While Arizonans are making their annual summer sojourns to Coronado for swims in the cool surf, sailing on the bay and gentle island breezes, believe it or not, there are those in Coronado who leave the island — even during the summer — and travel to Arizona for a different version of paradise. This one might include being slathered with goat butter crème in preparation for a Shiatsu massage.

“A spa is a way to totally de-stress,” says Ginny Nelson of Coronado. Nelson, who practices law at her own firm in San Diego, says she visits Arizona spas twice a year. “I go once in the winter and once in the summer for three or four days.

“I do two to three hours of exercise daily, eat healthy meals, attend educational classes, read, relax and get beauty treatments,” Nelson says. Her favorite treatment at Canyon Ranch in Tucson is the Shiatsu massage, an ultra-moisturizing treatment — the one with goat butter crème.

For her, a spa visit is a gift that keeps on giving. “The spa is both relaxing and energizing … and when I go home, it helps me lead a healthy lifestyle. Because my profession is very demanding, making sure I am as physically and mentally healthy as possible is important.”

As more and more people take spa vacations to unwind and retune themselves, Arizona has become a spa lover’s paradise. If the readers of publications like Conde Nast Traveler, Zagat Survey and Travel and Leisure are any judge, three of the best Destination Spas in the world are in the Grand Canyon state.

Two of them, Miraval and Canyon Ranch, are near Tucson. The third, Mii amo, is 110 miles north of Phoenix, in red-rock country, close to Sedona.

A “Destination Spa” is just as it sounds — where you live “in” and are totally immersed in the spa experience, often with an emphasis on self improvement. It differs from a “Resort Spa,” one that is associated with a resort or hotel and offers a menu of Spa Services from which guests can choose while staying at the resort. (Resort spas are plentiful throughout Arizona, many of them clustered in the tourist friendly Phoenix/ Scottsdale area.)

Coronadan Kathi Hansen has been twice to both Canyon Ranch and Miraval. For her, “The accommodations are similar but the spas are really quite different. I’m partial to Miraval for the ‘mindfulness’ focus.”

Miraval has a definite New Age feel. The two-story building that houses spa services was designed using Feng Shui principles and the programs and services offered embody Miraval’s core philosophy of Mindfulness — to be fully present and live in the moment. Guests are encouraged to heighten their senses and increase awareness in order to achieve a more balanced life. The phrase ‘Life in Balance’ is the subtext that follows the Miraval name.

There is plenty of opportunity to do things you don’t normally do. Walk a labyrinth, communicate with a horse or balance on a tightrope 25 feet in the air. An obstacle course — while safely belayed — challenges you to take risks. The object is to take away from the experience a new sense of confidence as you conquer your fears.

So far, Hansen has not tackled the challenge program. She says, “I always go big on the spa treatments when I’m there.” The mere act of choosing from the list of treatment choices is a challenge of its own, with nearly 100 possibilities from several different cultures. Treatments are as diverse as a Mesquite Honey Scrub, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, and a Hot Stone Massage — using long strokes with hot flat stones rather than the fingers of a massage therapist.

Hansen rates her stays at Miraval as “fabulous.” She gives high marks to Watsu — being floated, stretched and danced in a pool that is kept as close to 98.6 degrees — body temperature — as possible. “The Watsu water experience was really amazing. I felt like I was floating in amniotic fluid in the womb … really.” (For readers who might like to Watsu closer to home, Loews Coronado Bay Resort’s Sea Spa offers the outdoor treatment.)

Fitness classes, nature hikes, yoga, bird-watching, meditation, tennis, trail rides and drumming help round out the day at Miraval. New since Hansen’s last visit are outdoor tented treatment rooms, the better to enjoy the ambiance of nature.

There is a serenity and sense of peace at Miraval that is palpable. Even the staff members speak in hushed tones. Prepare to turn off your cell phone. Forget your car keys and your credit cards. And stash your cash … no tipping allowed.

Coronadan Ginny Nelson found her paradise elsewhere in Arizona. “I went to several spas in the early ’90s in different places and Canyon Ranch in Tucson was clearly the best for me.

“The whole package is what I love — stimulating mental activity, relaxation, lots of exercise and pampering. I am in the greatest mood there and when I return, it forces me to slow down and smell the roses.”

Linda and Jean Pierre Marques, owners of Coronado Yoga and Wellness Center, understand why it is Nelson’s favorite. The Marqueses came to Coronado eight years ago after an 11-year career at Canyon Ranch where Linda was Fitness Director, responsible for 60 instructors and 400 weekly classes, and Jean Pierre founded and was Director of the Spiritual Awareness Department.

