The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa, Carefree, Arizona

Opened in October 2001, The Boulders Resort & Golden Door® Spa is situated on 1,300 acres in the Sonoran Desert foothills of Carefree, Arizona, just north of Scottsdale. The 160 guest casitas and 55 one-, two- and three-bedroom Pueblo Villas - many of which are situated along the golf course - are shaped into the natural terrain and grouped in village-like clusters to the north and south of the main lodge. These spacious accommodations feature hand-hewn wood-beamed ceilings with fans, wood-burning fireplaces, wet bars, large dressing and bathroom areas, and private patios or decks overlooking the desert or golf course. Earth-tone furnishings, glazed tile, Indian artifacts and regional art all reflect the resort's Southwestern setting.

The dramatic and innovative architecture of The Boulders blends with the surrounding desert and the 12-million-year-old granite boulder formations that dot the landscape. Its distinctive Southwestern ambience is carried through in the resort's design, cuisine and amenities.

The Golden Door Spa
The Golden Door Spa at The Boulders is designed with an active (West) wing and a more tranquil (East) wing. Its 24 treatment spaces are complemented by such signature elements as a labyrinth (path to tranquility) and a Golden Door affirmation rock for individual guest reflection. The West Wing houses the check-in area, fitness center, and mind/body and movement studios, as well as the Spa Cafй. The facilities in the West Wing all feature sweeping views of either the awe-inspiring 12-million-year-old boulder piles or Black Mountain in the distance. The East Wing has a more contemplative setting with meditation areas, treatment spaces hydrotherapy, a full-service salon, elaborate locker rooms, a circular tearoom and an interior rock and sand garden.

The facility boasts an area specially dedicated to Watsu (underwater treatment designed to bring partakers "back to the womb"); three Vichy treatment rooms (with heated, tiled floors and Swiss showers); one couples suite (with private whirlpool, terrace and outdoor fireplace); and one "Ultimate Spa Suite" (700 square-feet with private access, steam showers, private patio, outdoor shower, private Jacuzzi, indoor and outdoor massage tables, dataport and television).

The state-of-the-art 2,000-square-foot Fitness Center features Cybex strength-training equipment, treadmills, Tectix bicycles and steppers, EFX elyptical cross-trainers, and free weights. A Movement Studio provides the optimal environment for Pilates, Spinning, Step Aerobics, Kick Boxing and more. And the Yoga Studio is perfect for Hatha Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, stretching and meditation. Health and fitness services include fitness assessment, one-on-one workouts and personal training, body composition, cardio coaching, nutritional analysis with or without meal planning, outdoor rock climbing on the Boulder Pile, among others.

Signature Treatments
Turquoise Wrap: This signature treatment is based on the Native American belief that turquoise is a protective color and creates a sense of peace and well-being. The treatment begins with a bath in the hydrotherapy tub using turquoise bath oils. After the bath, spa-goers will enjoy a dry brush massage, using blue cornmeal for exfoliation, a rinse in the Vichy shower and then a wrap with ionized turquoise clay. While the guest is wrapped, the therapist will perform a smudging ceremony (a traditional Native American practice in which sage, sweet grass and/or cedar are burned to purify the body, space and spirit) as the native sounds of the rain stick provide a sense of wholeness and calm. The treatment finishes with a warm honey mask to rehydrate the skin before a final application of rosehip lotion.

Raindrop Therapy: This treatment uses nine essential oils applied in a raindrop fashion along the spine. Native Americans have long used essential oils to increase blood circulation and detoxify the deep muscle tissue while bringing the body back into balance.

Tipi guided meditations: conducted each Saturday in the authentic tipi, located behind the Spa next to the labyrinth. The tipi is 18 feet in diameter and 26 feet in height and accommodates up to 10 people. Shaman Runningwolf Martel is of Mohawk descent, an ordained minister, tribal elder and direct descendant of over 900 years of shamanism. The meditation begins in the neighboring labyrinth, where guests walk the path and focus on the Native American teachings. Prior to entering the Tipi, each guest participates in a smudging ceremony, a traditional Native American practice in which sage, sweet grass and/or cedar are burned to purify the body, space and spirit. Inside the Tipi, the meditation consists of ceremonial drumming, passing of a peace pipe filled with herbs and blessings from the shaman.

Shamanic Touch: A new therapy for 2005, Shamanic touch is a one-on-one alternative healing modality in which the Shaman establishes a dialog with the ailing part of the client's body to define treatments that include energy raising and grounding to the earth

Spa Cuisine
The Golden Door Spa Cafe offers breakfast and lunch menus consisting of light and healthy cooking techniques and fresh, organic, local produce. Executive Chef Scott Strubinger and a full-time nutritionist have created a series of menus that will encourage guests to eat healthy and maintain that balanced diet and lifestyle even after their stay at The Boulders.

New at The Boulders Resort & Golden Door® Spa Dinner in the Garden
Dining al fresco will never be the same! In October 2006, this luxury Arizona Spa resort unveiled an expansive, 5,280-square-foot "garden experience." The landscaping will include naturally-flowing water, a mesquite burning fireplace and two levels of outdoor dining areas with teak furnishings. Guests of the Boulders Resort & Golden Door® Spa will dine in the garden feasting on organic produce picked minutes before, just feet away, against the backdrop of an unforgettable desert sunset. It will be a luxury spa resort experience not to be missed!

Nutrition Program at The Boulders Resort & Golden Door® Spa
The world-famous Golden Door Spa© at The Boulders offers an integrated nutrition program based on the increasing recognition that we are, in fact, what eat.

The program, according to Spa Director Simon Marxer, defines an individual's current nutritional condition, identifies what he or she needs to know to change, and hands-on guidelines on how to select the right foods to buy, cook and eat.

"Nutrition is a critical part of wellness, and what better venue to learn about it than at the Spa where we stress the importance of the mind-body connection," Ms. Janusz said. "Our goal is to help people get back on track, to recognize the healthful and less healthful choices they make every day, and how to change."

"Our focus in this program and the Spa Cafe is the focus on functional foods, not just empty fuel but the optimal fuel with the right balance to enhance the body's performance," Chef Strubinger said. "It's like being a food engineer, blending the content and the preparation for that ultimate, personalized balance."

Nutritional Counseling: After a comprehensive questionnaire and body composition analysis, our nutritionist will give you specific dietary guidelines for achieving your optimal health and fitness goals. Counseling includes dietary recommendations for weight reduction, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, cancer, detoxification, gastro-intestinal disorders, acid-alkaline balancing, and many others. Recommendations are also given for vitamins, minerals and herbs depending on your nutritional needs.

Designing Your Diet: As a follow-up to nutritional counseling, this session provides you with the opportunity for hands-on menu planning based on your dietary goals and caloric needs. Do a quick weigh-in, review your progress, and discuss the challenges you're experiencing. You'll receive positive feedback and concrete ways to overcome unhealthy eating habits.

Hidden Trans Fat in Food: By law, this dangerous fat has until 2006 before the public is required to know how much is in each product. What is trans-fat and what makes it more dangerous than saturated fats? How did it get into our foods in the first place? What can you do to keep this out of your food? Education is the key.

Destinations : Arizona : Scottsdale : The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa, Carefree, Arizona