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Welcome to Miraval Life In Balance, an exploration of ways to bring balance, connection, and the Miraval wellness experience into your everyday life. Listen to the podcast on your preferred streaming platform, including Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Pandora, and more.

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Miraval Moments, shared by guests, colleagues, and collaborators.

Reflect

Kate Donnelly shares her recent solo getaway to Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa. Learn about each of her experiences. 

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In Reflection: A Writer’s Solo Trip to Miraval Arizona  

I was first introduced to Miraval Arizona about seven years ago when I was on assignment for a national magazine to report on the resort’s famed equine experiences, helmed by the now-retired cowboy and “horse whisperer” Wyatt Webb. 
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A few years later, I returned for the property’s diverse eastern offerings: Chi Nei Tsang, a Chinese abdominal massage to help with digestion; Jin Shou-Tui Na, to help balance and restore energy; and a visit with longtime Ayurvedic healer Clinton Horner to learn about my doshas. I’d also enlisted in energy work with Lolita Leal whose Path of the Jaguar, a mix of hands-on healing and breathwork, helped me re-connect and leave behind hucha (heavy energy). And then there was a private visit with the fun-loving psychic Alexandra Nicol; she also fed me delicious little chocolate candies. 
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Of course, my favorite visit to Miraval Arizona was in 2021 when I met my Mom. For years, she had been sick with a rare form of cancer, but wanted to return to Miraval Arizona – a place she also loved. The day we were supposed to meet with the new equine leader, Lucinda Vette, my Mom was too tired to venture out. I went alone and working with Lucinda (and the horses) gave me a chance to examine my fear – and sadness – of losing her. And, what would be the last summer with my Mom, now in reflection, is one of the most special trips of my lifetime (don’t worry, this won’t be a sad story). We got to really hang out and talk. We had a great time sipping margaritas with chips and guacamole at the Coyote Moon, and later, sitting on the patio of Cactus Flower, we watched the golden Arizona sun fade behind the Santa Catalina mountains – a magic hour of cinematic sky pinks and purples. 
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In June, I returned to the Sonoran Desert once again. This time, I was on a solo mission. As I pulled up to the resort’s familiar circle drive (and happily tucked away my cell phone) I felt a wave of grief wash over me. But, that wouldn’t last long. Why? Because I was back at Miraval Arizona. 
Of course, I’d come to see some familiar faces. The kind-hearted planner Adriana Cummins helped me create a special itinerary. As usual (and perhaps what makes Miraval Arizona so special) is that you can experience unique healing modalities that you can’t find at traditional resort spas – or really anywhere. It’s also why I especially love coming to Tucson as many of the healers have been around for several years, and in some instances, decades. This includes Tejpal, a veteran of Miraval Arizona, who through a series of grounding breathing exercises helped me ease anxiety and fear around death (I still practice the breathwork at home). Next came the healing hands of the intuitive minister, Madre Amelia once again guided me through a Mother’s Blessing (fitting too, since I had lost mine).    
There were new experiences too. I joined a small group inside the yurt for Scottish-born Rae Jessie’s immersive Journeys of Renewal; a special smudging ceremony using guided visualization (and hand-designed totem cards). I also had the chance to work with the contagiously-enthusiastic Richard Noel in his W.H.Y. (What Holds You) experience: a one-on-one session in a darkened room that used spirited conversation and drumming to help me remove mental blocks and focus on my future.  
Later, renowned trauma specialist Brent Baum, another Miraval Arizona veteran, led me through his Holographic Memory Resolution, allowing me to replace unpleasant past memories with the color therapy. Also integral to my reseting was Qi Awakening which uses the Chinese practice of Tui Na massage and acupuncture to aid in relaxation; and Wendy Becker’s creative new Syner-Qi, a blend of neuro-reset, neuro-muscular massage, and neuro-acupuncture to help with alignment. There was a Naga session – a Miraval Resorts exclusive – using assisted stretches and hanging silks to massage to melt away tension and improve circulation. My last day, I enjoyed Jess Holzworth’s Ritual of Remembrance, a creative and sensory ceremony that combined music and dance ritual in a rich, exploratory session. 
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And with all of my Miraval Arizona trips, an early morning hike with fellow guests helps start the day with an unplugged walk in the saguaro-studded hills; as does a quiet, reflective solo walk around the labyrinth. It’s also nice to lounge by the pool with some cool prickly pear tea and a book – and later, head up for a make-your-own smoothies at the Palm Court Cafe.   
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You also come to Miraval Arizona to simply observe. Walking to my room one early evening, I spotted a majestic great horned owl in a tree above. I also saw a slow-moving pair of javelinas, a quick-moving roadrunner and of course, way too many bunnies to count. On my last morning, I woke up early to watch the sun rise over the Santa Catalina mountains. As I sat on a big boulder where my Mom and I sat only a few summers before, I was reminded of how fast life moves. And even though my Mom was no longer here, I felt her presence all around me. In nature. In time. In space. At Miraval Arizona. I closed my eyes and was reminded of two things. One: we’re never on the trip alone. And two: thanks to the healing minds and hands at Miraval Arizona, I was lighter – and perhaps even more so knowing I’d be back again in the future.