Linda Marques remembers the ranch with fondness. “Our time at Canyon Ranch was extraordinary, working with all kinds of people from all over the world.” Along with the wealth of experience she and Jean Pierre garnered from their ranch tenure, Linda says they have made it a priority to bring the Canyon Ranch spirit — one that embraces the whole person, mind body and spirit — to Coronado Yoga and Wellness Center.

A pioneer among spas, Canyon Ranch will celebrate its 30th birthday in 2009. Whether you go to unwind or change your life, they do it all, working from the premise that 70 to 80 percent of chronic disease and disability is directly related to lifestyle.

Want to lose weight? Kick a cigarette habit? Just learn to relax? Preventive health care and guidance is there to pave the way. A full-service team is on tap, made up of physicians, nurses, psychologists and counselors, exercise physiologists, nutritionists, fitness instructors, massage therapists, hiking and biking guides and many others.

You can dance, swim, stretch, play golf, squash, tennis, walk on an underwater treadmill, join one of 50 daily physical fitness classes or engage in spiritual pursuits like yoga, tai chi, chi gong and meditation. In a spare moment, you might have your athletic footwear analyzed, your balance tested and your muscle function assessed.

Just a sampling of evaluative services available from the medical staff would include an all-night Sleep Study, Osteoporosis Prevention and Bone Density Evaluation or a Cardiac Stress Test. The newest thing is Biophysical 250, a blood assessment that provides a comprehensive health evaluation. The test surveys biomarkers in your blood that may indicate many health conditions and diseases.

The overall goal is to teach people to take responsibility for their own health and well-being. If you wish, a Canyon Ranch physician will design and implement a plan for you during your stay and after you leave, offer continued support and nutritional coaching by phone or via the Internet.

When spa shopping, don’t overlook Mii amo, tucked in a canyon in Arizona’s red-rock country. The Sedona area is well known for its many spiritual advisers and the Mii amo is reputed to provide positive energy supported by its Vortex-rich surroundings. Each of Mii amo’s spa journeys addresses a different aspect of health, including anti-aging, spiritual exploration, and de-stressing mind and body.

A visit might include energy work, crystal therapies, Native American rituals and meditations. A Sedona Clay Wrap containing a potent anti-oxidant protects and heals and a Sweet Grass Smudging is said to help cleanse negative energy.

Some comparisons: All three spas pride themselves on serving gourmet meals but no soft drinks or alcohol are available at Canyon Ranch. Mii amo serves alcohol in the Café. Miraval has a comfortable lounge with a well-stocked bar and wine list.

Between meals, you can nosh any time at Miraval’s coffee, juice and sandwich bar. Mii amo has between-meal snacks as well. At Canyon Ranch, only lemonade and fruit — strategically placed about the property — are available outside of dining room hours.

Summer is off-season in Southern Arizona. Rates at Canyon Ranch and Miraval are lowest then. The reverse is true of Mii amo where, at 4,600 feet, lower winter rates reflect the sometimes freezing temperatures.

Four nights at Canyon Ranch, June 8-Sept.18, with deluxe accommodations (double occupancy) begin at $3,030 and include a $600 allowance for personal services; nutritionally balanced gourmet meals and transportation to and from the Tucson airport. You’ll be assigned a Program Advisor and receive a fitness assessment by an RN. All classes, lectures and full access to the 62,000 square-foot spa complex are complimentary.

A three-night “Journey” package at Mii amo in the summer months begins at $2,496 with three 90-minute and five 60-minute treatments. That’s in addition to luxury accommodations (single or double occupancy); gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner daily; use of all fitness facilities and scheduled fitness classes; all scheduled lectures and cooking demonstrations; the spa pool, lap pool, men’s and women’s lounges and wet areas; and, to take home, a Mii amo robe, pool/tote bag and water/sports bottle.

At Miraval, a three-night stay for one in July begins at $2,256 ($4,951.50 for two.) Expect luxury accommodations and use of the complete resort facilities; one spa service or round of golf each day (make that an early round of golf!); three gourmet meals daily, unlimited snacks, evening hors d’oeuvres, and all non-alcoholic beverages. Round-trip airport transportation is included.

If You Go
Check with your travel agent or contact the spas directly for information. Ask about special packages and programs.

Canyon Ranch
(800) 742-9000
www.canyonranch.com

Mii amo
(888) 749-2137
www.miiamo.com

Miraval
(800)232-3969
www.miravalresorts.com