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Red Mountain Spa - Part 2
Written by: Donald Miserandino
The next morning I woke up at 6:00 A.M. most likely because I was on New York time. I continued that habit, since I could use the workout equipment without other guests in the room. Lonely yes, but I could try out any of the machines with no wait. After a breakfast of oatmeal, eggs and fruit, I rushed out in time to get to the 8 1A.M. Trekker 1 hike: a mild hike. Trekker #2 is brisk, and they tell me number 3 is an all-out jog or close to it. So for now, number 1 would be my speed. Guides Lou and Sandy took us to Hidden Pinion Trail and 3 Ponds-- a 2-1/2 hour hike. Up hills and down, up rocks and down, up paths and… well you get the idea. The view from some of the hills shows off the valley floor in the morning sun, and it is then that I realized the spa was built on the valley floor, right on top of the lava flow.
My group returned on time and in time for a hiker's snack laid out in the Canyon Dinning Room. It was composed of assorted fruits and purees, enough to refresh, but not break a dietary goal. Lunch started at 11:30 and the suggestion is to allow enough time between meals and activities, so as not to rush eating and miss the camaraderie with fellow visitors.
In the afternoon, I went to several exercise classes and a lecture by Ralph Oscars, Ph.D. about food allergies. The talk covered the various ways that allergens can affect the body and negatively reinforce ailments we may already have. With handouts, lecture, and overhead slides, the information was transmitted in a board room style. Guests were encouraged to ask questions and get straight answers.
The late afternoon activity was a first for me: Active Chi Ball. The guests went through an exercise routine using a small scented ball, which enhances the experience and gives a little weight to the workout. Classes are about 45 minutes, enough to work up a sweat or in my case drop the ball about four times while hitting my neighbors. With me in the front line, it was almost like dodge ball, but I survived. Then it was off to the treadmill for a 30 minute fast pace walk, since I wanted to practice for a long hike at Zion National Park.
At tonight’s dinner, I was placed at a "joiner table," where other new arrivals or the un-partnered meet and converse about their daily experiences. The menu lists the major nutritional factors like: calories, fat, and salt, so that now the guests could make choices based on nutrition as well as desire.
After dinner, I walked back to my room to prepare mentally and physically for tonight’s spa treatment: "La Stone Therapy." In this treatment, heated stones are used to intensify the relaxing effect on specific areas of the body.
The dress code is always casual and relaxed, since it is understood that guests may be coming in from a hike and going right to a meal or for a spa treatment. Because the spa wishes all those going for a treatment to wear a special bathrobe, occasionally bath robed guests can be seen, coming or going to the spa rooms, prancing across the road, ducking into a door while looking around, hoping not to be seen. In the cool night air I had no intention of walking around in just a robe. So I put the robe on over sweats and then added a jacket, hat and gloves, completing my modest outfit. The therapy took almost 1 1/2 hours and was so totally relaxing that I didn’t want to get off the table. With all the oils they used, I swooshed and squeaked along the walkways back to the room.
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The entrance to Jennie's Canyon | |
The following morning I tried the fruit compote, tilapia fish, scrambled eggs and soymilk in my coffee... all choices in my quest to eat differently and try new things. I was fired up for my second Trekker 1 hike to City Creek. This hike would be just up and down hills, and I was ready. At about 32 degrees and wind chill of around 27 degrees, I put on three layers of clothes and brought a scarf, hat and gloves, along with two bottles of water. I was ready to enter the desert. Guides Tony and Claudia took off at a picked-up pace, but stopped often to let the group catch up to each other. We reached the top of one hill and saw a golf course on the desert, along with grass, trees and a water hole. The hike was breezy, but with preparation, it was doable, and two hours later I was back at the Red Mountain seeking out my reward of the hiker’s snack, which this day was yogurt and fruit...more choices again. I had choices for eating, choices of activities, and choices of how to live-- maybe this is what the Red Mountain is all about.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
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