Desert Wellness: Five Southwestern Resorts To Awaken Your Spirit – Forbes

Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale, Arizona
Whether it’s the weather, the views, or the vortexes, the American Southwest has been known as a healing destination for decades, becoming especially popular with medical patients during the early 20th century. The relative solitude, sweeping landscape and fresh air drew a stark contrast to the United States’ urban sprawl, beckoning first time visitors and convincing them to stay. In many ways, the desert Southwest hasn’t lost its odd allure, and continues to call out to those seeking a change in perspective as much as a change of scenery. The following wellness- focused resorts merge into the land seamlessly, incorporating local culture, nature-based products and individually designed spa treatments into your stay. When you’re ready to say goodbye, you’ll remember your southwest experience as the start of a journey as opposed to a vacation; chances are, you’ll be back to continue it. 
Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale, Arizona
Boulders- Scottsdale, Arizona
Just outside of Scottsdale, Arizona, Boulders Resort & Spa by Hilton Curio Collection, is a sustainably-driven complex surrounded by native desert plant life, ancient rock formations, and endless sunsets. Spread out over 1,300 acres, the resort features adobe casitas, haciendas, and private villas, ranging from two to five bedrooms. Choosing to stay in a villa or hacienda will be like moving into your own foothills hideout away from home, complete with your own fireplace. Special offers include spa, golf, and seasonal packages, helping you save as you sink into a massage table or fire-side seat. 
Spa Suite patio at Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale, Arizona
Boulders’ spa treatments use native flora to enhance the herbal nature of select treatments, treating the process as a science as much as a craft. Services include massages, reflexology, prenatal treatments, organic facials and more; the sheer variety of options means you might find just yourself diving into something you’ve never considered before. Spa environments include a heated pool and labyrinth to absorb unwanted anxieties and ring in a new you. Along with the resort golf courses, you can book your own outdoor adventure with the concierge, ranging from stargazing with an astronomer guide to a hot air balloon flight at 1,000 feet. Other off-site tours include Grand Canyon and Sedona excursions, along with photo workshops, wildlife tours, and hiking. With four dining spots across the resort, there’s no shortage of gourmet cuisine to try during your stay; visit the Spotted Donkey for Southwestern bites or the Spa Cafe for a light breakfast. 
Boulders secludes you from the outside world when you most need it, bringing the desert to your doorstep with outdoor fun, cozy casita living and more than enough space to just be.
Red Mountain Resort, St George, Utah
Red Mountain Resort- St. George, Utah
If you’re looking for a full-circle healing experience, Utah’s Red Mountain Resort is your go-to retreat resort. An emphasis on whole body wellness makes Red Mountain a top luxury spa destination tucked into the outdoor hub of St. George. From the moment you arrive, jump into Red Mountain’s wellness programming and watch yourself grow day by day. Sessions include energy reading, a guided labyrinth walk, profound listening, and shamanic energy healing with a nod to the powers within the four elements. Workshops like the Spiritual Companion Experience are run by the resort’s in-house spiritual practitioner ready to share a wealth of knowledge. Personal Training is available if you have specific spiritual needs to address; options include one-on-one consultation, a custom fitness framework, and private pilates. Other workshops to choose from include Yoga in nearby Snow Canyon State Park and an Anasazi Pottery class to unleash your creative flow. Depending on your ideal pace, fitness classes are available to get your heart pumping, followed by one of a visit to the resort’s Sagestone Spa & Salon to wind down. Massage therapy, natural treatments, men’s treatments, and even hand, foot, and hair care are all options to indulge in after an active day. 
Red Mountain Resort is at the heart of the most abundant and spectacular hiking in Utah
The resort offers the Essential Zion Adventure Retreat that includes lodging, daily meals, and an excursions in the Zion National Park area Along with eighty two comfortable rooms, resort accommodations include spacious luxury villas to amp up your stay. Red Mountain does not consider itself an “adventure hote” in vain; whether you spend most of your stay outdoors or getting active inside, you’re guaranteed the adrenaline rush that comes with an exclusive escape to one of the nation’s most stunning areas. 
