RESORTS HOMES TRAVEL ADVENTURE APRIL/MAY 2016
80 GENTRY DESTINATIONS
FINDING BALANCE High-octane adventure and relaxing bliss merge beautifully at Miraval. STORY BY CORRINE E. MEHIGAN GENTRY DESTINATIONS 81
Situated in the warm shade of the Santa Catalina Mountains on 400 acres in northern Tucson, Miraval Resort & Spa is a destination dedicated to living life in the moment. Since 1995, it s been ranked year-after-year as one of the world s top destination spas. To celebrate its 20th Anniversary, the iconic Arizona hotspot has recently debuted a stunning renovation and a new array of exclusive health and wellness programming. The brand new activities, workshops, lectures, and classes build upon the resort s already impressive 200 offerings. Each has been created to inspire guests to open their eyes, minds, and hearts. Indeed, the meaning behind Miraval s mission statement, Life is more meaningful and enjoyable when physical, emotional, and intellectual components are in balance, reverberates through every aspect of this special resort. After a busy and stressful few months, I welcomed the opportunity to get away to legendary Miraval for a few days. I d heard amazing things about the resort from friends and colleagues, and was ready to see for myself if Miraval lived up to the hype. My body and mind were looking to rest and relax, but to my surprise, the rejuvenation I discovered at Miraval was the most powerful aspect of the experience. HUMAN TOUCH From the moment you arrive at Miraval, the beauty of the Sonoran desert setting captivates your senses. Chill-seekers from around the world make frequent pilgrimages to Miraval solo or with family 82 GENTRY DESTINATIONS
Methuen Architects and Clodagh Design worked with the team at Miraval to create a seamless connection between the Resort s physical environment and the new Miraval Life in Balance Spa. The indoor/ outdoor spaces reinforce a connection with the earth while the spa s menu of services offers guests some of the most innovative, life-enhancing treatments available today.
Mirval has 117 casually elegant casita-style luxury spa accommodations and suites grouped in six villages, each with a variety of rooms and features. Each room (this page) is inviting and comfortable, with natural colors from the earth that create a connection with the desert landscape and surrounding mountains. From Acupuncture to Thai Massage, the healing arts available at Mirval (opposite) have been practiced for thousands of years around the globe. Using pressure point stimulation and targeted stretching, Thai massage renews the body s energy flow while reducing tension and stress. 84 GENTRY DESTINATIONS
and friends to find life s elusive equilibrium. No matter what their specific agenda may be, men, women, the young and more mature are attracted equally to this special place, internationally known for returning life to a balanced state. You will be welcomed into the gracious new lobby where you can touch base with an Experience Concierge who will go over your itinerary and make any requested adjustments, ensuring a bespoke experience that matches your wellness goals. There are no strict regimens at Miraval. Instead, choice is the guiding principle, with a wide range of programs and experiences designed to create your customized journey to your own idea of well-being. That means living in the moment. It also means that adventure in body, heart, and mind is the name of the game. More often than not, these experts advise new arrivals to drop their bags and head straight to the Life in Balance Spa. Crossing the bridge to the Life in Balance Spa, you ll feel the cleansing energy of purposefully placed tourmalines and soft grasses that grace the entrance path. The smell of jasmine, chosen for its healing properties, greets you at the ancient door. The Life in Balance Spa engages all the senses with its message of life-enhancing simplicity. At 16,000 square feet, the spa has 23 treatment rooms (six outdoors), a spa suite, a two-way fireplace, a reflecting pool, GENTRY DESTINATIONS 85
a quiet room, and unspoiled views of the desert and surrounding mountains. Treatment beds are temperature-regulated, light fixtures mimic desert light, and citrine and amethyst crystals radiate male and female energies. Be sure to try the Ultimate Ayurvedic Treatment before bedtime it is an ideal way to begin your stay and personal journey. This utterly unique experience begins with an Abhyanga massage; the long, quick waves of pressure loosening toxins from your tired body while increasing circulation. Next, that highly specialized therapist with the touch of an angel applies calming pressure point therapy designed to cleanse and balance the body s energy. You ll feel like you re floating. Then your therapist will employ a technique intended to align your brain waves pouring a soothing stream of gently heated oil to your forehead that will stream down the back of your head steadily for a blissful 15 minutes. Finally, you will be cocooned in a warm wrap meant to strengthen and heal. You will drift out into the warm Arizona night air through Miraval s gardens to your soothing new home away from home. After a multi-million dollar overhaul, the newly renovated guestrooms and suites have a have a fresh and natural aesthetic, perfectly complemented with all the right modern amenities and technology. Take full advantage of the black-out shades and television preprogrammed with a Miraval Channel playing spa-like music, unplug all of your devices and fall into a deep restful sleep. UP-LIFTING Set aside all assumptions. Miraval s food is flavorful, beautiful, and absolutely doable. For breakfast you ll indulge in a savory and sweet feast. As you enjoy a tasty-yet-healthy take on huevos rancheros, you ll wonder is this really spa food? Challenging the assumption that spa food must be small and flavorless, Miraval s culinary team shows guests that healthy food is actually more flavorful as natural flavors can stand out when they re not masked by unnecessary fats. Ready to face the day, you ll strut out into the bright sun thinking, three meals a day like that, plus plenty of healthy snacks and never needing a wallet let s just stay forever. This little pocket of the Sonoran desert boasts one of the highest bio-diversities of flora and fauna in North America making it the perfect setting for outdoor adventures from hiking and mountain biking to