Healthy vacationing: Canyon Ranch Tucson takes health as seriously as it takes relaxation, with services that range from pedicures to acupuncture

South Florida CEO,  August, 2004  by Rochelle Broder-Singer

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The 45-minute ride to Canyon Ranch from the Tucson airport starts out brown. A few stray cacti dot the roadside, but there is not much to take in. The closer you get to "the Ranch" (as all the staff call the sprawling compound), the more verdant the scenery gets. Full-fledged green, leafy trees spring up as you approach the resort. As the van--sent by the Ranch to pick up guests from the airport--glides through a metal gate, suddenly, the vista widens. You see a village of low buildings spread out against a backdrop of soaring mountains, some obscured behind a veil of clouds flecked with a faint orange glow.

Trees, rocks, streams, and birds all flow through the Ranch property. Except for the mountains, almost all of it is man-made--a landscape designed to evoke both inspiration and relaxation.

Canyon Ranch bills itself as a "health resort," and the Ranch takes both the "health" and "resort" parts very seriously. There are plenty of spa treatments, such as "Play in the Mud" for the skin, which involves being painted with cold mud and enjoying a scalp and foot massage, after which your muscles feel as though you have just had the best sleep of your life. Facials range from deep-pore to oxygenating. There are citrus and cactus scrubs for the skin, pedicures (including an "Ice Cream Pedicure"), manicures, and even makeup consultations. There are multiple kinds of massage, including a hydro-massage conducted while you float in a whirlpool tub. You can work on your golf game with a variety of experts.

What makes the Ranch different from other spa vacations are its health and medical treatments. There are physical therapy sessions, in the water or on dry land, to improve your posture or address lingering injuries. There is nutritional and psychological counseling, and even ergonomics counseling (learning to stand and lift so as not to aggravate a tender back). You can spend an hour, one-on-one, with a chef, learning to make healthy dinners. You might opt to have a host of medical tests, from a cardiac stress test to a bone density test. Or you might have a series of acupuncture treatments.

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Any Canyon Ranch visit begins with a consultation with a staff nurse. He or she will review your medical history and recomend treatments to address your specific health problems. You may also be admonished for not having your cholesterol checked recently, or sternly instructed, both verbally and in writing, to have your physician check your blood sugar.

Next, is a stop at the 62,000-square-foot spa complex, where you will be issued a fluffy robe, rubber sandals and a locker.

From there, an escort takes you to lunch in the Ranch's dining room. The food is not fancy, and the dining room service is a bit slow. The focus is on healthy eating, with recommendations on the menu as to how many servings of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and proteins you should consume. Portions of everything but vegetables are small, but the food itself is hardly acetic. And, nobody will stop you if you order four chocolate chip cookies for dessert instead of two, or order both pizza and pasta for lunch.

For your accommodations, choose a "Casita." Surrounded by cactus and beautiful rocks, the Casitas are private little respites with a master bedroom, kitchen, dining area, two bathrooms (including a spacious bath tub) and a patio. The staff will tend to your every need, so long as you can wait the 30 minutes or so it might take them to get out to you.

It is tempting to fill your days with the various massage, movement therapy, nutrition, medical counseling, facial and other services available at the ranch. However, that would mean missing out on the other activities: yoga (beginning to advanced) conducted in a windowed room that looks out at the Ranch's tall cypress trees and towards the mountains; exercise classes such as the "Boxer's Workout," with jump ropes, punching bags and rock music; at least four types of breathing and relaxation classes; dance classes (including one that is accompanied by live drummers). There are lectures on everything from anger management to choosing skin care products. There is a daily "Lunch and Learn," where the chef conducts a cooking class, the results of which are then served to the assembled audience.

There are also the delicious benefits of a resort, most especially the Ranch's two outdoor pools. Generally quiet, with plenty of rafts on-hand, and no bothersome attendants, they offer a respite from what can be a physically demanding vacation.

In contrast to the busy daytime schedule, the entire Ranch comes to a halt around 9 p.m. If you are a night person, you will find yourself bored stiff, with long walks in the dark or television watching the only available activities. For most people, though, the day will have been long enough, and a pleasant feeling of tiredness will overtake them. It is best to get a good night's sleep. The next day's schedule may start as early as 6 a.m. (with a morning "Spirit Walk").