Classical Stretch Season 11
Thank you to the Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa for graciously hosting us and allowing us to film Classical Stretch Season 11 at the many beautiful locations the resort has to offer!
Behind the Scenes Filming Season 11
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Filming Diaries
Arrival: Welcome Remarks
We arrived at the beautiful Hotel Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa in Riviera Maya Mexico, on a clear, sunny day, with a warm welcome from the always and tremendously hospitable hotel staff. The bellboys swiftly took our luggage off our hands and led us to a gorgeous lunch buffet, where we feasted on local delicacies, fresh fruit and tasty sweets. The weather made it irresistible to indulge in a bit of R&R by the beach, before jumping into the Season 11 film shoot the next day!
Day 1: The Zentropía Spa
The early bird catches the worm – or in this case, the warm! The sun rises early in Mexico at this time of the year, so on Day 1 we woke up with it and squeezed out our first three episodes before the heat reached its peak. The resort’s Zentropía Spa had a serene atmosphere, surrounded by the soothing sound of trickling water and lovely birds, creating the perfect blend of relaxation and invigoration. It’s hard not to feel Zen at Zentropía...During the shoot, there was even a cameo by one of our many iguana friends at the resort; he just couldn’t resist his 5 minutes of fame!
Days 2 & 3: The Chapel at Colonial
Today we got in our filming at one of the Grand Palladium resort’s many architectural gems: the gorgeous and conveniently located wedding chapel that is used every day—even multiple times a day—for weddings and celebrations. Between the colorfully tiled fountain, the whimsical white gazebo and the grand chapel entrance, we were not short of choice of where to film. Nothing says love like a gorgeous wedding chapel – and we just loved filming here!
Days 4, 5 & 6: Kantenah Beach
One of the best parts about the Grand Palladium Resorts is the kilometers of beachfront that is so easily accessible from just steps outside your hotel room walls. On days 4, 5 and 6, we rolled out of bed into the sand to film some of the most beautiful episodes we’d seen, thanks to the golden sand and the perfectly positioned sun. With the sand between our toes, the gentle waves breaking perfectly just beyond the coast and the sun beaming now on us, we all agreed life’s a beach here at the Grand Palladium Riviera Maya!
Days 7 & 8: Saasil Kantenah
Filming two days at the lovely wedding resort of Saasil Kantenah (a wedding resort) was an absolute treat! Soft and powdery white sand, an abundance of wild, tropical palm trees and vintage nautical accessories (including a boat propeller and speed boat) helped to create a magical, romantic set for our shoot. Miranda was in love with the quaint little chapel (known as the energy vortex of love) tucked away in the property—surrounded by antique Mayan statues. During filming, an unexpected visitor came by to hang out on set—a friendly lady puppy who was happy to be a part of the crew!
Learn more about Saasil KantenaDay 9: Ecopark Kantun-Chi
Splish, Splash…we were extremely tempted to jump into the crystal clear, fresh water cenotes at Kantun-Chi before filming even began! This remarkable ecopark is a hidden gem; only a short 15-min. drive from the hotel. Surrounded by raw nature, grottos, flora and fauna—we settled on a private, shaded area enclosed by a variety of trees, plants and little straw-made huts. We finished off the day with a scrumptious bite in Kantun-Chi's quaint onsite restaurant with some Mexican quesadillas.
Learn more about Kantun-Chi
Days 10 & 11: White Sands Beach (Royal Pathway)
Today, we arrived at the gorgeous White Sands Beach (Royal Pathway) to witness a glorious sunrise—what a great way to start off our early morning filming! We ended up using the Royal Pathway in front of the beachfront as our main backdrop for the shoot—consisting of a colorful mosaic pathway enveloped by palm trees of all sizes and a variety of vegetation. Miranda loved facing the ocean during filming—it definitely added a sense of calmness to the shoot. Can't wait to return to this secluded spot on another day for some well-deserved R&R.
And that’s a wrap: Closing Remarks
Who knew there was such a thing as paradise!! Being able to film in such a splendid environment on a daily basis—surrounded by natural wildlife within a peaceful, diverse ecosystem—is icing on the cake! Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa was more than we could have asked for during our 20-day Classical Stretch Season 11 film shoot—excellent service, first-class accommodation, delectable gastronomy, a never-ending beachfront that went on for miles… We will never forget the wonderful hospitality of all the staff who always had a smile on their face, no matter what requests we had for finding the best shoot locations (not too much sun, a bit more shade, less wind—filming can be quite challenging!) It was never hard to find a good spot to film at, as there was an abundance of picturesque locations on the property—in fact, it was often hard to narrow down our choices! Thank you again, Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa—for ensuring that our next season of Classical Stretch puts smiles on the faces of everyone who need a little extra motivation to work out—a gorgeous sun, soothing beachfront, flowing palm trees and tranquil nature never hurt anyone!
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