend, but for the future, too.

Find out more about The Pinnacle Challenge at The Pinnacle Challenge.com or email robinsullivan1@gmail.com