I had the amazing opportunity to spend a long weekend at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Mass. My mom generously invited me to spend a few days alone with her so there was no passing up that. Canyon Ranch has long been considered a state of the art fitness and wellness resort offering fitness classes, lectures, spa services and wellness treatments.
Canyon Ranch is literally a fitness enthusiast’s dream come true! There are classes, cooking demos and wellness lectures from 6 in the morning to 8 in the evening. My first challenge was planning my schedule so I could streamline my day and make sure I could try as many classes as possible. My mission was to try different workouts than I normally do. Here are some of my favorites. They really discourage cell phone use so I sort of had to sneak my photos in.
One of the first classes I took was called VIPR Athletic which uses the VIPR for loaded movement workouts. This was particularly challenging because of the unstable weight of the VIPR and the changing load. We did lots of lateral moves transferring the weight to each side and finished off with some one on one boxing style drills. I loved this class and would love to get my hands on one of the VIPRs.
I followed that by a cycle class and then my Aerial Hammock Yoga Clinic. I had been waiting to do this class for weeks and challenge some of my fears of letting go and trusting the hammock. We obviously only had time to hit the basics of aerial yoga but I was surprised that it wasn’t as hard as I expected but it was amazingly fun. We got the basics and quickly progressed to a few hangs. In case you missed my numerous IG posts here’s a snapshot.
I took a Boxing & TRX combo class that was a killer workout. They had us running up and down sets of stairs alternating with boxing drills and TRX lunges and squats. Quite the sweatfest!
Another great workout and one that was new to me was the IndoRow rowing machine. This Shockwave class uses the IndoRow machine for short cardio bursts followed by strength training circuits. I absolutely loved it! I enjoyed trying to challenge myself to improve my rowing times each set that we did. I’d love to find a way to incorporate some rowing into my workouts at home.
My other favorite experience was the Kanga jumps boots. I almost chickened out and did not try them out because I thought I would hurt myself. After the first few minutes of finding my balance, I enjoyed running in them around the track and doing jumping jacks all without any impact at all. So glad I tried them out!
I also had the chance to take a cycle class, a foam rolling class and a fun African Hand Drum class with my mom. I promised her I wouldn’t post that picture.
As you can see, it was a pretty amazing weekend and the best part was having a chance to spend some alone time with my mom. Thanks to my mom for an amazing weekend!
Have you tried out any of these kinds of classes before? Which one looks most fun to you?
Linking up with Anne Marie, Nicole, Michelle & Angelina Marie
Christine @ Two Runners Travel says
Wow that sounds amazing! I’ve heard of Canyon Ranch but have never been. All of those classes sound so fun and unique. I always find that new classes challenge me too. Sounds like a great weekend with your Mom!
Deborah Brooks says
Love to try out new classes and yes it was great to spend time alone with my mom.
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
Canyon Ranch seriously is my dream vacation!
Deborah Brooks says
You would love it! It’s really a fitness lover’s dream place
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes says
Wow! That sounds amazing!! All of them look so fun! I could really use a weekend away there!!
Deborah Brooks says
It was so great to spend time alone with my mom and get to workout all day.
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home says
I’ve never done any of these classes but it looks fun! Did you also have some amazing spa treatments? My sister and I spent the afternoon at the Canyon Ranch Spa in Las Vegas. It was amazing.
Deborah Brooks says
Yes I did have a great deep tissue massage and a facial. I ran out of space in my post! The Vegas one is a lot smaller but great too
Annmarie says
I have never heard of Canyon Ranch but I wanna go there right now! 🙂 Thanks for linking up and sharing <3
Deborah Brooks says
Oh wow you would love love it!!
[email protected] says
Looks like a fun experience. My sister and I have been wanting to do that Ariel yoga.
Deborah Brooks says
The aerial yoga was so much fun and I am going to have to try that again!
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy says
Still sad you were so close yet so far. 🙁
Aerial yoga — how cool is that?
Deborah Brooks says
I know! I never actually left the property at all no need to!
Chaitali says
Wow, this place sounds amazing! I’ve never heard of it before but I’m definitely going to go check out their website. I love aerial yoga and those boots look like a lot of fun.
Deborah Brooks says
It was an amazing splurge of a vacation!
[email protected] says
Looks so fun and amazing….. I haven’t tried any of those things…. I really want to try the aerial yoga…. I don’t really have any excuse for not doing it yet since there are studios here where I can do it…. I just need to make the time to do it.
