Spas of Note

My Love Affair with Spas

It all began twenty-five years ago when my husband of four months was heading off to a fishing vacation with “the guys”. He intelligently suggested that should I “go somewhere you've always wanted to go”. My choice was the Golden Door outside of San Diego, California. It turns out that this spa's Japanese- inspired decor, rigorous classes, great food, and mini-massages before bed were the start of something big. Another love affair was born.

The so-called destination spas generally attract those of us who want a lifestyle change or need time out to focus on their health. Guests stay on the spas premises while enjoying delicious calorie-wise  meals, a wide range of exercise classes and loads of decadent spa treatments. Over the years I've visited several destination spas in Arizona: Canyon Ranch, Miraval, and Mia Amo; Green Valley in Utah; and Cal-a-Vie and Golden Door in California, to name a few.

The spa I keep going back to is Cal-a-Vie outside of San Diego. I believe the owners, the Havens, have built a small piece of heaven on earth. The spa and its French-inspired decor provide inspiration. Guests are surrounded not only by the beauty of the landscape,  but by beautiful objects and architecture.....from the lavender field, to the vineyard; from the windmill to the church re-located from France; from the tapestries on the walls to the stonework in the bath house. Upgrades are constants at Cal-a-Vie, and improvements to the facility are continuous.  The exercise equipment is state-of- the-art and fitted with all the latest technology. The range of classes is extraordinary including; TRX, gyrotonics, pole pilates, piloxing, and zumba. Each morning at breakfast recommendations are made to each guest for classes that day. I suggest that you revise your list to suit your needs and mood. In my view, it's best to have a mix of 'strength', 'cardio' and 'stretch' classes –“max” your days, but not so much that you can’t move!

In summary, I believe that what makes a destination spa so extraordinary is the experienced staff and their commitment to their guests. I recommend a seven day program for a true change of pace, but any time at all is better than no time!

My recommendations for how to get the most from your spa experience:

• Don’t overdo yourself, but work hard enough that you feel fulfilled
• Try things that you wouldn't  do at home
• Take some personal time every day to read, sit by the pool, and relax. This is your time.
• I always take a pair of jeans – wear them to the spa - wash them and then put them back on at the end of the week – this is my trick for measuring lost weight and inches
• Try a salt or sugar scrub. In my view, it's the most cleansing and moisturizing treatment – your skin feels brand new!

Cal-a-Vie-Health Spa in Southern California

Check out the website for this extraordinary spa at http://www.cal-a-vie.com.

It's hard to remember that you're in North America when luxuriating at this European-style health spa. Located in Northern San Diego County, Cal-a-Vie is situated on 200 acres of exquisite rolling hills.

There's a 5-to-1 staff-to-guest ratio so you can rest assured that your wellness program will be customized to your needs.

I've just returned from four days with the most extraordinary bunch of people. We had the best time laughing, working out, and simply appreciating our time together. We started with a morning hike that increased in intensity daily as the week progressed. The views were, as always, beautiful and on clear days we could see the ocean. No matter how fast (Michelle and Marty), or slow (me), we went, my fitness team kept me going in the right direction. The days flew by, friendships grew, bodies slimmed and tightened.

Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires

In August of this year, I was lucky enough to have another destination spa adventure, this one with my daughter Mary-Claire, at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Massachusetts. Here's the link. http://www.canyonranch.com/lenox/
 

The New England mansion that houses the spa has been built in a large ‘U’ shape. One wing is used for guest accommodations; the other contains the restaurants and offices of the health specialists. The fitness facilities form the base of the ‘U’, and include several

gyms, an indoor pool, (there’s an outdoor pool as well), tennis, spinning, a weight room, change rooms, and more.

The grounds of the spa are lovely, and though we were there in summer, I can imagine curling up on a large chair in the library during a winter snowstorm reading a great book in front of the fireplace.

There was a good range of fitness courses. CanyonRanch offers a number of truly unique classes, including yoga on a paddle board, which proved to be great fun when the instructor fell off! Additionally there were activities that took advantage of the natural beauty of the Berkshire Hills, like hiking in the mountains, canoeing and biking. I can only imagine how wonderful these outdoor activities are in the midst of trees in their full fall colours.

The spa has a tremendous ‘high ropes’ course for the adventurous who want to challenge their fear of heights. My daughter and I both tackled the course and had a great time doing it. There’s nothing like climbing a telephone pole and walking high above the ground together to bond a mother and daughter. The final swing was exhilarating! Although we didn't take many classes together, we always had fun comparing notes at each meal and of course loved our pool time together. It's great to be able to travel with your children and a spa is a wonderful way to do it; you can both "do your own thing"  but still spend a lot of time together. A bottle of wine and a good movie will add to your fun!

 

Grey skies did not deter the intrepid rope climber

Things you might want to consider....

• The meals. Although calorie counts are indicated on the menu, the menu meals are accompanied by a buffet for salads and drinks. When choosing from the buffet, it’s difficult to assess exactly how much you consume.
• Some classes were overcrowded, making it difficult to follow the instructor, (eg. aquafit). Other classes limited the number of participants, and once a maximum was reached, the course was closed. This made getting in to some classes difficult. Hence, the dilemma...an overcrowded class versus not getting in to a particular class at all. 
• Instead of a traditional early morning hike, we were only offered an early walk on the road to town. Longer hikes are only available later, during the regular fitness programming. Hiking the hills is magnificent, so it was difficult to forgo the hike for regularly scheduled classes.
• I didn't find the instructors engaging. Over the four days we were there, I never got the feeling they understood my strengths, weakness or concerns.

A bracelet from our beading class.

However, Canyon ranch is a great treat for mothers and daughters. We had a fantastic ‘package’ whereby my daughter’s stay was free and we simply paid for her treatments. In fact, the spa has a wide variety of ‘specials’, making it a good deal.



Great shopping at the outlet mall.

On a final note, the spa is uniquely located in a community with a fantastic arts program; tickets are available for a number of plays, musical events and festivals. Check out Tanglewood, the famed summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, for great shows and music. http://www.bso.org/brands/tanglewood/features/tanglewood-75-anniversary-season.aspx. 

The link to the many cultural events in Stockbridge and Lenox is: http://www.canyonranch.com/i/downloads/Lenox_Cultural_Events.pdf.