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LIVINGSTYLE
28 wellness • 35 outdoors • 36 the right stuff
LIVINGSTYLE
28 Berkshire Living Feb/Mar 2011
Refresher
Course
Our guide to a luxurious, three-pronged
staycation at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Mass.
WRITTEN BY CATHERINE CENSOR
PHOTOGRAPHY BY TROY CAMPBELL
ANYON RANCH IS ENORMOUS. The Lenox, Massachusetts,
spa complex measures one hundred thousand square feet
and houses indoor and outdoor pools; a running track;
racquetball, squash, basketball, and tennis courts; state-of-the-art
cardio and weight rooms, dance and yoga studios, and space for cy-
cling, Pilates, and Gyrotonics. These are just the exercise options;
there are also treatment rooms offering more spa services than you
can shake a loofah at and outdoor activities spanning kayaking and
hiking to high-ropes course challenges.
All of this action is connected to the gloriously restored 1897
Bellefontaine Mansion, where guests take healthful, gourmet meals
and report for integrative medical services (even annual physicals
are offered) through a series of glass-covered walkways. It’s like the
biggest, most elegant Habitrail you’ve ever seen, populated by the
world’s luckiest and fittest hamsters.
And yet most Berkshirites have probably never been inside.
“Most of our guests come from Boston, New York, and other areas
within driving distance,” confirms Heather Gallagher, marketing
C
Sitting Pretty: The 1897
Bellefontaine Mansion sits at
the heart of the Canyon Ranch
campus in Lenox, Mass.
specialist for Canyon Ranch. “Very few come from the surrounding
area.” Given the possibilities for a staycation, with benefits such as
stress reduction, weight loss, or pampering on a grand scale, this
seems like an egregious oversight. Why shouldn’t Berkshirites con-
sider Canyon Ranch just as they do its neighbors Tanglewood and
Shakespeare & Company?
According to Gallagher, most guests stay for three nights—the
minimum required—and it takes them just as long to figure out
what’s here. (Aside from physical wellness, the center specializes in
spiritual and metaphysical stuff like handwriting analysis, astrology,
and Shamanic journey.) For those contemplating a visit, it’s helpful
to have a goal in mind, an organizing principle by which to con-
struct a roadmap through the establishment’s many classes, lectures,
and services. Since that takes work—and work is antithetical to a spa
staycation—here are three Canyon Ranch itineraries based on di-
verse goals: weight loss, stress reduction, and simple, self-indulgent
pampering.
Weight Loss
Canyon Ranch abides
by a holistic philosophy,
so to characterize some
classes and services as
useful for weight loss
and others as helpful for
stress reduction is, per-
haps, to miss the point
entirely. As anyone who
has ever struggled to lose
a few pounds knows,
stress can undermine
even the best nutrition
and exercise regimens.
A popular lecture at
Canyon Ranch is, in fact,
titled, “Is Stress Making
Me Fat?” (Spoiler: yes, it
is), and fitness manager
Brian Wright notes that, “Stressed is ‘desserts’ spelled backwards.”
Experts here, like life-management therapist Melanie Masdea,
believe that individuals must tackle emotional and behavioral is-
sues to reach the root of a weight problem. That’s a lot to cram
into a three-day weekend—especially when combined with exercise.
Depending on specific needs and goals, one might want to extend
a stay or consider the three-day plan an introduction to healthier
habits.
Canyon Ranch nutritionist Chrissy Wellington recommends a
jump-start, opting for intense calorie-burning exercise classes and
loading up on knowledge during the visit to create a workable pro-
gram of nutrition, cardio, and weight-training for success at home.
Unlike some spas, Canyon Ranch doesn’t put clients on starvation
rations or even limit caloric intake with set meals. Each of the two
onsite dining options—a café serving casual meals and a more for-
mal dining room—offer restaurant-style menus but instead of prices
next to each item are caloric and nutritional information. Meals are
all-inclusive, so patrons order whatever—and however much—they
want. In the dining room, the bountiful salad/breakfast bar serves
yogurt, muffins, hummus, and nuts along with fruit and vegetables.
