I didn’t realize how weak I was until I was old enough to feel it.
It happened in the Sonoran desert, in a town literally called Carafari, Arizona, which I didn’t even see the clock until I was already there and started to understand it. I mean, being careless in carelessness is pretty symbolic if you ask me.
The CIVANA Wellness Resort and Spa sits just outside of Scottsdale, and I’ll be honest, it was featured on my social media timelines for a while before I finally made the trip. Black women especially found this place and didn’t guard the door, which I always admire about us. So I came with expectations.
And as I walked in, I immediately thought, “Tik Tok girls are not liars.” I hadn’t been on the property five minutes before I knew the hype. There were black women everywhere. On solo trips, girls’ weekends, and across the age spectrum, they all look like they’re here specifically to do something for themselves. I felt myself inhale a little.
They gave me my itinerary at check-in and I had already mentally organized it before the end of the conversation to see how much more I could pack into my schedule. Wellness classes are free, and well, in Denzel’s words, “I leave here with something.” Meaning, I wanted as much as I could, with the time I had on the property.
Let’s just say…the desert took it away from me pretty quickly. There’s something about being in this very open space that so quiet just resets you, and you want to just Enjoy it Instead of trying to fill every moment of every day.
CIVANA was built around a philosophy that the brand’s chief officer, Julia Lavin, purposely stated: “Happiness first, health always.” What this means in practice is that nothing here is trying to fix you. The program is not rigid or prescriptive, it is designed to work with the desert environment and not just exist within it, and you really feel the difference. And if you want to add something more personal or premium there are options for that too, but the included program is enough that you won’t feel like you’re missing out on anything.
Ok, now back to the recommendations. First, they have a class called Desert Bath, which is based on Shinrin Yoko, a Japanese practice of using nature as healing and restorative that CIVANA adapted specifically for the Sonoran Desert. The experience really transports you to the Jewel of the Creek Trail in Arizona’s Cave Creek, a two-mile loop where the whole point is to be in the landscape rather than walking through it. A guided nature walk works on the same idea, taking you outside and moving slowly through the landscape with the specific intention of getting your nervous system under control. Vocal cord healing and gratitude meditation are also part of what is offered. I looked into that aspect of programming and thought it wasn’t for me. But I noticed that other women seemed genuinely relieved by these sessions and by the end of the trip I wished I had made time for at least one.
I kept my schedule full with more active activities because that’s just who I am (and since I was in the middle of Herox training, physical activities piqued my interest a bit more). Aerial yoga was on the list and I want to clarify that I think I was prepared. I wasn’t I am constantly working out and that class still keeps me full. The core stability and body awareness it demands is not something you can fake and I learned that very quickly.
The aerial part was a completely different experience (and the better of my two aerial offerings). It was slow, and very deliberate, and it put a strain on my shoulders and upper back that I was walking around for so long. The Chat Palette Fusion class also miscalculated me. I went in expecting it to be somewhat moderate (because then again, I’m a workout girl) and left feeling like I just did a whole boot camp.
Pickleball ended up being my favorite thing I did on the whole property. I fit it into my schedule without thinking too much and ended up having the most fun the whole time I was there. I ended up staying longer than I had planned because I was joined by a large group of women who wanted to get a few more rounds after the class was over. I also took a run outside the resort (let’s just say, desert running is not for the faint of heart) and went to the gym, which was more spacious than I expected. It was fully equipped, so I didn’t need to modify or compromise my workout, which is important when you don’t want to lose movement while traveling.
The food at CIVANA is as memorable as it is authentic all right (I’m even trying to say, great), which I was a little skeptical about coming in, because I’d seen mixed reviews. There are two dining options on the property: The Seed is a casual day spot, a cafe and market where you can handle breakfast and lunch with lots of plant-based options, khosas, cereal bowls, grab-and-go items that are satisfying without being heavy. The Terrace is the dinner restaurant and it’s a completely different experience, a comfortable seating area with a menu built around seasonal local ingredients, farm-to-table produce, grass-fed beef and sustainable seafood. After a full day of moving you want real food and Teras is it.
The spa deserved its day honestly. With 24 treatment rooms in 22,000 square feet, it is a complete destination within the resort. I got a deep tissue massage and by the time I was on that table, my body had already been through aerial yoga, aerial, pilates, pickleball, running and the gym, so this time was everything. When that was done, I took advantage of the rest of the spa’s facilities, such as the sauna and pool, before spending the rest of the evening doing nothing in particular (except for a bit of scrubbing. love is blindwhile laying in bed and ordering room service). Can anyone describe a perfect day?
Most of us have been running on empty and staying for so long that it now feels normal. CIVANA is for that person. The programming is so flexible that two people can have completely different itineraries and both leave feeling like they got what they needed. Although I was alone, I began to think about my next visit, as I told both my mother and my friend about my experience.
I left feeling relaxed in a way I hadn’t felt in a really long time. I didn’t realize how much I needed it until I got home and went back to normal. Laughter was still waiting for me, as it always is. But I came back really prepared for it.
#Arizona #health #resort #restore #burning #souls #essence