rock climbing and horseback riding. You can do all of that at Miraval and much more. Miraval s outdoor adventure team has a world-class reputation for working with individuals and groups. Any trip to Miraval is not complete without time spent pushing one s self past fear and into adrenaline pumping exhilaration. Their skilled experts have engaged leadership teams from Fortune 500 companies to professional athletes in team building exercises that explore everything from organizational structure, increased productivity, and health and wellness to employee morale and conflict resolution. Trusting oneself and experiencing renewed confidence is frequently part of experiencing Out on a Limb one of Miraval s fascinating exercises in balance. The seemingly simple task of climbing a pole high into the sky and walking across a narrow surface is often quite difficult. For some it leads directly into a discussion of perceived risk and how to cope with your unexpected fears. Out on a Limb is particularly suited to individuals looking for enhanced clarity and inner strength, or just the thrill of the fall so close at hand. The exhilaration of walking across that horizontal log suspended 45-feet in the desert sky is a rush you ll never forget. Another Miraval favorite is the Desert Sky Zipline. Also centered on the act of letting go and celebrating life there are all kinds of life lessons that can be associated with conquering the zipline. The exercise forces you to examine the idea of letting go of the past and moving forward into new beginnings of healthier ways of living. First-timers shouldn t fear, as it s a playful endeavor reminiscent of your childhood days on the swing set. It might seem scary at first, but the freedom of letting go of fear and stepping toward new beginnings is powerful as you soar above the desert floor. LIGHT AS A FEATHER With newfound zest and energy, you ll walk back towards the resort feeling as light as a feather and braver than ever. Good! Because 86 GENTRY DESTINATIONS
Created by Wyatt Webb at Miraval Arizona, The Equine Experience provides profound insight into communication within relationships. Working on the ground with specially selected horses, guests begin to see patterns of learned behavior that may be working against them. Wyatt offers 4-day workshops and daily classes for anyone looking to better understand their communication process in an effort to improve personal and professional relationships and bring joy to their lives. your next adventure will have you suspended four feet above ground, cradled in a silk hammock, your body delighting in twisting and turning and magically realigning. This is Ariel Yoga. Any level of experience is just fine for a private class. You ll find yourself mastering familiar poses and feeling brave enough to try ones you never dreamed possible. One of Ariel Yoga s greatest benefits is that it allows you to stretch and strengthen without overstressing your joints or compressing your vertebrae. It can be the prefect complement to your current yoga practice, just like a block or strap, but for those who become instantly hooked, it becomes a primary practice all on its own. It s easy to love this kind of yoga because it s playful and inspiring. It is also gentler on the body and easier to get deeper into some of the postures. Many guests say they feel freedom and empowerment or just plain joy with the body enjoying positions it hasn t experienced since childhood. Hanging upside down with all the blood rushing to your head, your body in perfect alignment, you might be reminded of how much you loved this same move as a kid on the jungle bars at recess. Yet far from child s play, aerial yoga improves physical agility, lengthens muscles, and releases tension throughout the body. Should you wish to keep floating, Aqua Zen is unlike any massage you ve tried before. Miraval has designed a special private pool, heated to well over 100 degrees, where the most kind and caring hands attend to your body with the helpful caresses of warm water. You don t have to move a muscle or even know how to swim. Your Watsu-trained therapist will skillfully move your body effortlessly through the water, melting away stress and strain. With your eyes closed and your entire body, save your mouth and nose, expertly held below water, the hour-long treatment will seem to end too soon. You ll be amazed at the healing powers of the water. For guests looking to ride the wave towards physical wellness, Miraval has introduced a number of new fitness classes and other more active endeavors, including the resort s uber popular new take on Paddleboard Yoga, well known as an extremely effective workout, especially to strengthen the core and improve balance. In order to offer a similar workout in its desert environment, Miraval introduced Desert Waves Yoga using a special Indo Board that features a curved bottom to stimulate waves. A PROFOUND RIDE From the moment you meet him, it s clear Wyatt Webb is a man of few words. Yet he is gifted at sizing you up and helping you notice personal patterns that may be holding you back from the life you want to live. He won t prescribe a magic pill or spout a complicated theory from behind a podium. When it comes to examining the human spirit, Webb s skill is in discovering that the best mirror of a person s essence (especially self-doubts and fears) is not limited to another human being, but can be found in the horse. As he guides you through simple equestrian skills and you attempt to prompt the horse to follow your instruction, Webb will tell you It s not about the horse. It s also not about your boss, the company, your wife or your husband. It s all about you and taking responsibility. More importantly, it s about changing what doesn t work for you into what does. It s not uncommon for guests to travel great distances to meet this author, therapist, horseman, and truth teller. You might be moved to tears by his striking reading of you. And you just might be motivated to let go of an old habit or fear. What began as Webb s facilitated in-depth relationship skill s examination has evolved into Miraval s Equine Experience and repeat guests will tell you it s a must. Webb and the resort s equine team provide this and an array of workshops for individuals and groups to improve personal or professional relationships and bring joy to life. The rest is up to you. GENTRY DESTINATIONS 87