Self-restraint is key. If weight loss is your goal, you’re going to have
to count your calories.
“While the dining room can provide useful lessons in portion
size—guests are always surprised at how small the servings are—if
weight loss is your goal, I recommend booking a nutritional consul-
tation,” Wellington says.
While a well-rounded exercise program is one that incorporates
cardio, strength-training, and core work, Wellington suggests pri-
oritizing cardio. To lose just one pound, you must burn approxi-
mately 3,500 calories over and above what you already burn. An
intense cardio class, like Canyon Ranch’s Dirty Dozen, is the exercise
equivalent of a blast furnace. The formula is simple: starting at one
end of a basketball court, participants do one pushup, then run to
the opposite end and back. The next set begins with two pushups
before repeating the process, and so on to twelve pushups. Which
adds up to seventy-eight pushups and a whole lot of running before
tackling the second exercise: body-weight squats. More exercises fol-
low. This insanity lasts forty-five minutes or until you “forget” how
to count to twelve.
Of course, not everyone can hack a class this intense, so Canyon
Ranch offers cardio for all levels of fitness. Wellington suggests
Stride, a treadmill interval class. Participants vary speed and incline
during walking or running to create periods of exertion and recov-
ery. “What’s great is that you can replicate the experience when you
get home,” Wellington says.
Those burned-out on traditional strength training might want
LIVINGSTYLE WELLNESS
30 Berkshire Living Feb/Mar 2011
“Stressed
is ‘desserts’
spelled
backwards.”
Let There Be Light:
The one-hundred-
thousand-square-
foot spa complex
is an architectural
wonder; (opposite)
of forty-plus fitness
options, spinning is
especially popular.
to give the Kettlebell Essentials class a try. Reminiscent of a small, overstuffed handbag, a
kettlebell is a solid round weight with a purse-like handle; some of the more interesting exer-
cises involve swinging them in rhythmic, whole-body motions that feel surprisingly pleasant.
(Unlike most strength training, which fatigues an isolated muscle, this whole-body work
is considerably more gentle; the swinging motion is soothing, like pumping your legs on a
swing.) Instructor Karen Allison observes that the body responds metabolically to kettlebells
because the weighted exercises, done for time rather than number of repetitions, incorporate
cardio and core work. Throw in a class like Define Your Midline, which focuses on core
strength, and you’ve got yourself an exercise program geared toward weight-loss success.
Stress Reduction
It isn’t always obvious that you’re a stress case in dire need of help. For instance, I know I’m
affected by stress in my life from all the usual sources: nutty colleagues, sneaky deadlines, an
adolescent daughter, and an aging rear-wheel-drive convertible that wants to make wobbly
snow angels on rural roads. I always assumed I handled stress well. I don’t bark at people
often, I don’t empty the refrigerator after a bad day, and I don’t self-medicate with martinis.
So I’m fine, right? Not really. A few months ago, I had a really tense morning at work and
decided to walk it off at lunchtime. I pushed the lobby door forcibly … and took it clean
off its hinges. Hulk angry! And since “Hulk” in this case is only four feet, ten inches tall, she
clearly has some issues.
To get in touch with “what’s happening inside,” Masdea recommends Restorative Yoga
or beginner classes, meditation, the Breathing for Health and Vitality lecture, and a tai chi
walk. These are precisely the kinds of activities I usually avoid because they don’t burn lots
of calories, build biceps, or keep me entertained … which may explain why I need them. I
resolve to give some of them a try.
