When 4 of us university friends wanted a reunion weekend, we decided against reenacting one of our old camping trips (too soggy and cold), skiing (too end-of-season) or hitting Spain again (logistical nightmare for friend from Seattle). In the end we settled on visiting Canyon Ranch, a spa resort in Lenox, Massachusetts, a few hours drive from New York City.
“A weird place”
“It’s kind of a weird place,” a friend said when I told her where I was going. “Lots of rich ladies walking around in robes. It’s great…but it’s weird.”
Canyon Ranch is weird. It’s a cross between a resort, a health spa, a weight-loss camp and a self-help centre, set in the gorgeous Berkshires region. It’s the kind of place where you can take a yoga class, join an organised volleyball game, learn to drum, and attend a session that asks “What drives you to change?”. You can eat diet food or double desserts or even drink as long as you do it in your room.
For years I’d heard of Canyon Ranch as a plush getaway mainly catering to groups of women (my “ladies in robes” friend went with her mother) but it is firmly coed (we saw several other men, including a teen boy with his mum and a couple).
An uplifting, and exhausting, retreat?
Hours after we booked, I received an email from “my” programme advisor:
“Dear Jennifer, It is my pleasure to serve as your main contact during your stay, and to help you make the most of your Canyon Ranch experience.” She went on to describe “hundreds of individual services, seminars and sessions”, a “‘menu’ of spa and health-related services”, “fitness classes, lectures, outdoor activities and workshops”.
In short, it sounded like a terrifically exhausting and very well-managed way to relax.
Think the schedule of summer camp with a kumbaya vibe and a slightly 1990s-style formal dining room.
The best massage of my life
On the weekend, we piled into a rental car and drove the 3 hours up from New York City, where we checked in, collected our Canyon Ranch T-shirts and water bottles then hurried to our first yoga class of the stay, where we did downward dog in the pale afternoon light, overlooking treetops through the studio’s wide windows.
We took an intense cardio class. We lazed in a hot tub. We danced with scarves to let out our inner animal (cough). Two of us had the Ashiatsu deep barefoot massage, in which my therapist seemed to use neither hand nor foot but some other kind of appendage grown especially to relieve my stress. It was by far the most relaxing and amazing massages I’ve had in my life.
Another highlight: Drumming
Besides the Ashiatsu, the highlight of the weekend, to my surprise, was a drumming class. Our instructor, who travels all around the world to perform and teach, spoke movingly of how drumming connects with cultures and also connects you to the people in the room. I learned the difference between bass and tone strokes. We had a jam session. At one point I unself-consciously played the cowbell. I still think about that class months later.
Fun, camaraderie and personal growth
Canyon Ranch is the kind of place where you can easily spend $300 at the gift shop and even more on add-on classes. It’s the kind of place you can wear your workout trousers all weekend. It’s the kind of place where you can take part in a scavenger hunt around the property that turns surprisingly cutthroat. Although we won in the end — take THAT fleet-footed group of teenage girls!
It is it’s own scene, which is something you have to get used it. I kept hearing people walking around talking about “Kripalu” this, “Kripalu” that. It’s not a fancy kind of facial or new antioxidant berry. It’s the massive yoga centre just down the road that also books in drummers and changes your life.
It’s also the kind of place where you can run into Lena Dunham and her boyfriend in the hall or the dining room. So perhaps it’s even cool. In a retro, ladies-in-robes way.
 The details
Canyon Ranch, Life Enhancement Resort
Canyon Ranch has resorts in Lenox, Massachusetts; Tucson, Arizona; and Miami, Florida.
165 Kemble Street
Lenox, MA 01240
+1 413.637.4100
I’m linking up with the Share the Joy meme, celebrating posts that posts that give us joy and make us smile. Getting together with my longtime girlfriends gives me joy like nothing else.Â
Interesting – I’ve been to the Miami one which I loved but got the feeling it was Canyon Ranch lite (they even have alcohol, although it’s organic). More yoga by the sea and rock climbing wall although there was more I wasn’t able to try. No drumming alas.
