Canyon Ranch In The Berkshires Health Resort in Lenox, Massachusetts Day 3: My Spa Service (Euphoria!) and More

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

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"More than ever, and with 'great earnestness and of choice,' we want to motivate our guests to translate their healthiest thoughts into lifelong, life-giving action - and we'll do whatever it takes." Mel Zuckerman, Canyon Ranch Founder

Day 3

6:00 The alarm is going off. I turn on the light, reset the alarm for 7 a.m. and go back to sleep.

7:00 The alarm is going off again. I am having a tough time waking up this morning, but do so anyway. I shower and dress. (Other activities on the schedule I could have chosen at this time include: Aerobic Walk)

7:30 I head down to the spa to join the Morning Tai Chi class which is an outdoor activity on the walking trails. However, when I get there, no one is there. I must be late and missed them. Oh, well. On to Plan B.

8:00 Back at the Demonstration Kitchen, I am having multigrain cereal and a banana. Reba Schecter, an Exercise Physiologist, is talking about Living Younger Longer. She mentions the importance of aerobic exercise and strength training and how stress on the bones make them stronger. While it is good information, there is nothing new here for me. (Other activities on the schedule I could have chosen at this time include: Q&A at The Captain's Table on Fitness, Wake-Up Warm-Up Stretch and Morning Run)

9:00 I am in Gym 2 for Morning Stretch. This is quite a different stretch than the one on Sunday night. These stretches are like the ones my personal trainer taught me in conjunction with weight training. We end the session standing in a line massaging each other's shoulders and back. Nice! (Other activities on the schedule I could have chosen at this time include: Low Impact Aerobics, Spinning, Energy flex, 3.5-Mile Hike and Kayak River Run for an additional fee.)

10:00 I have every intention of going to the Pilates Mat Essentials class, but I make the mistake of looking outside. The sky is so blue, and I have been indoors for so long, I can't resist. I go back to my room, put on my hiking boots and jacket, and out I go. I follow the same trail I had on Sunday but go a little further. It is a beautiful day! (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, Canyon Ranch Open Indoor Tennis Tournament, and Women's Health and Sexuality lecture.)

11:00 No Bones About it Nina Molin, M.D. discusses osteoporosis, bone density scans and what the results mean, nutrition for healthy bones, and other issues that affect primarily women. I have another mini A-Ha! Moment. Is there any reason Nina Molin can't be my personal physician? I like her integrative approach to health and decide that it is unlikely that I will find a doctor I will be happy with in Delaware (I have been searching for over 10 years). Unfortunately, I am leaving tomorrow. Note to self: Contact the insurance company to see if this plan is viable and look into making it happen - soon!  (Other activities on the schedule I could have chosen at this time include: Yoga Power and Yoga Spin)

Spatip 12: The medical department at Canyon Ranch will provide a detailed receipt at time of checkout for you to submit to your insurance company. Unfortunately, Canyon Ranch does not do any insurance submissions.  

12:00  Lunch & Learn Back in the demo kitchen, it's time for lunch once again. We fill a salad plate from the salad bar at the back of the room - same as yesterday - mescaline salad, jicama, seaweed, bean chutney, and more. We are served a fabulous, definitely-not-diet-tasting seafood chowder while the Chef Dan shows us how to make Turkey Meatloaf with mashed sweet potatoes and green beans. It is tasty and very filling. We have a lemon curd for dessert. We are given more 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 acupuncture, A.B.S., Intro to Spinning, Heart Smart, Weight Room Orientation, and Shopping Trip to Prime Outlets in Lee.)

Spatip 13: Do you know how to tell if an egg is fresh? Chef Dan taught us to put the egg in a class of water. If the egg rests flat on the bottom, it is fresh. If it stands up on the bottom, it is not that fresh, but still OK to use. If it floats, through it out.

1:00 Restorative Yoga I am again lying on the floor of the yoga studio with a large bolster under my knees. We relax through the same six postures as yesterday. What a nice way to rest after lunch! (Other activities on the schedule I could have chosen at this time include: Beauty Secrets lecture, High Ropes Challenge for an additional fee, 2.5-Mile Hike, Pole Hike on Property.)