Get to know Diego Silvestre Miraval Austin's Culinary Stwearding Lead. In this video, meet Diego and discover how he enjoys his time in the kitchen and how Miraval Austin supports his wellbeing.

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Celebrating Our Colleagues
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Get to know Diego Silvestre Miraval Austin&#8217;s Culinary Stewarding Lead. In this video, meet Diego and discover how he enjoys his time in the kitchen and how Miraval Austin supports his wellbeing.
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<h4 class="has-black-color has-text-color">CELEBRATING OUR COLLEAGUE “I AM” SERIES</h4>
Stay tuned and keep checking back in this space for an ongoing celebration of our Miraval Resorts colleagues. We are excited to shine a light on our colleagues’ “i am” statements in the upcoming months as we share the stories of their unique talents, passions, and personalities. Learn more about how their word informs and balances their work and personal journeys.

Get to know Miraval Arizona's Spa Therapist, Lolita Leal, and learn how she uses her wisdom learned from Native cultures to see beyond what is visible and to help guests move beyond conventional limitations and live a better life.

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I AM Transcendence 

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Get to know Miraval Arizona&#8217;s Spa Therapist, Lolita Leal, and learn how she uses her wisdom learned from Native cultures to see beyond what is visible and to help guests move beyond conventional limitations and live a better life.
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Tell us about your journey at Miraval Resorts.
I joined <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/arizona">Miraval Arizona</a> in 1997—when the resort was just two years old—as the PBX (Public Broadcast Exchange) operator. So, my first position involved literally connecting people. Later, while in massage school, I worked as a bellperson, driver, and transportation coordinator for a brief time. I stopped working at Miraval towards the end of massage school, then was rehired in 1999, and have been in the spa doing massage ever since.  I have continued learning to keep creating new and fresh ideas for the spa.
What do you enjoy most about being a Miraval Resorts colleague?
I enjoy my work family the most.  It&#8217;s a community that&#8217;s dear to me. We have such a deep camaraderie and understanding of each other. Things happen in cycles at a place like this, and it&#8217;s always good to check in with each other and find the curious synchronicities that happen with our team. When we returned from the COVID-19 lockdowns, we faced the practical concerns and constraints (masks, gloves, rearranged spaces) of reopening during uncertain times with the feeling that we aren&#8217;t alone. We might not all be in the same boat, but we are in the same water, sharing the randomness of the situation and the sense of our changing society with each other. It was so good to return and be with a crew again.
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What brought you to Miraval Resorts &#038; what keeps you here?
I knew I wanted to help people and have manifested that through my work at Miraval. That&#8217;s what keeps me here.  I love when people tell me I made a difference for them. Our clientele is open to energy work and spirituality. I had a client who came to me whose son had recently passed away. While working with her, I saw a young man in my mind&#8217;s eye and described him as he appeared to me—from his physical description to the television shows he watched. But more than that, his humor came through and spoke to her through me. The mediumship was strong. She felt a warm envelopment at the exact moment that he had asked me to hug her, and it was an amazing moment of passing between the two worlds, to witness this and become a bridge for these two beings on opposite ends of consciousness. It&#8217;s beautiful to let people know that love endures and continues to flow through their grief.
What have you learned from your time at Miraval Arizona?
I&#8217;ve learned many things.  But one of the more important lessons has been to honor where people are and meet them there.  There&#8217;s a subtle distinction between taking someone outside their comfort zone and making them uncomfortable. I use my intuition to take them to that threshold but not push them beyond what feels natural. Miraval Resorts supports me so much and honors my gifts, and it feels like a mutual exchange of respect and support.
