Staying Powers

Tucson’s health-minded mainstays—Canyon Ranch and Miraval—remain rooted in best practices, and the best practitioners.

by Jaclyn Trop

A person practices yoga on a rocky hill in a desert landscape at sunrise or sunset, surrounded by cacti and bushes, with mountains and a cloudy sky in the background.

West from New Jersey was the path for Mel and Enid Zuckerman. In 1958, via their filled-to-the-gills Nash Rambler, they made it out of state, stopping short of the coast—as they became enraptured by the Copper State’s cactus blooms and Santa Catalina Mountains. Tucson would do over California.

Now it’s been 45 years of the good, healthy life. The Zuckermans purchased the once-rustic Double U Ranch near Sabino Canyon and fashioned its 42 acres into a bona fide medical wellness resort and spa. Christened Canyon Ranch (canyonranch.com), the enterprise combines the best of Western and Eastern practices to bring clients cutting-edge cures and treatments.

A person lies on their back with eyes closed, covered by a white towel, while a stream of oil is gently poured onto their forehead, suggesting an Ayurvedic therapy or relaxation treatment.

Notably, you can drive 45 minutes north to find another proven wellness resort. Sprawling Miraval Arizona (miravalresorts.com), the Arcadian marvel where robed guests roam the grounds wearing beatific smiles and having no apparent sense of urgency, celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025. Upon arrival, staff members hand you a tiny “sleeping bag” for your cell phone, as well as a map of designated digital-free zones. Guests walk mindfully from, say, a past-life-regression workshop to a Jin Shou-Tui Na massage.

A southwestern-style adobe building with a circular window, surrounded by green trees and purple-flowering bushes, with a stone-lined path leading to an open doorway.

Both bucolic sanctuaries boast a roster of treatments designed to restore and replenish the mind, body, and spirit. Here, under the Sonoran sun, lives an unwavering commitment to wellness at its pinnacle. The success of both brands has spawned spin-off locations across the country, but these flagships—teeming with the healing powers of vortical energy—endure as the pioneers of the science-backed wellness movement, setting the gold standard.

Two people wearing safety harnesses navigate a high ropes course, balancing on wooden planks suspended between tall platforms, with trees and blue sky in the background.

At each, the thick booklet of weekly activities reads like a Choose Your Own Adventure storybook, extending far beyond the expected yoga, hiking, meditation, and massage (variations of each practice exist in spades). From astrology readings to one-on-one longevity counseling, the offerings are designed to tap into one’s best self by stripping away earthly demands. A daily schedule at Miraval could call for equine therapy, a water workout, a canyon walk, a cooking class, and a healing session. At Canyon Ranch, the more adventurous can challenge themselves on the high ropes course, attend a floating sound meditation clinic on an airbed, and participate in a primitive fire-making workshop. The most frazzled may arrive to find it equally fruitful to forgo the scheduled programming and immerse themselves in the majestic desert landscape and the sound of silence.

Three women exercise on Pilates reformer machines in a bright studio, lying on their backs with their legs raised and strapped, focusing on strength and flexibility.

The resorts’ state-of-the-art spas promise to awaken qi, balance chakras, and promote well-being from head to toe. The lengthy service menus speak to a panoply of remedies, ranging from foot fitness to sweeter slumber. Whatever the goal, the highly skilled therapists can address it with aplomb. To ensure comprehensive treatment, Canyon Ranch opened the Center for Life Enhancement, featuring the latest tools for neuro and muscle stimulation to reduce stress and reverse the signs of aging. The four-day LONGEVITY8 program launched in November and includes in-depth testing of more than 200 biomarkers to provide participants with a plan for extending their health span.

A chef in a brown apron prepares a drink at a wooden counter with various ingredients, including honeycomb, fruits, herbs, and a bottle, in a restaurant kitchen with two chefs working in the background.

Canyon Ranch also began serving alcohol at its poolside Javelina Cantina in 2024, a nod to the changing times. Meanwhile, Miraval, which has served alcohol since its inception, has been developing an extensive mocktail menu. Enjoy a Prickly Pear Serenity—made with a zero-proof tequila alternative and hot honey, prickly pear, and lime—paired with a savory okonomiyaki pancake, followed by caramelized onion polenta and pumpkin Bolognese. Though newcomers may find the portions jarringly small, the inventive mélange of seasonal flavors more than compensates for the serving size.

A woman dressed in white walks through a circular stone labyrinth outdoors, surrounded by trees and greenery, with sunlight streaming through the branches at sunset.

Naturally, Tucson’s pair of OG wellness destinations nourish far beyond the gullet. It only takes a few days for each to work its magic on the weary soul. Soon, you’ll be breathing deeper, seeing clearer, and forgetting all about your phone.