2:00 My spa treatment is at 3:00, so I don't want to take a class this hour. I go to Medical and have my blood pressure taken. It is still lower than it has been for a long time. Hooray! I walk back to the Spa Reception Desk and check in for my appointment about 45 minutes early. I am given a locker key that I can use for my entire stay. On the key chain is a tag that I exchange for a robe and slippers in the locker room. I undress, put the robe and slippers on and walk back to the waiting area. I decide to use the sauna and inhalation room then the whirlpool. I stretch out on one of the chaise lounges and relax. (Other activities on the schedule I could have chosen at this time include: Power Plunge, Aerobic Curcuit Weights, Elastic Resistance, Tai Chi, Body Beat, World Rhythms, Handwriting Analysis lecture, Pilates Continuation Mat Class and It's All About Energy lecture)

Spatip 14: The locker you are assigned at the spa is yours for your entire stay as are the plastic sandals you are given when you check into the spa reception desk.

3:00 Vera calls my name and escorts me to the Spa Suite where I will have Euphoria! The room is softly lit with at least 10 candles. Soft Music is playing. I like it already. Vera asks me to get on the massage table face up. She places warm, wet towels scented with sage oil on my face. She presses the towels on pressure points and sinuses. It smells and feels wonderful. She repeats this three times. Next, Vera pours rose geranium oil in my hair and gives me a relaxing scalp massage. She massages a botanical mask into my body and covers me up. While it sets, she massages my feet and does a little reflexology. It feels fabulous! Time to buff off the botanical mask. Vera has already prepared a bath for me, so I now move to the tub and soak for about 10 minutes. There is a curtain Vera pulls shut to separate the tub area from the table area. She quietly cleans up the table while I soak. The tub is a whirlpool tub and the jets are softly pushing water out. Before I know it, it's time to get out, dry off and get back on the table. Vera finishes Euphoria with a short, light massage with lavender scented oil. Heavenly! (Other activities on the schedule I could have chosen at this time include: Body Blast, Spinning, Step & Strenth, Zen Dancing, CR Yoga, Hand-On Cooking for an extra fee, Tarot or Astrology Readings for an extra fee, Handwriting Analysis or Feng Shui consultations for an extra fee, Wallyball, Stride, Powerball, Powerhouse Down, Basketball Pick-Up Game, Transforming Body Image Workshop for an extra fee)

5:00 I return to the waiting room and relax for 15 minutes then get dressed. I return the robe to the attendant and get a tag in return. Since I won't be returning to the locker room on this visit, I turn in the key at the reception desk. I walk back to my room, rest a little more, then dress for dinner. (Other activities on the schedule I could have chosen at this time include: Stretch and Relax and Meditation.)

6:00 This evening I choose to dine at The Captain's Table. I am joined by six women from Boston, New York, Connecticut and Chicago. The salad bar had it's usual tasty selections. For dinner, I ordered eggplant soup, pasta with primavera sauce and steamed spinach. Dessert was the star of this meal - Black Forest Parfait, chocolate cake over chocolate pudding over cherry preserves. It was delicious! 

7:30 Snoring and Sleep Apnea Doug DesLauriers describes the process and dangers of snoring and sleep apnea and why it happens to some people. This can be a potentially life-threatening disorder of sleep breathing. I have a major A-Ha! moment. I hope there is someone in Delaware I can find for a number of family members. Another Note to Self. 

8:30 I am again back in my room calling it an early evening. I plan my day for tomorrow. I will be leaving early but should have time to exercise and have breakfast. A relatively major snowstorm is supposed to move through the state starting at midnight. I consider leaving this evening and reject the idea. (Other activities on the schedule I could have chosen at this time include: The Art and Science of Stress Mastery lecture

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Day 4 - Taking It All Home and Final Thoughts

Photos copyright 2002, Julie Register
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