Mummytravels, you can’t have everything. But if a drumming opportunity comes up, definitely take it!
So did you discover your inner animal? I love this kind of stuff as my imagination goes wild and I find I can really enter the spirit of it.
Canyon Ranch looks really special
Mari, I *did* discover my inner animal. I’m afraid that while my friends thought it was a little corny, I really dug it!
Love this review, Jen. I am now imagining you growling whilst dancing with scarves and am so curious to know what appendage was used for your massage – did you really have no idea? 😉
Trish, I actually had no idea. Pointy and strong and smooth — maybe her elbow or heel of her foot? But who cares? My eyes were rolling back in my head so I couldn’t look…
I, too am curious about the massage appendage! This sounds like an amazing place, perfect for a girls’ weekend. The drumming class sounds great, I wonder if there’s anything like that in London?
Drinking in your room away from prying eyes – as it were naughty? Count me in! This place sounds hilarious but in a good way – which is what you want from a girl’s catchup weekend. You’ll be making references to your inner animal and cowbell for years to come!
This looks like fun. I would love to have a few days away with some old friends like that. It looks like you had a wonderful trip and I love the idea of spending a few days comfortable in my yoga duds. I’m your newest follower and can’t wait to see what you do next. Come over and visit if you get a chance.
Angel
It is nice to get away and have the entire weekend just be about a combination of catching up, relaxing, energising and eating.
I need to find my inner cowbell!
xxx
Kate, we all do! We definitely all do!
Wow I need a retreat, love this: ‘it sounded a terrifically exhausting and very well-managed way to relax’-haha. Now I love Lena so would be all over that life changing yoga centre! x
Unfortunately I never got an opportunity to wrangle a mat next to her at 8am yoga. Now THAT would have been life changing.
Sounds a fab place to catch up with girlfriends, especially with express permission to socialise in your room! I bet the drumming was fun, we did some at a team away day a few years back with 150 of us learning a routine on various drums – it was the most amazing, funny and soul lifting experience even though lots were sceptical to start with. #sharethejoy
Stephanie, I was really surprised by how much I loved the drumming. I thought it might be a bit touchy-feely/corny but it really did feel like a jam session. And I’d never realised how nuanced drumming can be. I can just imagine doing it with 150 people.
Wow! If / when I get a chance to go back to New York I’m booking myself in! The drumming and massages sounds amazing. I think that is such a fab way to reunite with your friends so I’m so happy you guys all had a joyous time! #sharethejoy
You are so right, Tinuke — it was joyful and a real celebration of our love for each other — a love that endured for more 2 decades!
Cool me strange but I LOVE the sound of this place! Drumming, massage and chandeliers? I’m there. And what a wonderful and celebratory way to catch up with friends – glad you had so much fun together. Thanks so much for linking this up at #sharethejoy Jen x
Thanks for commenting, Michelle. There should definitely be more drumming in the world. It just makes things better.
I’m sure I could get rid of a lot of inner turmoil during a drumming class! What a fantastic sounding retreat. Sounds like an absolutely brilliant girls’ weekend away – yoga, exercise, drums, massages AND alcohol. Sign me up! Thanks for sharing with us on #FarawayFiles
Its always great to meet up with old friends, regardless of where you are the friendship and conversation are worth their weight in gold. I had to laugh at your summer camp with kumbaya description! Well done you and your gal pals for beating the teens! #FarawayFiles
I am so glad you chose this experience over reliving your camping trips… totally my kind of place – quirky, luxe, yoga and some cool drumming. I hope there was some champagne too! Thanks for joining us on #FarawayFiles
OH my gawd. That was the best, most real, slightly hilarious review of this kind of resort. I haven’t been. I won’t judge. It has potential. Drumming is key. Massages are good. Yoga could be. Friends enjoying and laughing and taking it all not so seriously? Perfection. Thanks for sharing with #FarawayFiles, Erin
Ha. Thanks so much. I had almost as much fun writing it as it was to be there. Almost. x