In Tucson Arizona lies two Wellness Resorts each on one side
of the Catalina Mountain Range. Carly and I have been able to experience both
properties for a multiple night stay. We made sure to delve into the wide range
of activities offered at the resorts to fully understand what makes them each
special. Everyone we talk to want to understand for themselves what the major
differences are. We have done our best to share with you our two experiences.
Let’s start with the
history
Canyon Ranch was started by Mel Zuckerman. He grew up with
health issues as a child and was told he would never run due to his asthma. At
one point in his life his doctor told him he needed to make a change in his
lifestyle quickly or he wasn’t going to have too much time on this earth. Mel
went to a health resort in the early 70’s and after been taken under the wing
by a fitness instructor he learned the benefits of removing himself from his
current environment and immersing himself around positive people looking to
change their health. Soon after this experience he decide that he was going to
start his own health resort. He took over a former working dude ranch and
created a place for people from all over the world to improve their well-being.
It was in 1979 that the first Canyon Ranch located in Tucson was created.
Canyon Ranch has other locations in Lennox, Massachusetts, Miami, Florida, spas
in the Palazzo in Las Vegas and aboard the Oceania Cruise Ships and Regent
Seven Seas Cruise Ships.
Miraval is located on the other side of the Catalina
Mountain Range and was first the location of Sierra Rehabilitation Centre. 15
years ago it was transformed into a health and healing resort and named
Miraval. Most recently Miraval was bought by Steve & Jean Case who were
first guests of Miraval and found it a truly transformative experience. For
almost a decade now, Steve & Jean Case have had the pleasure of building on
Miraval’s tremendous legacy, with the goal of taking the life-changing Miraval
experiences to more people in more places.
The Similarities
Both Canyon Ranch and Miraval offer just about the same
amenities. They both have a wonderful full service spa with an array of
services everywhere from unique experiences like watsu (water shiatsu), an
array of massages and bodywork, mindwork and beauty services. They both have a
full service outdoor activities program offering full/half day hikes leveling
from beginner to advanced, rock climbing, mountain biking, tennis and a high
ropes course. The food is delicious at both properties and to clear up a common
myth, you will not go hungry! Both offer
an all-inclusive philosophy and they are non-tipping resorts. Both resorts
offer complimentary transfers to and from Tucson Airport. Guests will leave
both Miraval and Canyon Ranch feeling higher in spirits and well-being then when
they arrived.
The Differences
Canyon Ranch has been around longer therefore the guests
really made the experience for me. I met some guests who have been visiting
every year for the past 10 or 20 years. It is a necessary part of their regular
health check-in. Canyon Ranch offers a full integrative wellness clinic. Some
of the guests spend so much time at the resort that their regular physician is
located on property on the Ranch. Canyon Ranch has an extroverted energy. It is
easy to become very close with the other guests really quickly because you see
one another in the activities, in the dining room and just walking around
property. Carly and I left with many friends from around the country that we
look forward to visiting or seeing again at the Ranch! Due to Canyon Ranch’s
close relationship with the University of Arizona, as they provided the funding
for the Integrative medical program at The University of Arizona, doctors and
nurses can earn continuing medical education credits by staying at the ranch
and signing off on certain lectures. These lectures are offered by medical
doctors, nutritionists, personal trainers, acupuncturists, naturopaths and
dietitians. Also, Canyon Ranch does not serve alcohol. This is mainly due to
the fact that to truly be considered a “destination spa” the resort is not
allowed to offer alcohol. You are however allowed to bring alcohol in from
outside the ranch.
Miraval is about half the size of Canyon Ranch and it has a
more introverted energy. Like Canyon Ranch there is also an extremely high
return rate for guests. These guests are majority women almost 95%. There were
many single women, girls’ getaways and the odd couple at the resort. Miraval is most well known for their Equine Experience which Carly and I both
participated in. It was amazing. The horses act as mirrors of your
thoughts and behaviors. It is easy to see the patterns you act in in other
relationships when interacting with the horses and it provides a safe and
supportive setting for people to correct false belief systems about themselves
and remember who they truly are.
On paper the two resorts are not much different but there is a much
different feeling between the two properties. We were inspired to do different
activities at each property. Each time you return you would have a much
different experience depending on your needs and goals at that time. Each
property is extremely accommodating and motivating to improve one’s health,
fitness and mental state.