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What is the best part of your day?
The best part of my day is waking up to my completely blessed life.  I have two kids, a loving husband, and so much joy.  I am an empath and highly affected by the group energy around me, so I feel very fortunate to be surrounded at home and work by such a positive life force.
How does Miraval Arizona help you create a work-life balance?
I always find help when my demanding parenting/school schedule needs to be changed.  My time is respected. When my schedule became unrealistic in its demands, we changed it so I could work one more day a week but shorter days. I feel so much happier and lighter since we did that. This is a place that understands it&#8217;s not going to be good for anyone if colleagues are burned out and tired. Having a flexible employer makes it easier to be a flexible employee. There are always creative solutions to problems when we meet in the middle.
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What is your Miraval &#8220;i am&#8221; word, and why did you choose it?
My word is transcendence, which comes from the Latin prefix trans, meaning &#8220;beyond,&#8221; and the word scandare, meaning &#8220;to climb.&#8221; When you achieve transcendence, you have gone beyond ordinary limitations. The word often describes a spiritual or religious state or a condition of moving beyond physical needs and realities.
In my work, I go beyond most people&#8217;s limitations.  I communicate with loved ones who have passed away and walk with my guests—or, as I call them, the non-paying clients in the room. I also go beyond the normal limits of perception. I can intuitively tell people about concerns or conditions they haven&#8217;t verbally articulated. I do it all in an effort to show people that there is a whole hidden reality—one in which they are not alone. The first step is to rise above the perceived limits, transcending and shaking off the restraints.
Is there a story you would like to share that people at work might not know about you?
I&#8217;m such an open book, and I&#8217;ve been here so long I feel like everyone knows everything about me!
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Would you like to share something about your ancestry, family, culture, or background? 
I was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico. On my mom&#8217;s side, I am Navajo and Apache, and DNA testing has revealed I also have some Inuit lineage. My dad is from Mexico, and my DNA lights up in regions near Cancun. When I went there to visit the pyramids and temples—before knowing this—I felt so drawn there. Historically, there has been a lot of shame and suppression surrounding Native cultures in this country. In my parents&#8217; generation, expressing your beliefs and culture was much harder.
When I was little, I got really sick, and my dad took me to what we call a curandera (Spanish for healer). She practiced folk medicine and placed a chicken egg all over my body while praying, explaining that there is life and power inside the shell that would remove the attacking energy out of my body and contain it. So, she transferred the energy that was making me sick, put it in a bowl under my bed, and came back later to pull out the yoke. It was an initiation moment from my youth that guided me along a path that eventually brought me to what I do today. I have been able to reclaim—through my own work—some of those things that my mother&#8217;s generation had so much shame and blame around and bring them into the light. I use them as a gift for other people. It&#8217;s all part of the Miraval Resorts&#8217; message of giving and receiving.
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<h4 class="has-black-color has-text-color">CELEBRATING OUR COLLEAGUE&#8217;S “I AM” SERIES</h4>
Stay tuned and keep checking back in this space for an ongoing celebration of our Miraval Resorts colleagues. We are excited to shine a light on our colleagues’ “i am” statements in the upcoming months as we share the stories of their unique talents, passions, and personalities. Learn more about how their word informs and balances their work and personal journeys.

Celebrating Our Colleagues 

The owls will continue to hold the Miraval Arizona property as their home and encourage their offspring to go elsewhere to find their own environment and mates.

