SPA DOCTOR: A desert oasis that gives me peace –

Two years of pandemics and blockades and then a war in Europe worried me and my body stiffened with tension. After sitting in front of a screen for hours scrolling through recent headlines, my shoulders seem to be permanently frozen in defense mode.

I want to reconnect with the outside world and have fun going out again, but I’m still full of fear. And I don’t know how to start opening it.

SOLUTION

JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona offers rituals to heal the mind and spirit and spa treatments to heal my tense and aching muscles.

In a majestic location on 50 acres in the saguaro-clad hills of Tucson National Park, the resort offers golf, tennis, multiple pools, including a lazy river, and access to miles of hiking and biking trails on site.

Every morning at sunrise, guests can attend a traditional Sonoran Desert Native American ceremony for free on the property’s terrace.

Larry Redhouse, a native of the Navajo Nation, begins the Mitakuye Oyasin (“All My Relationships”) ceremony with his native flute voice, then invites those present to look at the sun and use its energy to start again.

He directed all those gathered around the hearth to wrap themselves in a sage prayer tie as he discussed humanity’s infinite healing potential. I found it incredibly relaxing.

In a majestic location on 50 acres in the saguaro-clad hills of Tucson National Park, the resort offers golf, tennis, multiple pools, including a lazy river, and access to miles of hiking and biking trails on site.

Every morning at sunrise, guests can attend a traditional Sonoran Desert Native American ceremony for free on the property’s terrace. Larry Redhouse, a native of the Navajo Nation, begins the Mitakuye Oyasin (“All My Relationships”) ceremony with his native flute voice, then invites those present to look at the sun and use its energy to start again.

Shortly after the morning ceremony, a professional guide leads hikes through Tucson Mountain Park, which surrounds the hotel. I drove through giant cactus dunes against the backdrop of natural desert mountain landscapes in the company of new friends

Under Redhouse’s gentle guidance, I thought about what I wanted to give up and what I wanted to bring into my life, and I threw my tie into the fire.

Redhouse closed the ceremony with a blessing designed to reflect the connection we all have with nature and with each other.

Shortly after the morning ceremony, a professional guide leads hikes through Tucson Mountain Park, which surrounds the hotel. With new friends, I walked through giant cacti against the backdrop of natural desert mountain landscapes.

The resort also invites you to gather on the patio to watch the sunset each evening and enjoy a complimentary tequila toast with over 150 artisanal tequilas.

After a day of relaxing rituals, I felt my fear disappear and I started to feel safe around others again.

As my social anxiety began to subside and I felt a new sense of peace and belonging, I visited the resort’s Hashani Spa to see if I could get help relieving tension in my muscles.

The 20,000 square foot spa offers a variety of ancient healing techniques and I opted for an ANTARA Balance massage with CBD designed to increase blood flow throughout the body and relieve any pain.

A CBD-infused coconut oil and passion flower massage boosted circulation in my tense, tired joints and muscles, and the CBD Tropical Relaxing Balm with a scent of cloves, cinnamon, and ginger helped relieve the pain in my tense shoulders. I finally started to relax and unwind and walked out of the spa knowing my tension and anxiety were behind me.

* Rooms at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa in Tucson start at £230. A 50-minute massage costs 115 €. marriott.co.uk