First up: the tai chi walk. As I soon discover, it starts at 7:45 a.m., outdoors. Two strikes
against it already. Okay, maybe I’m being hasty. As the instructor explains, tai chi is an ancient
martial art that enhances energy and improves focus and mood. It’s flowing, graceful, and so
slow that it makes my brain itch. Somewhere between “cloud hands” and whatever it was that
involved flapping my arms, I lost it. We’re standing outside on the terrace of the Bellefontaine
Mansion, and the instructor points out October Mountain, home to James Taylor. “Let’s send
him some positive energy!” she chirps as we initiate yet another round of super-slow arm flap-
ping. (James, if you’re reading this, I apologize. I did not send you positive energy. Instead, I
sent a kind of slow, simmering frustration. If you feel the need to write something really dark,
that’s probably my fault. Feel free to ignore the impulse.)
I had better luck in yoga. Restorative Yoga, it turns out, could be called Esoteric Naptime.
Tools: a bolster, a blankie, and a mat. Flop forward; flop on each side; lie on your back with
your butt on the bolster. Those feeling feisty can extend their feet toward the ceiling. I did
LIVINGSTYLE WELLNESS
32 Berkshire Living Feb/Mar 2011
fine with the poses but sprang too rapidly out of them, prompt-
ing the instructor to chide me gently. “In this race,” she says, “the
slowest finish first.” I want points for not responding, “Only in the
Berkshires, honey.” See? Progress.
Beginner’s yoga is slightly more active than Restorative Yoga,
but still gentle enough that you have time to wonder if you’re
burning any calories. That, actually, isn’t the goal; instead the focus
is on purposeful breathing and getting in touch with what’s hap-
pening inside. Since I benefit from specific, actionable recommen-
dations, I really liked mind/body instructor Mark Gerow’s lecture
on breathing. Rather than just telling our group that we’re all a
bunch of mouth-breathers (which we are) or commanding us to
take deep breaths more often, Gerow teaches techniques for turn-
ing breathing into a coping mechanism. For instance, individuals
can lower their blood pressure immediately by making their exha-
lations longer than inhalations. And one can stimulate the right
brain, where creativity supposedly lives, by closing the right nostril
and breathing through the left nostril.
Although I tried to get in touch with my insides, I found that
the most successful stress-reducers during my Canyon Ranch stay
were also the most superficial. I liked Strip Fit (relax, no clothing is
removed) because I was too caught up in following instructor Janet
Lee’s choreography to be embarrassed and I had fun imagining that
Lap of Luxury: Top-notch
massage therapies and
plush accommodations
(below) make for one
indulgent staycation.
I might be able to make it as a professional
erotic dancer if the lights were really dim
and the patrons extremely drunk. Oh, and
the Lavender Relax treatment (more on that
shortly) coaxed me into a very happy place. It
was the least busy my mind has been in a long
time. Feeling calmer isn’t exactly the same
as becoming deeply spiritual, but it helps
me step away from stress. Masdea seems to
agree. “Whether it’s dancing barefoot in Nia
[a movement practice] or going for a hike or
getting a manicure, it’s all [about] health and
healing,” she says.
Pampering
Even with all of the health and healing going on at Canyon Ranch, there’s still room for
sybaritic pleasures. Guest rooms, for example, have flat-screen TVs and silky Anichini and
Mascioni sheets, custom designed for Canyon Ranch by William Caligari. The giant bath
towels wrap around me almost twice and the cushy terrycloth robes are so chic that some
guests wear them to dinner. In addition to workout wear, the Showcase Boutique gift shop
sells fine jewelry and scented candles. And the spa and salon components offer so many
facials, massages, and beauty treatments that a girl could check herself in for a three-day
weekend comprised exclusively of pampering. Amazingly, almost no one does that.
“Most people come here for a reason,” says spa director Samantha Cooper Brex. “Some
come thinking they just want pampering, but after a day they realize what we have here and
they start exploring.” The most popular spa service at Canyon Ranch is the basic Swedish-style
massage. “It’s stress-reducing, it feels good, and it’s good for you,” says Cooper Brex. Touch
therapies can be remarkably therapeutic; for those uncomfortable with massage, Cooper Brex
recommends a facial, which, like massage, helps to relax the mind while imparting healthier,
cleaner skin.
