Canyon Ranch In The Berkshires Health Resort in Lenox, Massachusetts Day 2: My Health & Healing Service and More

Julie Register, Your Guide to Spas, visited this destination spa in November 2002

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"Of course we can't 'make' anyone live a more healthful life, and nothing could be less like boot camp than a stay with us. But your should know that with every meal, chi gong practice, walk, massage, lecture, professional consul and funk aerobics class, we are doing our level best to seduce you with the beauty of vibrant health. Nothing less." Mel Zuckerman, Canyon Ranch Founder

Day 2

6:00 The alarm is going off. I hop out of bed, wash my face, brush my teeth, put on workout clothes and, 15 minutes later, I am on the Precor EFX 546 Elliptical machine in Gym 6. 35 minutes and 320 calories later, I stop to do some work on the leg machines. Sweaty and pleasantly energized, I head back to my room for a shower. (Other activities on the schedule I could have chosen at this time include: Aerobic Walk at 7 a.m. and Pole Hike on Property at 7:30)

Spatip 10: Trainers are on staff starting at 8 a.m. to help anyone that needs assistance using the equipment.  

8:00 The demo kitchen has a number of breakfast selections on the counter and sideboard - oatmeal, fruit, fruit juice, bagels, muffins, etc. I select oatmeal, some watermelon and some pineapple. Nina Molin, M.D., a Complementary Medical Practitioner, presents information about complementary (alternative) medicine. Two of most common reasons for the current interest in this subject are people are looking for prevention of health problems, not a fix after the fact and the solution of the root problem, not just covering the symptoms. Dr. Molin discusses Ayurveda, an ancient(5,000+ year-old) system of medicine from India. She discusses the three doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha - what the characteristics are, what health problems they might be susceptible to, what time of day is optimal for them to eat and exercise, what season is characteristic of them and what foods are good for them. I have my first mini A-Ha! moment when she talks about the Pitta dosha. It describes my son to a T. Note to self: Follow up on this when I get home! The description of my own dominant dosha, Kapha, also intrigues me, and I wonder if I should try to sign up for an Auyurvedic Medicine Consultation (an additional $450). I decide to take advantage of what is included in the package and make a list for next time. I quickly call Guest Services to reserve a spot in the 3:30 Are You Living as Creatively as You Could Be class which is limited to 12 participants. (Other activities on the schedule I could have chosen at this time include: Q&A on Acupuncture at The Captain's Table, 6.5-Mile Hike, Wake Up Warm Up Stretch and Morning Trail Run)

9:00 Time for my Health & Healing Service - Food Habit Management I have walked around the complex to the Health & Healing Center where I sit down with Cynthia Wild, M.A., LMHC, a Behavioral Health and Creative Arts Therapist to discuss my specific issues with balancing work, my personal life, food and exercise. One of my main issues is that when I travel, I exercise regularly and make healthy selections for meals. However, I hardly exercise at all at home and make poor food choices. Work dominates my waking hours. We talk and she suggests I forget about dieting and keep things simple - such as: take 2-3 20-minute walks every day, so it is as automatic as brushing teeth; eat six tiny meals evenly spaced through the day that incorporate lots of fiber, olive oils, nuts, fruit, vegetables, etc. (I currently leave too much time between eating and often skip breakfast altogether even though I "know better"); and put limits on work - set a timer, close the door, and make more time for relaxation and sleep. She offered to be available by phone if I needed help putting the plan in action. Slow, but steady, and the lasting result should be weight loss and a healthier, happier me. (Other activities on the schedule I could have chosen at this time include: Low Impact Aerobics, Spinning, Morning Stretch, Energy Flex, 3-Mile Hike and Kayak Lesson for additional cost)

10:00 The Science of Weight Loss: Ultrametablolism I'm in the Berkshire Room listening to Andrew Wolf talk about the reality of loosing weight. He talks about how the body uses its own energy when the coloric expenditure is more than intake. To prevent muscle loss, he suggests 20-30 minutes lifting heavy weights (as opposed to many reps with a lighter weight) along with at least a half hour of aerobic activity three times a week. Finally, interval training is a good thing - raising the overall tone of the muscles. (Other activities on the schedule I could have chosen at this time include: Muscle Conditioning, Aqua Cardio, Yoga Stretch, CR Kickboxing, Pilates Mat Essentials, Men's Circuit Weights)

