Tucson's Canyon Ranch: A Healthy Retreat

By Rebecca Antioco

New Year’s resolutions. Fewer and fewer Americans are making them, and it’s no wonder. The success rate is dismal; by June, more than half of resolvers will have given up on their goals. Depending on which research you believe, statistics show that by the time December rolls around again, somewhere between 80 and 95 percent of those resolutions are as dead as last year’s Christmas tree.

So what’s a well-meaning resolution maker to do? You could say, “What’s the point,” grab the TV remote, put on your bathrobe and curl up on the sofa with your best friends Ben and Jerry. Or, you could ditch the Chunky Monkey and find some new friends who will help get you started on the right foot. I found mine at Canyon Ranch in Tucson.

 
With few exceptions, those of us who make resolutions are a predictable lot. We want to get healthy, relax, and maybe broaden our horizons a little. I’ve listed five common resolutions below (they’re the ones that keep showing up on my list anyway) and how a three-night stay at Canyon Ranch can help prevent your resolution from becoming another statistic.

Resolution 1 (& 2): Lose Weight (a.k.a., Get Healthy)
It’s the biggie, the goal that tops everyone’s list. And we know your aforementioned confectionary friends aren’t going to do anything to accomplish it. Instead, you’ll have to rely on those more practical, less enticing buddies, diet and exercise (thus, two resolutions in one).

Part 1- Diet
Admittedly, I am neither an extremely healthful nor adventurous eater. Despite that fact, I enjoyed the Canyon Ranch dining selections, which prove that healthy and delicious are not mutually exclusive. The menu emphasizes organic, local and wholesome ingredients, and because Canyon Ranch is all-inclusive, where you’d normally find a price tag, you’ll see calories, fat grams and fiber grams for each dish.

At breakfast, whole grain pancakes, steel-cut oats and fresh fruit are staples, along with an omelet bar and, if you wish, a hot cup of coffee to get you fueled up for a long day of physical activity. Lunch and dinner menus change daily, with a sandwich bar always available in the afternoon and a pasta bar at night. On any given day, the dinner menu might feature turkey meatloaf, Cornish game hens, sautéed fish or scallops, or even a flatbread pizza or burger. What you won’t find are soft drinks and alcohol.

Even dessert has its place; each is a small portion and most have three teaspoons or less of added sugar. No artificial sweeteners are used, just honey, fruit juice, brown sugar, molasses and, occasionally, white sugar.

So, by now you may be thinking, “That’s all fine and good while I’m there, but what about when I get home?” Because the goal of Canyon Ranch is lifetime wellness, there are several programs available that can help you continue your newfound healthy lifestyle at home. You can meet with a nutritionist who will assess your lifestyle, medical needs and goals to come up with a menu and recipes for a week, two or more.  Or, receive a personal nutrition consultation on topics that range from Eating for Energy and Fastest Meals Imaginable, to Dining on the Go and Clean Eating in Today’s World, among others. 

Part 2- Exercise
Another confession: I hate the gym. Call it a short attention span, but I get sick of doing the same thing over and over again, running on a treadmill like a hamster in an exercise ball. I like variety, preferring sports like tennis to a straight-up workout. My husband, in contrast, goes to the gym three times a week, faithfully following a routine of cardio and weight lifting. His sister prefers yoga; her boyfriend likes outdoor ventures like hiking and biking. We all found something to enjoy at Canyon Ranch, even overlapping in some cases.

With my lax diet and exercise routine, I wasn’t exactly a prime physical specimen heading into this adventure. I was a bit worried that, at the least, I wouldn’t be able to keep up, at worst, that I would stick out like Jabba the Hut in a crowd of Barbie dolls. Turns out, I (thankfully) had nothing to worry about. Old, young, thin, not-so-thin, athletic, couch potato — you name it, I saw it in the locker room and in class.

Each day, there are about 45 different fitness classes available, beginning on the hour. “This Week at Canyon Ranch” lists daily schedules, descriptions and fitness level required for each course. Basically, classes are broken down into six categories: aquatic, cardio, flexibility, mind-body (yoga, meditation, breathing, etc.), strength and specialty (we were there during Gotta Dance! theme week, which included some unique classes that fell into this category).