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WHO Wants to know more about our Great Horned Owls?

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The energy of the desert is ever-present at Miraval Arizona—especially within our Life in Balance Spa. Light fixtures mimic desert light. Only-at-Miraval treatments feature desert botanicals like prickly pear, Arizona clay, and purple sage.
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LEARN MORE

Life in Balance Spa 

The following information is brought to us by <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/berkshires/experiences/specialists" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jen Leahey from Miraval Berkshires</a>. Jen has dedicated 30+ years to connecting people and nature to share her passion for nature’s wonders by promoting awareness, empathy, and understanding. She works with wild and domestic species, from horses and goats to birds of prey, and holds state and federal licenses to care for injured wildlife.
<a href="https://login.miravalresorts.com/blog/homers-odyssey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read about Homer, an obstinate, independent owl at Miraval Berkshires.</a>
After attending her workshop, “The Wisdom of Owls,” we reached out to her for her thoughts on our resident owls. Below are her ideas based on the information we provided.
Our resident owls have given birth annually, choosing to nest their babies on the spa patio in recent odd years (2019, 2021, and 2023) and near the property&#8217;s front gate in even years (2020 and 2022). In March 2021, we noticed the owls had moved closer to the spa, facing the patio. We explored the patio’s grassy edge and found two recently hatched owlets.
The spa staff eagerly monitored the owls’ behavior this February, hoping to see eggs—which they did on February 14. As in past years, we prioritized the safety of the owl habitat and directed guests away from the spa patio. You can see the nesting owl through the grasses when the light is right, keeping her eggs safe. We expect the eggs to hatch in March, and by April, we hope to see tiny faces peeking out from the grasses, as Bodie and Lux (the owlets named by the spa team) did in 2021.
The owls you see in the trees around the property are the parents of Lux and Bodie. They will continue to hold the Miraval Arizona property as their home and encourage their offspring to go elsewhere to find their own environment and mates. Great Horned Owls are territorial animals and will actively drive other owls away.
Why a Spa Nest at Miraval Arizona?
At Miraval Resorts, we say, “growth happens outside of our comfort zones.” For owls, as with humans, the following is simultaneously true: “we thrive when we are supported.”
Once owls find an ideal location that is quiet and protected with ample food sources, they will likely stay as long as possible. Home at <a href="https://login.miravalresorts.com/blog/miraval-arizona-wellness-in-the-sonoran-sun" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Miraval Arizona</a> comes with great views, desert landscapes, safety, comfort, and the knowledge that they will be left to be themselves in peace.
Jen believes that owls can read energy if we simply allow our senses and spirit to open to them. We like to think that the owls read the Life in Balance Spa’s energy as we do and take comfort in its aligning power. Perhaps, like us, they choose to co-exist with it actively.

The NAMI HelpLine team visits Miraval Austin to recharge. 

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You Can’t Pour From An Empty Cup: NAMI Team Gets a Miraval Austin Refill