Deborah Brooks says
Finding the time to do all that we want to do is quite a challenge sometimes! I definitely want to do it again
Jen @ Pretty Little Grub says
What a fun thing to do with your Mom. I would love a fitness getaway like that.
Deborah Brooks says
I highly recommend it! We couldn’t do that many classes together but it was great to just be together
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running says
Sounds like a great experience and I love the variety of classes that you were able to participate in. A mother-daughter weekend away sounds absolutely perfect, and when it involves fitness and healthy eating, even better!
Deborah Brooks says
Exactly! My perfect weekend indeed
meljo @ a year in running shoes says
You’d have a hard time getting me out of those kanga boots!! SO MUCH FUN!!
Deborah Brooks says
They were a blast! I was scared to try them and then loved it
Liz @ The Clean Eating Couple says
I’m so jealous! This looks like such an amazing, relaxing weekend!
Deborah Brooks says
It was fabulous and really great to spend time with my mom
Darlene says
Sounds amazing. I’ve never done a spa weekend.
I live in Albany so I was so close to where you were.
LMK the next time you are nearby.
Deborah Brooks says
You were very close! We flew into Hartford this time.
Tricia@MissSippipiddlin says
Oh wow they all look amazingly fun!!! What a neat place and your very lucky you have it close to you! I would just love something like this around me.
How fun you got to do it with your mom too!
Deborah Brooks says
It wasn’t close by we had to fly up but not too far and easy to do in a long weekend. Yes the best part was spending time with my mom alone
Nicole @ Fitful Focus says
What an awesome experience! And so many unique workouts! I hope I can get myself there for a little fitness retreat some day!
Deborah Brooks says
You would absolutely love it! So much to do
Michelle @ Movin' it with Michelle says
Those classes look like a ton of fun! I’ve never taken any classes but would love to!
Deborah Brooks says
They were great fun! I love taking new classes and seeing what is out there and it also keeps me from getting bored
Sarah says
I loved following along with you on Instagram, it looked like fun! I really hope to try Aerial Hammock Yoga someday. I haven’t seen it offered anywhere locally but will be checking.
Deborah Brooks says
Oh I hope you have the chance to try it so much fun!
Natalie says
What an amazing weekend with your Mom!! Mom/daughter weekends are the best! The aerial hammock yoga looks so awesome – I would love to try that! Rowing is such a great workout.
I have heard so many great things about Canyon Ranch, so glad you had a wonderful time 🙂
Deborah Brooks says
It was a blast for sure! I can’t wait to try the yoga again
Pam says
How fun was that to spend a weekend at a spa with your mom? I would love to try an aerial Yoga class. You look so happy in the photo!
Deborah Brooks says
I was really happy because I thought I would be too scared to let go
Anne says
That looks like so much fun! I’d love to try all those classes – especially aerial yoga, it looks incredibly!
Deborah Brooks says
It was so much fun I can’t wait to try it again!
Samantha @ What's Up, USANA? says
This looks so fun!! I would love to try an aerial yoga class!
Deborah Brooks says
It was so much fun I can’t wait to do it again!
Heather@hungryforbalance says
I’m so jealous!! Visiting Canyon Ranch is on my bucket list!
Deborah Brooks says
It should be! I hope you have the chance to go sometime
Rosey Rebecca says
I love fitness classes and all of these sound fabulous. I want to try aerial yoga so bad! There’s a studio in Asheville that just might have to pop into. So fun that you and your mom got to have a girls weekend at such a fun resort!
Deborah Brooks says
I know it was such a great time to be alone with her
dixya @ food,pleasure, and health says
one of my friend worked as a counselor in of these fitness retreat type place and she absolutely loved it. it really is fitness/healthy living persons dream come true..aerial yoga is something I’m absolutely looking forward to trying.
Deborah Brooks says
Fitness lover’s dream for sure!
Mary Beth Jackson says
What a weekend!!! I love the aerial yoga- that is a blast once you trust the silks! You had to be pooped when you got home (in a good way)! I hope your mom took advantage of some classes too! Try any of the cooking classes?
Deborah Brooks says
I was completely exhausted after doing 4 or 5 classes a day and starving 🙂 I didn’t have time for the cooking classes will have to go back
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets says
Wow these sound like really great workouts! I’d love to try aerial but I can barely handle yoga on solid ground! You look great in your photos – so cool that you and your mom can work out together 🙂
Deborah Brooks says
It was so cool to do the aerial and you totally could do it!