It’s a good idea to choose from each area when planning. For example, taking five cardio classes is generally a bit much, unless you’re a professional athlete; likewise for strength classes. On any given day, each member of my family chose four to five activities. One day, I had a private tennis lesson in the morning, followed by a muscle conditioning class. After lunch, I switched gears to cardio with Boxer’s Workout and a spirited game of Wallyball. I ended each day with Stretch & Relaxation in an attempt to head off the impending muscle pain.

Resolution 3: Try Something New
The sheer quantity of exercise was new in and of itself to most of us, but we all challenged ourselves to try something out of the ordinary.

For my husband, it was Yamuna Body Rolling, a massage/stretching session involving inflatable fitness balls of varying sizes. You lay flat on the table, and a therapist positions the balls under your back, thighs and other tension areas. After 50 minutes, two days worth of muscle pain disappeared. A month later, he’s still raving about the results.
His sister tried acupuncture, with a mixed reaction. Ashiatsu, a form of massage where the therapist uses his or her feet to sooth sore muscles, was a hit with my husband’s dad, while his sister-in-law discovered the joys of working out with a balance board.
As for me, peer pressure got me into a Fit Strip class, way out of my comfort zone. And, while I have no plans to quit my day job, I had fun and some good laughs at my own expense, got a great workout and developed a newfound respect for the fitness level and coordination of those employed in the exotic dance field.

Resolution 4: Reduce Stress (a.k.a., Relax)
Others may choose to start their day in the Centering Circle for guided meditation and reflection, but just get me a good massage therapist. I started out the weekend in the spa with an exquisite, tension-melting 100-minute hot stone massage. For me, this is the ticket to relaxation.

A morning walk, yoga, tai chi — whatever gets your mind clear and your body relaxed, it’s important to find time for it when you can. While many classes at Canyon Ranch are high intensity and fun, the late afternoon session often includes Guided Relaxation, Restorative Yoga, Stretch & Relaxation or similar sessions that help you wind down after a long day. Daily workshops and discussions center around how you can bring these practices home.

The focus is on health, involving both the mind and the body. There’s plenty of time and opportunity to work on both at Canyon Ranch.

Resolution 5: Spend Time with Loved Ones
We made this visit to Canyon Ranch a family affair, embarking on the healthful journey with my husband’s father and siblings, along with their significant others, leaving the kids at home. (Guests at Canyon Ranch must be at least 14 years old. Also, see previous resolution.)

As it is with many families, the majority of our get-togethers revolve around food. We gather for big Sunday dinners, celebrate birthdays and special occasions by going out to eat — I won’t even get started on the holidays. Getting everyone together in a new setting was a welcome change.

And who better than family to laugh when someone (who shall remain nameless) falls off the fitness ball during Core Dynamics (twice), or to coerce you into a Fit Strip class despite your lack of coordination and “moves.” We bonded over new discoveries (Thai massage, Yamuna) and fitness foibles, shared classes, opinions, laughs and healthy meals. And now that we’ve all set out down the road to establishing healthier lifestyles, we’ll likely have many more years to focus on this most important resolution.

If you go:

After booking your vacation, you will receive an eight-page health and lifestyle evaluation questionnaire to fill out and return. A nurse and a fitness program advisor will review it and meet with you upon arrival. They will discuss your goals with you and help devise a plan of action toward achieving them, suggesting seminars and fitness classes that coincide with your health, lifestyle, fitness level and desired results.

Or, you can map out your own stay, using the detailed “This Week at Canyon Ranch” as your guide. Specialty health packages, including the Life Enhancement Program, are available to address specific concerns. Four-night packages include Sexual Health, Living with Diabetes, Optimal Stress Management, Sports Peak Performance, Optimal Weight Management and more.

Canyon Ranch
8600 E. Rockcliff Rd., Tucson
800-742-9000
canyonranch.com

Rates start at $3520 per person, double occupancy for four nights. This rate includes meals, group fitness classes and seminars, and a $600 allowance for spa, sports and wellness services. A minimum three-night stay is required. Call or visit the website for specialty packages or custom vacations.