In an ongoing series, Keren Weinstein, our Guest Life-Balance Editor, took a much needed trip. More than the need to go on vacation to a new locale, she wanted to find her own sense of balance and thus Project Detox began. Last week, we took a swing at seeing things from another point of view and today we look at things through the lense.

I have always been fascinated with professional photography. The eternal capture of a moment! Yet, I have never actually taken a class…short of a few priceless tips from leading photographers I have met through the years on photo shoots.

Combined with my love of nature, hiking and learning Anything new, the Photography Hike on the activities list was clearly my picture perfect next step.

After the basic 35mm photography class (cameras provided by Miraval), the instructor, a 15 year Miraval veteran and Mindfulness Guru, took us on a hike of the beautiful resort grounds to utilize our newly learned photographic skills. They strategically take you out at the end of the day during what they describe as the ‘magic hour’ capturing the last moments of light as it casts a warm hue over the desert floor.

It is meditative.

Still embraced by the Cocktail of the Senses and enjoying the beauty of the Sanoran Desert. I was now hiking through the same scenery as Desert Oasis but with a fresh set of eyes and with my word of the moment in tow (ala Mindfulness). Some of the pictures I took are posted above.

As I have already established in A View of the Valley, Miraval was designed to be a journey into your self so clearly this Photography Hike is more than a nod to the art of photography.

It is the Art of seeing the big picture while zooming in on the details. Of balancing motion with stillness. Of finding beauty in anything. Of gaining a different perspective on things by using lighting, shadows, zoom, angles. Of understanding how two people can look at the same thing, yet see it differently. And of how one person can view the same thing on different days and see it differently. Of looking at things/challenges in your life in an abstract way in order to find outside-the-box solutions. Of using the 'magic hour' to reflect on your day, and determine what issues can you step back to view in a different light? Of seeing the world through different lenses.

Thank you Miraval for the cool new ‘shades’.

I am the photographer of my life.

Keren Weinstein is a seasoned professional in Fashion & Beauty with over 12 years in Integrated Marketing, Advertising and Celebrity Fashion Styling

In an ongoing series, Keren Weinstein, our Guest Life-Balance Editor, took a much needed trip. More than the need to go on vacation to a new locale, she wanted to find her own sense of balance and thus Project Detox began. Last week, we enjoyed a cocktail for the senses but today, we drink things on the rocks!

One rejuvenating-deep-relaxation-massage on the rocks please!

As soon as I learned from the director at the Loews Lakeside Spa that hot stone massage in its new age--as opposed to stone age--form had originated in Tucson, I found myself laying in heaven on the rocks in a New York minute.

Stone therapy is believed to date back as far as 5000 years ago in India as well as in many other cultures and healing rituals. We have all heard or even worn a stone that is believed to have healing or protecting powers. Everywhere I went in the southwest it was apparent by the sales of the native suede stone bags (BTW some were real cute with fringe and chains). But it was in the early 90’s that it entered the modern spa scene. Mary Nelson, a massage therapist from Tucson in an effort to keep working with her passion after she had an injured shoulder, followed her intuition, “picked up the stones” and began to use them to assist her in providing treatments. In time, practice and much research, she developed LaStone® Therapy which uses a combination of hot, frozen and room temperature stones for overall balance & spiritual healing. It soon began to take off and LaStone® (with other translations of it) was circulating in the better spa’s and massage circuit. Tucson natives consider hot stone massage another southwestern gem and the Loews Lakeside Spa take pride in having hot stone therapy on their extensive menu of services.

Certainly not my first hot stone massage but definitely one of my better experiences, the Native Hot Stone Massage I received began with a consultation. I am a firm believer that communication is Key to a good massage or to any type of body, energy or healing work. Your therapist is your healer and, like Reiki, must focus his/her energy on your specific needs.

Upon learning about my obsession with indigenous scents and desert healing (remember…I just finished my cocktail of the senses journey), she pulled out a small label-free bottle of creosote oil (OMG! there’s that scent again!) so that I may experience the aroma of that unique after-the-desert-rain scent.

Lying on the hot basalt stones facing up, I felt the immediate penetration of heat into various parts of my body. Warm. Relaxing. Releasing.

Then she began to put more stones on strategic parts of my chakra points including in between my toes and under my feet that have been walking through the desert oasis all day. Balancing. Relieving. Therapeutic.

But it’s the moment the smooth hot stones stroke your skin that brings you a sensation unmatched by a simple massage. What’s great is that when you finally do receive the massage, the heat from the stones have loosened up the muscles allowing to work the deeper muscle layers (of course the heat from the stones also allow the oil to penetrate into your skin faster like an insta body facial). What I love is how this allows you to release toxins and benefit from a relaxing massage like you do from the deep tissue shiatsu-like ones. Perfect for balancing Relaxation with Healing. The Japanese believe that one stroke with the stones is like 10 strokes with the bear hand. I believe them.

For ages, Native Americans have been using stones in sweat lodges and for cramping. Oriental medicine uses stones to encourage a better flow of energy, treat disease and muscular pain. Europeans use it for injury relief. In South America, stones are used to aid in disease, pregnancy and childbirth. They even hold the stones in their hands for strength. For the Hawaiians, the Lava Stone is a symbol for healing and protection. For this full-time working NYC Mom, the Native Hot Stone Massage was a multidimensional therapy used to more effectively relax, release & balance my over worked body and mind. Connecting with Nature as I held the stones and the creosote scent held me, this was native healing pre-modern medicine.

