fueling up

Of course, no new mother (especially if she's breast-feeding) can hope to maintain that level of exertion without proper fuel. And that's where Perlman's culinary experience kicks in: After a six-year stint studying Buddhism in Asia, she opened a restaurant in Tokyo, cooking healthy California cuisine. Her time there, as well as Tulum's local produce, inform After-the-Baby's fresh, flavorful menu. Regular ingredients come from both the Mexican (jicama, papaya, black beans) and Asian (ginger, curry, soba noodles) traditions. Breakfast might consist of toasted amaranth sprinkled over yogurt, or huevos Mexicana (eggs with onion, jalapeños, tomatoes, and cilantro), while lunch often features one of the spa's hearty salads, such as the Amansala with Ginger-Sesame Dressing, which is built around shredded napa cabbage and grilled fish or chicken. Fresh fish also plays a starring role at dinner, whether filling a lettuce "taco shell" that's topped with salsa verde or capping a plate of soba.

in the family way

For new moms, After-the-Baby's most appealing factor may be that their children are not afterthoughts. Having considered every travel scenario imaginable, Perlman offers accommodations for mothers who are visiting solo, mothers attending with their babies, and mothers accompanied by both babies and partners. "Our original idea was to have moms leave the babies at home," she says. "But I don't know how many women would be comfortable doing that, particularly with a newborn or if they're breast-feeding. So there's more free time built into the schedule than we have in Bikini Boot Camp—to let the mothers be moms."

And since the whole point of After-the-Baby is to help moms regroup sans guilt, the spa-provided nannies are critical: With their little ones in capable hands, women can fully focus on themselves. "We're trying to make it as easy as possible for them to relax, knowing their babies are nearby," Perlman says.

While massages and a clay body treatment are included in the package, After-the-Baby is really more about fitness and fresh air than the facials and other beautifiers of traditional spas. (After all, for new mothers, pampers isn't really a verb anymore.) "There's a market for that pampered experience, and there's a market for what I'm offering," says Perlman. "I think the woman who is willing to travel out of the country with her baby is going to be the adventurous type. Like me."

planning your trip

Details: The six-night package, available from December through July, includes meals, fitness classes, excursions, seminars and lectures, two massages, and a clay body treatment.

Cost: Shared room without baby: $1,850. Private room with baby: $2,400. Private room with extra bed for a guest (such as your own nanny): $2,950. Private room with baby and partner: $3,300. (All prices exclude tax.)

Child Care: Each family package includes a private nanny.

Getting There: Fly to Cancún, then take a 90-minute car trip on the main highway south to Tulum.

For schedules and more info: 52-998-185-7428 or amansala.com