11:00 The Art of Balance Cindy Geyer, M.D. discusses how hormones effect the female body, how hormones fluctuate periodically and throughout life and the options available to achieve hormone balance throughout life. She talks about testing for bone density, cardiac risk, and insulin intolerance. She focuses on menopause and the latest research controversies on hormone replacement, nutritional therapies and supplements. It is a good lecture for me - very targeted to my time of life. However, I am starting to get irritated at my doctors at home for waving away some of my "issues" or throwing pills at them (which I didn't take anyway). I have just learned that they are legitimate and common. The doctors should have done some simple tests to investigate them. (Other activities on the schedule I could have chosen at this time include: Yoga Power and Yoga Spin)

12:00  Lunch & Learn Back in the demo kitchen, it's time for lunch. We fill a salad plate from the salad bar at the back of the room - mescaline salad, jicama, watermelon radish, seaweed, bean chutney, and more. We are served a delicious Minestrone Soup while Dan, the chef, shows us how to make Spicy Grilled Shrimp with quinoa (pronounced keen-wa) and Tempeh Fajitas with guacamole, salsa and roasted peppers. We get to eat what has been prepared. The fajita is delicious as is the tapioca that follows. We are given the recipes to take home. (Other activities on the schedule I could have chosen at this time include: Lunch in Café Tasse or the Dining Room, Q&A at The Captain's Table on Exercise Physiology, A.B.S., Intro to Spinning, Beginning Step and Weight Room Orientation.)

Spatip 11: Each day at Lunch & Learn chefs show how to cook healthy easy-to-make meals at home. While enjoying the lunch of the day, watch a Canyon Ranch chef prepare menu items in the Demonstration Kitchen, and learn to convert your own recipes with low-fat substitutes.

1:00 Restorative Yoga I am lying on the floor of the yoga studio with a large bolster under my knees. We relax through six postures during the session - like naptime in kindergarten! (Other activities on the schedule I could have chosen at this time include: Fitness Facts and Fiction lecture, 2-Mile Hike and 10-Mile Off-Road Bike.)

2:00 Gyrokinesis I am back at Gym 2 for the individual exercise version of Gyrotonic. We sit on stools and stretch and relax our whole body through a series of flowing movements. We end with a quick self-massage. (Other activities on the schedule I could have chosen at this time include: Chi Gong, Aerobic Circuit Weights, Elastic Resistance, Power Plunge, Body Beat, World Rhythms, Tennis Everyone and Nutrition Jeopardy.)

3:00 I go back to my room to find a phone message that my 3:30 class, Are You Living as Creatively as You Could Be, has been cancelled. Rather than going back to the gym, I go to the Health & Healing Center and have my blood pressure taken. The top number has gone down 30 points and the bottom down 10 - the lowest its been measured in years. Cool. I decide to relax in my room the rest of the afternoon. (Other activities on the schedule I could have chosen at this time include: Body Blast, Spinning, Rebounding, Sensual Power, CR Yoga, Powerhouse Down, Powerball, Wallyball, Stride, Stretch & Relax, Meditation and Come Fly with Me lecture)

6:00 There is no crowd at all for dinner tonight. I again choose to dine alone. The salad bar is stocked much as it was the night before. I find the marinated tofu especially good. I order vegetable nori as an appetizer, chicken picatta for the entree and steamed vegetables. Dessert is a slice of apple strudel. 

7:30 Pain Patterns: Muscle Memory and Body Alignment In this lecture, Robert Budsong, NMT, tells us about neuromuscular therapy - the comprehensive program of soft tissue manipulation techniques that balance the central nervous system with the structure and form of the musculoskeletal system. He talks about how pain originates in the body and what causes pain: ischemia (lack of blood), trigger points, nerve compression, postural distortion and biomechanical dysfunction (faulty movement patterns). He analyzes the posture of three audience members for underlying problems. It is interesting, but I am not sure I understand how massage (soft tissue manipulation) can really take fix some of the problems he identifies. 

8:30 I am back in my room again planning my day for tomorrow. I look back at today and feel I spent too much time in lectures (although they were all very informative) and not enough exercise. I recall Smiley Blanton, M.D.'s affirmation "To be happy, drop the words 'if only' and substitute instead the words 'next time.'" Next time - tomorrow - I will exercise more. I make adjustments to tomorrow's schedule. Good night! (Other activities on the schedule I could have chosen at this time include: The Type "E" Personality.)

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Day 3 - My Spa Service (Euphoria!)

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