El Monte Sagrado in Taos, New Mexico
El Monte Sagrado- Taos, New Mexico
Located in Taos, New Mexico, El Monte Sagrado will welcome you to a region as mysterious as it is popular with artisans, creatives, and makers of all types. Step into your Mountain Room, Casita Suite or Hot Tub Suite, and immerse yourself in the decor selected by local artists. Lose yourself in the resort’s Living Spa next, which implements eco-minded products and techniques in a professionally designed wellness regiment. Let the experts take over as you settle in among lush plant life, soft hues, and sunlight streaming in between wooden beams. When you’re ready for more of a rush, the fitness center is available to resort guests, along with a garden-like saltwater pool.
Del La Tierra restaurant at El Monte Sagrado
The Anaconda Bar and De La Tierra Restaurant are there to take the edge of, whether you’re craving cocktail hour or a healthy brunch. Enjoy your meal in Del La Tierra’s courtyard as you sample a regional masterpiece created by Chef Cristina Martinez. 
Diverse yet devoted to a melting pot heritage, El Monte Sagrado is a true New Mexican destination that reimagines what makes the high desert stand out. Time spent in Taos will cleanse your system, and El Monte is your homebase for change that begins within.
The Springs Resort. Pagosa Springs, CO
The Springs Resort- Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Another resort that counts water as one of its pillars is The Springs Resort, in Pagosa Springs, CO, located just above the state border with New Mexico. The mineral and geothermal properties of the twenty five hot spring pools on the resort grounds attract guests from all over the country, promising soothing soaks, rooms with views of the San Juan River, and daily wellness programs. Classes and individual activities are available throughout the week, motivating you to leave the comfort of your room and gently further your limits. Choose from Aqua Yoga, the Forest Bathing Hike, or the River Walk, or retire to the Wellness Studio, which is open for personal practice. Massage treatments, muscle therapy, river tone pressure work, and facials are available at the spa at your leisure. Offers include the Discovery Package, Bed and Breakfast for Two, and even a Horse Drawn Carriage Package.
Rooms are a short walk from the Hot Springs, and include classic and deluxe options, as well as luxury lodge suites. Once you’re at the springs, soak in and imagine the minerals washing over you; each mineral that the spring holds is described here, along with its individual properties. Long since the first bath house was opened at Pagosa Springs in 1881, The Springs Resort upholds the reputation of Colorado’s most potent pools. 
Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona
Canyon Ranch – Tucson, Arizona
Tucson’s Canyon Ranch is a wellness destination that offers an integrative approach to wellness to inspire a ‘well way of life’ among guests. It’s the kind of destination that people seek out, meaning that if you’re planning to visit, your wellness efforts and goals are intentional. The destination’s extensive program features pathways meant to guide those looking for structured guidance. Examples include Lifestyle Reset, Personal Discovery, Outdoor Escape and the Just Be Here self-guided stay. Before welcoming new guests, Canyon Ranch shares suggested steps to prepare for your stay, as well as pillars to keep in mind while you’re there. The first step is finding your intention for pursuing your well being, followed by a one-on-one consultation with a wellness guide, who will help personalize your experience so that it fits your individual needs. 
Yoga at sunrise at Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona
Healthy cooking, unlimited access to facilities, and conversations with experts in the wellness field are just a few of the perks at Canyon Ranch. Just getting there will relax and inspire you; the ranch is located in Tucson’s picturesque Catalina Foothills, minutes from desert hiking. Most importantly, you’ll check in knowing that your health, and all the different forms it takes, is the priority until the end of your stay and beyond.
Whatever you are searching for, find it in the Southwest- and in yourself. Your tailored resort spa experience will go beyond pampering, elevating you in mind and body. Whether you choose the Sonoran Desert, Death Valley, the red rocks of Utah or northern New Mexico’s high desert, the region will pull you out of your element and towards an uncanny sense of belonging. Treatments based on holistic healing, sound spirit and lasting effects will bring you to center as you settle in. When you’re not taking advantage of your resort’s spa services, set some time aside to get to know the area from a newfound perspective. Trading introversion for introspect, your Southwest retreat will help you shed the apprehensions you came in with, leaving you with a clean slate and room to improve.The bottom line is- you deserve it.

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