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By Dawn P. Brown, National Director, NAMI HelpLine Services NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness 
<div id="attachment_18764" style="width: 4042px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-18764" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-18764 size-full" src="https://login.miravalresorts.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/MIraval-Austin-Group.jpg" alt="" width="4032" height="3024" />NAMI HelpLine Team Retreat</div>
Passing through the gates onto the property of the <a href="https://login.miravalresorts.com/blog/miraval-austin-wellness-in-the-texas-hills/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Miraval Austin Resort &#038; Spa</a> represented a transition from our daily realities to an otherworldly place that promised rest, restoration, and reconnection with ourselves and each other. What an incredible opportunity Miraval Austin presented to twelve members of the <a href="https://nami.org/help" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NAMI HelpLine</a> team, <a href="https://nami.org/About-NAMI/Who-We-Are/Meet-Our-Leadership/Senior-Leadership/Daniel-H-Gillison-Jr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NAMI’s CEO</a>, and <a href="https://nami.org/About-NAMI/Who-We-Are/Meet-Our-Leadership/Senior-Leadership/Ken-Duckworth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NAMI Medical Director</a>. <a href="https://nami.org/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness</a>, is the largest grassroots mental health organization in the nation serving individuals with mental illness and their loved ones by offering free, recovery-focused education programs and support groups, by shaping public policy through advocacy and leading the conversation on mental health in America.   
The NAMI HelpLine receives calls, texts, and web chats from people reaching out for help with mental health issues, including treatment information, resources, and support. In 2022, the HelpLine team and a workforce of 150 volunteers responded to over 100,000 calls for help from people across the country.  Since the pandemic began in 2019, we have had an 85% increase in the number of people reaching out for help due to deteriorating mental health. With this tremendous need for HelpLine services, we continued to stretch and grow.  
The ability to rapidly scale to meet this need and still provide outstanding support and information wouldn’t be possible without the HelpLine team being uniquely suited for their roles. Each of us have experienced the impact of mental illness either personally or as a family member. We know the toll it takes on an individual’s life and their relationships. We have been to those deep, dark places and emerged with a passion to help others find their way to recovery. It is what allows us to offer sincere empathy, support, and hope to others and drives our passion.  
Responding to the needs of so many dealing with very serious issues is difficult, emotional work. It can take a toll, and burnout is a very real possibility. Miraval Resorts has been a stalwart NAMI supporter. They know NAMI’s work and impact. They had the insight to know that after 3 years of unrelenting demand for HelpLine services, it was time to take care of the caregivers. Miraval Austin was the perfect remedy. 
<div id="attachment_18772" style="width: 650px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-18772" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-18772 size-full" src="https://login.miravalresorts.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/miraval-1.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" />NAMI HelpLine Teammates experiencing the Beauty of Imperfection</div>
Working with the wonderful event staff at Miraval Austin, a unique itinerary was crafted to take the NAMI team inward and outward each day. To signify our intention to use this time well, we began our Miraval experience with a Gong Ceremony, and with each of our clanging of the gong crystallized individually and collectively our “Whys”. The Beauty of Imperfection activity gave us a hands-on experience with the Japanese art of kintsugi as we broke and repaired pottery by mending the pieces back together with gold. It provided a wonderful metaphor for embracing our brokenness and seeing how we had transformed it into our inner strength and beauty.  During our Equine experience, we had an opportunity to learn about the Miraval farm and horses but also learn surprising lessons about ourselves, trust, and leadership from the beautiful horses and the very wise session leaders.  
<div id="attachment_18767" style="width: 490px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-18767" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-18767 size-full" src="https://login.miravalresorts.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/miraval-4.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="640" />Chief Executive Officer, Daniel H. Gillison, Jr., experiencing the Miraval Equine Experieince</div>
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Other activities, including the Taste of Salsa Competition and Hatchet Throwing, created an atmosphere of light-heartedness, making our time together special while an early morning guided nature walk introduced us to the beautiful mid-Texas flora and fauna. And big HelpLine crowd favorites included fabulous food, smoothies, and spa experiences. Throughout our time at Miraval, the staff in every way graciously demonstrated their expertise and commitment to the guest’s experience.  
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As we ended our time at Miraval, we took with us the meditative and reflective practices we had learned from the Voice of the Soul and Moring Manifestation Meditation sessions. How perfect that they offer us insights and mindfulness practices that we can use to refresh and restore. These will serve us well as we transition back to our role of helping others navigate toward mental health and recovery.  
<blockquote>“Miraval helped to create a shift for me. Thanks to the fantastic staff and programs I attended. I’m still wearing the beautiful bracelet I got there every day to remind myself of Miraval Mode. Thank you to all who helped make this shift happen for me”. Jessica Hart, Sr. Manager, NAMI HelpLine Resource Development</blockquote>
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The NAMI HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. 
Call <a href="tel:+18009506264">1-800-950-NAMI (6264)</a>, text &#8220;HelpLine&#8221; to <a href="sms:62640">62640</a> or email them at <a href="mailto:helpline@nami.org?subject=NAMI%20HelpLine%20Question">helpline@nami.org</a>

Get to know Miraval Austin’s Equine Specialist, Paula Basden, and learn how she inspires people to grow into—and show up as—their best selves.