I choose Lavender Relax, an indulgent, one hundred-minute-long aromatic body treat-
ment. First, the practitioner rubs me down with an exfoliating scrub, wiping it off with warm
washcloths. She massages my legs, arms, and torso with lavender-scented cream and wraps
me, burrito-style, in heated blankets. While I bake, she rubs my feet and completes a lavender
scalp treatment. It is blissful. James Taylor, I sent you positive energy. You might be in a better
place now. I know I am. BL
Catherine Censor is an editor, writer, and former personal trainer who lives in Katonah, N.Y.
Soul Soothers: Canyon Ranch’s
spa complex features a
seventy-five--foot indoor pool;
(below) a fieldstone fireplace
in the Mansion lounge invites
relaxation.
LIVINGSTYLE WELLNESS
34 Berkshire Living Feb/Mar 2011
-
Canyon Ranch
165 Kemble St.
Lenox, Mass.
413.637.4100
www.canyonranchlenox.com
THEGOODS
outer limits
Night Crawlers
WRITTEN BY AMANDA RAE BUSCH
ILLUSTRATION BY ALISON KOLESAR
T’S ALMOST AS EASY AS WALKING, doesn’t require a ton of expensive equipment, and
makes some Berkshirites yearn for the dreariest of months: snowshoeing is hot this
season … again.
“Every year, there are more snowshoers than the year before,” says Dave Bacon, owner, with
his wife, Linda, of Canterbury Farm Ski Area in Becket, Mass. “A lot of people just wanna get
outside and exercise, and when they get older they’re worried about sliding around.”
But while forgoing skis to traipse along the property’s seven-and-a-half miles of snowshoe-
specific paths on frosty flippers (rentals are available) can be invigorating during the day, it’s a
whole new adventure after the sun goes down. The Bacons knew this back in 1985, when they
opened Canterbury and began scheduling three full-moon group tours per winter.
“It’s a unique period of night, and kind of eerie,” Dave says. “The shadows, the stars—the
visual aspect has a mysterious feel to it.”
Skimpy snow cover, frigid temperatures, and cloudy skies can leave full-moon excursion-
ists in the dark, however; folks in Pittsfield don’t wait around. For the past few years, a crew of
a dozen-plus off-season hikers and mountain bikers gathers on Monday nights at the Pittsfield
State Forest for an informal snowshoe trek along the Taconic Range crest.
“You pull into the parking lot, and it is pitch-black,” says Pat Rosier, the group’s unofficial
leader. “But you recognize the voices….”
Headlamps are essential. Rosier also stresses the importance of dressing in layers. “Because we
are climbing, and because you can’t go too far without going up in the State Forest, the biggest
problem is that people overdress,” Rosier says. “You’re working hard; it’s easy to get warm.”
On blustery evenings, the group forgoes the paved access
road for the wood’s dense trees, which block much of the
wind. Those fearful of wild animals, such as resident black
bears, take comfort in that a dog or two are usually present
on the outings. And, while doing it in the dark certainly
appeals to thrill-seekers and fans of the macabre, it’s also ac-
cessible to nine-to-fivers who simply want to switch up their
workout routine. “After work it’s so easy to go home, think-
ing it’s cold and dark outside,” Rosier admits, “but you get
out there and it’s fun. Especially if there’s a lot of snow.” BL
Amanda Rae Busch is senior editor of Berkshire Living. She wrote
about her experience moonlight snowshoeing in the Jan/Feb 2009 issue.
I
OUTDOORS LIVINGSTYLE
www.berkshireliving.com 35
Full Moon Snowshoe
Feb 19 and Mar 19
$15; equipment rentals, $20
Canterbury Farm Ski Area
1986 Fred Snow Rd.
Becket, Mass.,
413.623.0100
www.canterbury-farms.com
Monday Night Snowshoe
Mondays at 6-7:30
Pittsfield State Forest
Meet at Headquarters Building
Pittsfield, Mass.
THEGOODS
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