GiGi says
I’ve heard of Canyon Ranch before… Looks like you had an intense yet awesome time 🙂
I would be interested in taking a FOAM ROLLER class because I had this pilates instructor who would just have me LAY ON IT and it did literally ZERO for me… Yet then I am hearing people yelp in praise over the thing! LOL
Deborah Brooks says
Oh I love my foam roller and use it almost everyday. Don’t know what you are missing in a hurts so good kind of way 🙂
Christina says
All of those classes seem so exotic! I’d give them a try for sure.
Deborah Brooks says
They had a great mix of fun activities!
Jessica @ Nutritioulicious says
I have wanted to go to Canyon Ranch for the longest time! So cool you got to go. How was the food?! 😉
Deborah Brooks says
Hope you get to go sometime it’s a fabulous experience! The food is good but I was definitely starving at every meal and ate it all
Akaleistar says
Sounds like a great weekend! Ariel yoga is so fun, and I love your pictures 🙂
Deborah Brooks says
I am so glad that I tried it!
Jenn says
That aerial yoga class looks amazing!!! I would love to try something like that!
What a wonderful weekend. And how nice that you got to spend the weekend with your mom like that.
Deborah Brooks says
That was the best part!
Coco says
Wow, that is a TON of workouts in a weekend. Sounds like SO much fun! I haven’t really tried any of those. My arms were sore for 3 days after the rowing in OTF!
Deborah Brooks says
The rowing was killer but lots of fun! It was a lot of working out in one weekend
Autumn @AutumnPTW says
What an amazing trip! Looks like you had a great time with your mom. Thats the best part!
Deborah Brooks says
Definitely the best part!
Ilka says
I love that you got to do this with your Mom:) This place sounds like such an amazing resort for active people. I can totally see you had a great time! The pics are so fun, especially the one with the jump boots – :):) Loved reading it.
Deborah Brooks says
Oh the boots were an unexpected treat! A great place to visit
Sharon says
Sounds like an awesome weekend! Love that you got to try so many neat classes! The Aerial Hammock Yoga looks so fun! Love your pics!
Deborah Brooks says
It was a blast I’d love to do it again
jill conyers says
I’ve heard nothing but great reviews of Canyon Ranch. I’ve never tried any of the classes but I would like to.
Deborah Brooks says
You would absolutely love it! Hope you have the chance to check it out sometime
Karen says
The hammock yoga looks awesome 🙂
I have never had a fitness weekend like that, it sounds wonderful!
Deborah Brooks says
It was a blast! You should try the hammock
Sana says
So many amazing classes! What a lovely trip!
Deborah Brooks says
It really was!
Mary Long says
This place sounds great! I always wanted to try aerial yoga. The jump boots look like a lot of fun too. What a nice getaway with your mom!
Deborah Brooks says
Such a great time!
Kristy @Runaway Bridal Planner says
So fun, and what a great experience!
I’ve always wanted to try the Aerial Hammock. Of course I don’t do yoga, but I just think it would be fun to twist around in them and pretend to be an acrobat, LOL Yeah, I’m a dork, LOL
But seriously, what a cool ranch!!
Carmy says
Your yoga class looks like SO much fun! I want to try!
Deborah Brooks says
It really was a great experience I can’t to try it again
vicki says
That sounds incredible! The Aerial Hammock Yoga class sounds interesting. What a nice treat for you and your mom.
Deborah Brooks says
It really was such a great time!
Erica @ Erica Finds says
So glad you loved it! Did you enjoy the food? I loved healthy food prepared by someone else.
Deborah Brooks says
it was great truly. I was so hungry from exercising so much I ate everything 🙂
Jess @hellotofit says
I LOVE using the Vipr, and have done a couple of aerial yoga classes. I’d really be interested in trying a boxing and TRX class! Great combo.
Deborah Brooks says
It was a killer combo for sure!
Debbie @ Deb Runs says
Sounds fabulous! Those Kanga jump boots sound really fun, and a little scary! I bet you get used to them quickly, though.
Deborah Brooks says
I was a little scared of the boots at first but yes you get used to them quickly and I didn’t want to take them off!
Sandra Laflamme says
Oh my goodness such fun! You looked great doing the Aerial yoga in your emerald city. I’d be curious to learn more about VIPR Athletics. Glad you had the chance to do this with your mom!
Deborah Brooks says
It was a great experience! I have not found the VIPR at any gyms around me.