Canyon Ranch In The Berkshires Health Resort in Lenox, Massachusetts - Day 4: Taking It All Home and Final Thoughts
Julie Register visited this destination spa in Massachusetts in November 2002

"We have reason to believe, though, that few of our guests "escape" entirely untouched.  Your a-ha! moment could happen during a consultation with one of our doctors or in a meditation class or somewhere out on a hiking trail - or you may connect your actions to your well-being gradually, over the course of many visits.  All we want is for you to make that emotional leap." Mel Zuckerman, Canyon Ranch Founder

Day 4

5:45 The alarm is going off. I hop out of bed and turn on the TV. The storm is passing through. While not as much snow as predicted, there are still a few inches that have fallen and more to come. The news advises travelers to wait until midmorning if possible when the storm is supposed to taper off and end. Perfect! I wash my face, brush my teeth, put on workout clothes and am at the Precor EFX 546 Elliptical machine in Cardio/Strength Gym by the time it opens at 6 a.m.. 35 minutes and 300 calories later, I stop to do some of the circuit. I head back to my room for a shower. (Other choices: aerobic walk, pole hike on property)

7:45 I visit the demo kitchen for one last breakfast - the usual, hot whole grain cereal and a banana. This morning's talk is Tools for Living Well. We are given a folder that contains 

- The first chapter of The Canyon Ranch Guide to Living Younger Longer: A Complete Program for Optimal Health for Body, Mind, and Spirit, 
- A Resource List of newsletters, magazines, videos, books, equipment, and web sites, 
- A Nutritional Intelligence Pyramid to cut out and post in the kitchen,
- A pamphlet titled "Tools for Healthy Living" containing a list of periodic medical and health risk screening, suggestions to reduce stress, exercise guidelines, helpful ideas for eating well, and how to maintain the momentum,
- A brochure describing Canyon Ranch's wellness services at home and
- A poem I'd Pick More Daisies

We discuss the issues that go on in our lives and ways to look at and deal with with them. It's a very appropriate ending to an information-packed stay. (Other choices: Q&A at The Captain's Table on Salon & Skin Care, 7-Mile Hike, Wake Up Warm-Up Stretch, Morning Trail Run)

9:00 I call Bell Service and ask for someone to get my luggage. They say they will also have my car ready for me. I check out Canyon Ranch and back into daily reality.

Spatip 14: Checkout is at 12 noon. However, you are welcome to enjoy the facilities all day

Final Thoughts

To quote Canyon Ranch, "Canyon Ranch cannot change your life. Canyon Ranch can help - in fact, that's our reason for being. We work hard to motivate, inspire and assist you in every way possible. Still, we cannot optimize your chances of enjoying a long, healthy, fulfilling, vibrant life. We cannot make you exercise or eat properly or control your stress or rid yourself of bad habits.. There's only one person on earth with that power - YOU. Once you understand this enormously significant truth - not just in your head, but in your heart - you can put all your emotional energy into making your best possible future a reality. We passionately want you to make this powerful, emotional connection between your behavior and your health, between what you know and what you do."

For me, that means to take Cynthia Wild's advice to heart. Keep it simple and attainable: 2 or 3 short walks every day; small, regular meals; limit work hours; spend more time relaxing; spend more time sleeping. I'll add to that see a doctor for regular checkups.

For a future trip to Canyon Ranch, I'll give myself some wise advice I picked up at Canyon Ranch: "To be happy, drop the words 'if only' and substitute instead the words 'next time.'" 

• If only I had spent Next time I will spend more time going through the material I was sent before my trip. This would will allow me to use my time more wisely and fit all of the recommended activities into each day. This time I attended too many lectures. Next time I will attend the recommended amount of fitness classes.

• If only I knew Now I know about the medical staff, I would have made will make arrangements to see them next time.

• Next time, I will start my visit with consultations with a nutritionist, a personal trainer/fitness consultant, and a medical check up. I will plan my activities based on the results of those consultations.

Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires is a special place. It offers the right amount of choices at many levels to appeal to all sorts of people at all stages of their lives. I saw men and women covering the spectrum from teenagers to those in their 70s. They all were busy working on improving their health and well-being by exercising, relaxing, eating healthy and seeking knowledge. They found the right place to do it! Canyon Ranch provides all of this and does it very, very well.