When I first applied for a job here, I thought Canyon Ranch was, well, a ranch. I expected horses and cowboys.

I was disappointed about the horses, but I received a gift beyond my imagination. I arrived for my first day of work wearing size 24/26 pants and the self-imposed title of "Couch Potato of the Year." Seven years later, I'm an athlete who's finished a half-marathon, a three-day, 60-mile walk for breast cancer and a sprint triathlon, and I'm training for my first 100-mile bike ride. The gift has been more than a physical one. I have found renewal, explored personal territories of wellness and have transformed my life. Canyon Ranch continues to inspire me to learn more about health, wellness and most importantly, myself.

As a Program Advisor, I coached hundreds of guests, and in their company I explored health and wellness in ways I never could have foreseen. I have seen incredible changes -- everything from the rejuvenation of spirits to the transformation of lives. I am now part-owner of a company whose mission is to help people find clarity, passion and purpose in their lives, and as an educator, my purpose is to help others lead their best possible lives. Along the way, I became an expert on the Ranch, and I can tell you that there is no other place on Earth that has more resources for living well than Canyon Ranch.

We like to talk about the three intentions people bring to the Ranch: Restoration, Exploration and Transformation, and I've seen hundreds of guests who've come with each intention and succeeded in their purpose. What you get from Canyon Ranch depends on what you want and need. Restoration is where you reconnect with yourself, your energy is renewed, and you find peace in the beauty and calm of the Ranch. Exploration is what happens when you decide to break out of your comfort zone, try something new, or begin to learn more about yourself and your possibilities. Transformation is changing the way you live in some positive and lasting way. If that's what you want, you can do it.

My goal is to help you celebrate all that's possible as we discuss Canyon Ranch services, fitness classes, special events and workshops through the lens of an expert. I am excited to hear from you and learn from you stories and moments of inspiration. Thank you for taking time to check in for updates. May you be the best possible you!

hey Kelly,
Me too! Canyon Ranch has helped me in many ways and given me so much. One thing was meeting you.

Looking forward to seeing you soon.

I am in the process of developing a wellness page/website for my University's graduate school and spent some time reading through the Canyon Ranch Website. I have been thinking about how to integrate health and wellness into the the graduate student professional socialization process and really appreciated your discussion about your purpose as a coach and educator and the transformational experience you were blessed with at Canyon Ranch. Because many my graduate students come as or develop into "couch potatos" or more specifically, "Desk Potatos" I am seeking out ways of inspiring them to live their healthiest lives amidst a very unhealthy professional socialization process and academic culture. Thank you for helping me to think about the possibilities for life enhancement for my students and the ways in which I could intentionally expose students to this "way" of life during their graduate studies. Any advice on how to move from unhealthy cultures to life enhancing cultures? Also, I would like to come for a visit to the ranch for educational purposes...any scholarships available :-). Great job!

Matt

Dear Kelly,

I resonate with your comments about Canyon Ranch being transformative. There was a peaceful, healing, calming and rejuvenating energy about being there. Although I only worked there briefly, and only knew you briefly, I was most assuredly transformed in many ways by my experiences there: For one, my level of knowledge and awareness about my own health and others' has been vastly increased, and as for the ripple effect? Here in Bali Indonesia where I am currenly working, I have given friends copies of Ultraprevention, and I have often recommended Canyon Ranch to people (lots of people coming for spas and healing and wellness here!) I meet here who are looking for wellness solutions in their lives. I still use the recipes I received at Canyon Ranch years ago, and both you and the ranch will remain close to my heart for many years.

Thank you for all that you do to enrich life in the world! You've certainly been an inspiration in mine!
Love Yvette

I would like to thank everyone for their comments!

Matt, I believe you have posed a terrific question. How does a culture move from a state of being "unhealthy" to one that is "life enhancing"?

This may feel like a huge undertaking...and it can be. However, my thought is to start small. When we speak about "culture" we are speaking about such things as values, beliefs, traditions, roles/responsibilities that create what a culture looks like and feels like. In starting small, choose one area of the culture to begin changing. For example, in Matt's case it is the culture of the graduate student experience. There are beliefs about what it means to be a graduate student (how difficult the process is supposed to be, how challenging the academic work is supposed to be, the level of achievement that the student is expected to reach, etc). If you assess the system of beliefs and validate those that are true, you can start creating health-focused strategies/actions that support the person within that belief system to be the best person/healthiest person they can be.

To change culture is to change one's experience within that environment. To change experience, you need to change perception...and perceptions are based on one's beliefs as to how the world they are experiencing should work. If you can find small ways to create healthy strategies/actions that are attached to the beliefs associated with being a graduate student, you can begin to shift the culture...and eventually create life enhancing experiences for all associated with that culture.

Best wishes and please continue to check back with us!