In my daily life I make myself promises that often go answered: ‘I’m not going to stress so much. I’m going to eat healthier. I’m going to take that yoga class and start to meditate.’ Yet while in the fold of Enchantment Resort, my typically forgotten mantras became effortless. Enchantment is a 70-acre resort, located five miles northwest of Sedona, Arizona, surrounded by wilderness and the majestic red rocks of Boynton Canyon. It is also home to Mii amo, a world-class destination spa boasting an organic gourmet kitchen and a killer list of dreamy spa services aimed to promote the healing of mind, body and spirit.
I arrived late in the evening. Being an east coaster with jet lag, I woke up the next day with the sun rising over the awe-inspiring majesty of the natural landscape. I enjoyed a fresh breakfast at the resort’s signature restaurant Che-Ah-Chi overlooking the canyon before attending WOGA, a 7 a.m. class that combines power walking and yoga. I hadn’t even been at Enchantment for 12 hours and already my resolutions were coming true. For an hour, we walked vigorously around the resort, stopping at particular points in the canyon to engage in nature-inspired yoga postures, a great way to get the lay of the land and the blood flowing.
After WOGA I continued to center my spirit, this time with the Morning Ritual, a guided 15-minute meditation where guests acknowledge their intention for the day. This daily ceremony is held in the heart of the spa, the Crystal Grotto. This dome-shaped room is a meditation space with a red earthen floor, a tree-trunk fountain and four crystals aligned with the north, east, south and west points. During the summer solstice, the sunlight passes through the opening in the roof and pierces the energy-emitting crystals.