Miraval Berkshires: A Cocoon for Tranformation

Miraval, which means “view of the valley”, is the new wellness brand within the Hyatt portfolio, with three inclusive destination resorts designed for living life in balance through mindfulness.  Their innovative programs, unique spa treatments, and nourishing cuisine help people to enhance their wellbeing. There is the flagship property in Tucson, AZ, Miraval Austin in the hill country of Texas, and Miraval Berkshires in the popular retreat town of Lenox, MA, best known for Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Contact me, and together we will find the perfect place for you to restore your mind, body, and spirit.

The Berkshires

The Berkshires has been a year-round wellness destination since the 19th century and enjoys vibrant tourism based on music, art, the outdoors, and wellness.  It has a long history of being a retreat center. The big three are Miraval Berkshires, Canyon Ranch, and Kripalu, all very different venues. You can sync your spa visit with a show at Tanglewood in the summer, the Norman Rockwell Museum in nearby Stockbridge in autumn, a ski trip to Jiminy Peak in the winter, or a visit to the Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in the spring.

Design

From its architectural structures to its exterior spaces, this is a tranquil, minimalist environment to free the mind with lots of inviting nooks and crannies that allow intimate conversation. Leafing through the book “Miraval by Design” written by the Directors of Design Development, I discovered how they use physical shapes to affect energy fields, feng shui to increase the flow of chi, art and light to promote healing, and natural elements to support wellness, healing, coping and personal change.  Now if I could only hire them to redo my home!

Rooms

Our rooms were spacious and comfortable with the most luxurious down bedding and private balcony. Crawling under the covers was like slipping into a creme puff or floating on a cloud. Though I have to say my black pajamas were covered with little feathers, a small price to pay for comfort. The bathrooms were sprawling, with walk-in shower, closeted toilet and expansive, well-lit double sinks.

Miraval Mode

Living in the present is at the core of Miraval’s philosophy.  To practice mindfulness of each moment and to respect fellow guests, Miraval is a digital device-free resort. Miraval mode gives guests the permission to unplug and use technology only in designated locations. Given that I needed to do some travel work, I inquired how strictly this would be enforced. The rule is mainly to discourage people from having loud conversations on their phones.  If a guest is caught in the act, an employee may gently hand them a card reminding them of miraval mode. There are many contemplative nooks throughout the resort, my favorite being the lounge room at the spa.  It is here you could find me on my laptop, one of the most luxurious workplaces I’ve ever had!

Dining

Meals at the Harvest Moon Restaurant are included and use eggs from the chicken coop, produce from the organic garden, and honey from Miraval’s bee hives to create menus with local, seasonal ingredients.  

No time to sit down? You can grab a luscious smoothie, a muffin, or snacks between spa treatments and outdoor activities. The grab ‘n’ go snack bar offers unlimited smoothies, tea, coffee, healthy beverages, and freshly prepared food served throughout the day.

Activities

While there are many included activities, these are mainly basic exercise, meditation, yoga, and outdoor classes like pilates mat, meditation with music, qigong, mindful eating, farm and barn tour, wall climbing, and some of the hikes. Granted, you could easily fill your time without spending additional dollars on classes, but many of the more interesting ones have an additional fee: aerial yoga, floating meditation, art classes such as clay spinning and mala beading, cocktails with the chef, nutrition for healthy skin, beekeeping, the wisdom of owls, archery, hatchet throwing, ziplining, challenge course, and cross-country skiing.

Pools

There is an indoor lap pool, an indoor/outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, plus multiple jacuzzis.

Golf

The historic 18-hole golf course at Wyndhurst Manor & Club, Miraval’s neighboring property, combines spectacular views with challenging golf. Tree-lined fairways and naturally contoured greens have been carefully preserved since the course was built by Wayne Stiles and John Van Kleek in 1926. Accessible to both the public and Miraval guests, the Golf Club at Wyndhurst Manor offers a fun and scenic golf experience.

Farm

Miraval has an onsite barn where we met a medley of plants, birds, and animals. We learned about sustainable practices, biodynamic principles, and a vision for responsible agriculture’s role in our health and earth care. We got to see the hens that provide the restaurant with fresh eggs and glanced at the hives that produce the resort’s honey. We also met the horses used in Miraval’s world-renowned equine program. 

Equine Program

Spark creativity, clarify communication and release fears with Miraval’s award-winning equine program. These unique programs are one of the many reasons Miraval is unique. In the “Journey to Self,” guided by trained equine specialists, guests lead horses through a series of obstacles that represent challenges and triumphs from their own lives. This exercise offers a way to reframe your experience in a narrative that casts you as the hero of your journey. In “Self-Leadership for Effective Communication”, you can experience the powerful dynamics of non-verbal communication and how this influences your ability to lead yourself and others. In this unmounted activity, you will move with a horse around the pen, engaging tools of communication, collaboration, and creativity without speaking or touching. The insights and skills you discover may apply equally to personal and professional relationships.