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I AM Inspiration

Get to know Miraval Austin’s Equine Specialist, Paula Basden, and learn how she inspires people to grow into—and show up as—their best selves. She firmly believes that growth takes place in the context of relationships and that we can elevate our interactions with others by observing how we relate to horses.
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Tell us about your journey at Miraval Resorts.
My first position with <a href="https://login.miravalresorts.com/blog/miraval-austin-wellness-in-the-texas-hills/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Miraval Austin</a> was as an equine specialist, and I was the first one they hired. Before that, the wranglers at the farm did a great job of giving guests time with the horses. I have loved seeing the program grow and expand to what it is today!
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What do you enjoy most about being a Miraval Resorts colleague?
The people—both colleagues and guests. The spirit of Miraval Austin, both in people and property, supports living a well-balanced life. I especially like the way the practices taught and discussed are done so in a way that you can apply them to your daily life. We give hope—to our guests, colleagues, and ourselves—to make changes that will benefit both our personal lives and the world as a whole.
<a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/careers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Miraval Resorts</a> does this in a way that balances challenging people to live their best lives with holding space for where they are personally and spiritually when seeking answers to the changes they want to make.
I love horses. I always have. My training in equine-assisted therapies allows me to spend time with these animals in a way that is truly amazing. I love the herd of horses here at Miraval Austin. They are unique personalities that provide opportunities for growth for me and the guests who come for classes.
There is a feeling of “there is enough sand in the sandbox for everyone.”  There is also an overall feeling of expansion and sharing—not a competition to outdo anyone else in this space. I like the support given to the many paths of wellness that are available today. I like knowing that if a guest or colleague is struggling, there are resources to refer them to that can help navigate those challenges.
We also, as colleagues, receive encouragement and incentives to continue our education in our specialties.
What brought you to Miraval Resorts &#038; what keeps you here?
I heard about <a href="https://login.miravalresorts.com/blog/miraval-arizona-wellness-in-the-sonoran-sun/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Miraval Arizona</a> many years ago when I first started working in equine-assisted therapies. I read Wyatt Webb’s book <a href="https://miravalstore.myshopify.com/products/its-not-about-the-horse?_pos=1&#038;_sid=4b05a9aab&#038;_ss=r" target="_blank" rel="noopener">It’s Not About the Horse</a> and was blown away by the ideas represented by his work. That book inspired me to continue my training in equine-assisted therapies. I never dreamed I would work at the same place that Wyatt made famous through his work there!
I stay here because it allows me to use my gifts to help people. I feel supported by management,  I enjoy and respect my colleagues, and I get to be a part of a team whose goal is to make the world a better place. I love the team spirit at the farm. I have fun at work and go home feeling I got the better end of the deal!
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What have you learned from your time at Miraval Austin?
Wellness and balance can be verbs as well as nouns, and striving for them is a process, not a point of arrival. A balanced life is like the North Star—where we point our compass—and when we get off course, we begin again, knowing that the part of our journey that we thought was a tangent was simply our path. I believe the universe is rigged in favor of our growth.
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What is the best part of your day?
Getting to know the guests on a personal basis. The horses allow a space to open with people that is unlike any other I have ever observed. I love watching people as they get to know our herd and then their surprise when the horses show them how they are showing up in relationships. They get to see what gets in the way of getting what they want and need from the people they most care about. And all this is done in a non-judgmental and non-threatening way that is actually fun!
I love the first few minutes after I arrive at the farm and see which horses we will be working with for the day. It’s a great feeling to know that the work done with these magnificent animals will be exactly what the guests need.
How does Miraval Austin help you create a work-life balance?
Management is good at listening to our needs as colleagues and then supporting us as we work to serve the guests that come to us. Scheduling time off is respected, as is the need to increase our offerings when needed.
When classes are full and schedules are tight—as it often is in the hospitality industry—we always get extra support to carry the heavy load. Respect is given for medical and family situations that require time off from work. Everyone on our team pitches in to assist in challenging times.
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What is your Miraval “i am” word, and why did you choose it?
My “i am” word is Inspiration.
I chose this word because I have found inspiration through equine therapy for creating a life in balance for myself. My goal is to help people go inside to find the answers they are seeking. I like to help people find their way back to themselves. I don’t teach as much as I guide people to remember the strengths they have within themselves.
Would you like to share something about your ancestry, family, culture, or background?
My background and culture is in helping people. I learned that from my parents and then pursued a degree as a registered nurse. Now I get to do the same, only in a different form. I assist guests in seeing how health and wellness can come from paying attention to not only physical and nutritional health but also emotional, mental, and spiritual health.
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Is there a story you would like to share that people at work might not know about you?
I once helped deliver a baby in an elevator!
I am an outdoor girl through and through. I love being in nature, but the next skill I want to learn is how to play the piano—a totally indoor activity.
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<h4 class="has-black-color has-text-color">CELEBRATING OUR COLLEAGUE “I AM” SERIES</h4>
Stay tuned and keep checking back in this space for an ongoing celebration of our Miraval Resorts colleagues. We are excited to shine a light on our colleagues’ “i am” statements in the upcoming months as we share the stories of their unique talents, passions, and personalities. Learn more about how their word informs and balances their work and personal journeys.