I was glowing & hydrated from the inside out.

This is what I came here for.

Cheers!

Keren Weinstein is a seasoned professional in Fashion & Beauty with over 12 years in Integrated Marketing, Advertising and Celebrity Fashion Styling

In an ongoing series, Keren Weinstein, our Guest Life-Balance Editor, took a much needed trip. More than the need to go on vacation to a new locale, she wanted to find her own sense of balance and thus Project Detox began. Last week, we arrived in Tuscon just in time to catch the rare site of the Organ Pipe Cactus which only blooms once a year at night! Today we continue with her thoughts and begin to understand ourselves!

The Journey into Myself in what I refer to as Project Detox, was designed to flow much like my Yoga routine.

Of course you can practice yoga just about anywhere, but it is much more efficient and effective to practice in an environment that is quiet, clean, peaceful & infused with nature.

The concept may be cliché but it seems pretty Obvi to me.

If your schedule is anything like mine then simply getting to class means you literally run in last minute still catching your breath from your rainy-commute-home-from-work followed by the parenting after school routine of playtime-dinner-clean up-bath time-brush teeth-read books-bed time. All eyes are on you, as you attempt to squeeze the yoga mat in between your classmates in an angle that keeps at least some sort of jagged edged view of your instructor. Once you finally do sit down and attempt to catch up to the class your intro breathing resembles something like this…

Inhale. Exhale.

Inhale. (“Did I put the milk back in the fridge?”) Exhale.

Inhale (“Must remember to renew my yoga package ooh gotta stretch my legs”) Exhale.

OK. So clearly your mind and body take time (& effort) to relax but how great is getting a jumpstart (or more like quick fix) from your instructor as she is Staging Moments for you?

She turns down the lights. Puts on relaxing yoga music. Adjusts the temperature in the room. Gives you a visual throw back to nature by telling you to ‘be a tree’. Ground yourself at the root/core while allowing yourself to softly sway with your breath as the tree does in the wind. She then lights a sage’ish aromatherapy candle and we chant.

OHM………

(Yum!) Release. Unwind. Become aware. Reconnect.

Begin to take my stance on the edge of the diving board to jump into myself.

Ironic (& challenging) how you actually use your internal and external senses to assist in bridging the gap between mind and body only to then work on disconnecting from your senses in order to get to the true inner you. This was my P.D. task.

For Project Detox the Sonoran Desert becomes my 'yoga mat'.

When I discovered that one of my favorite Hotel chains, the Loews built their Tucson property with a unique balance between keeping “[local] Nature in mind” and creating a luxury resort & spa (which for Loews means luxurious yet comfortable, kid & pet friendly yet perfect for couples or solo spa/golfing trips, fine dining & pampering, Me First!) I knew I found my bridge for that mind-body-spirit connection.

The Loews Ventana Canyon Resort is a unique resort that embodies the pure essence of Tucson. The hotel is organically situated at the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains and is practically camouflaged into the beautiful desert landscape.

This picture was taken from the balcony of my suite. Notice how the hotel has the same DNA as the desert cacti and mountains and how it’s embedded within the environment seamlessly.

All my senses are engaged.

The healing dry heat, the visual beauty of Nature at its purest form, the soothing sound of the cascading eighty foot waterfall and the unique taste of the Hummingbird Tea. This is a unique tea blend made exclusively for Loews Ventana and is a medley of orange peals and the plants that are indigenous to the area like the Ayurvedic Hibiscus flower, Calming Desert Lavender, etc. How incredible to actually be able to taste the Tucson flora as do the local Hummingbirds (hence the name)! Grab a complementary cup at the lobby, order a cup from one of their six restaurants and lounges or, like me, buy a box on-site to take the experience home with you.

Whenever I travel, it is key for me to learn as much about the destination as possible (especially the best kept secrets!).

What is cool about this hotel is that they’ve teamed up with the Arizona-Sanora Desert Museum, Tucson Botanical Gardens & Friends of Sabino Canyon to create an on-site nature trail (called the “Window Walk”) that educates the guests on the indigenous plant life, native birds, butterflies, reptiles, mammals, geology of Tucson, the life of a Saguaro, the history of the Loews Ventana and a stunning display of minerals.

The clearly labeled signage that seems to grow from the stones are enjoyable to read – especially when playing ‘Name That Aromatherapy’ as you attempt to distinguish between the fresh scents of the Jojoba Plant (familiar) & rare desert rain scent of the Creosote Bush (new) on the trail only to recognize them on the sign as ‘that key ingredient’ in a new fabulous product you just bought from Sephora on 5th Ave.

Wearing the recommended color red to attract the hummingbirds, I wander into this journey that begins at the Koi fish pond right outside the concierge desk and takes me through a desert oasis for the senses to drink.

This is a Desert Oasis and I am the thirsty camel.

Keren Weinstein is a seasoned professional in Fashion & Beauty with over 12 years in Integrated Marketing, Advertising and Celebrity Fashion Styling