Even those of us who study and promote mental health, like me, sometimes find ourselves confronted with new information that helps us level up our own practices and thinking.  We get incredible opportunities to learn. This is the incredible opportunity I had in 2022 by partnering with my friends at Miraval Arizona.

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Elevation: Diverse Women's Wellness Retreat at Miraval Arizona

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<h3>Caring for Our Caregivers</h3>
By Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble
There was so much chipping away at our collective mental health in 2022.  From civic and social unrest to political upheaval, to a global pandemic, we have all faced so much this year.  Many have come around to the fact that mental health is a vital part of our overall health.  We have all learned new ways to cope, including mindfulness, exercise, yoga, peer support, and just plain recognizing and honoring our feelings consistently.  Even those of us who study and promote mental health, like me, sometimes find ourselves confronted with new information that helps us level up our own practices and thinking.  We get incredible opportunities to learn. This is the incredible opportunity I had in 2022 by partnering with my friends at <a href="http://www.miravalresorts.com/arizona">Miraval Arizona</a>.  Keep reading to learn more.
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I have always held a deep desire to honor my sacred place in this world through uplifting others.  It’s why I practice mindfulness, exercise regularly, and it’s even at the root of why I pursued my current career as a founder, scientist, and mental health correspondent.  As far back as I can remember, I knew I wanted to lead others in caring for their mental health, especially those who are never seen as central to mental health discussions and those who are never viewed as worthy of obtaining care.  Then in 2017/2018, I crystallized my vision as a retreat; a retreat to celebrate women of diverse backgrounds and uplift us in caring for their mental health.  This was the origin of my idea for the Elevation: Diverse Women&#8217;s Wellness Retreat and I could not have found a better partner than Miraval properties.  Miraval and I share a commitment to healing practices that reflect the diversity of the lived experience and that draw from global perspectives; thus, giving attendees the opportunity to be immersed in culturally responsive healing practices.  Obviously, this is of deep importance to me as I am deeply committed to what I call BEII (Belonging, Equity, Inclusion, and Intersectionality).
The Elevation: Diverse Women&#8217;s Wellness Retreat at Miraval was curated to provide women and femme-identified people with actionable tools for self-care and emotional wellbeing while holding space for them to literally “just be”.  Too often for women of diverse backgrounds, messages of deservedness, rest, relaxation, joy, and peace elude us as we work so hard in service of others to the exclusion of our own needs.  The goal for our inaugural retreat in 2022 was to welcome our healers into a warm embrace and send them away after a two-day wellness experience, in a state of calm provided with actionable tools to help them on their journey of emotional wellbeing.
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I characterize our two-day retreat under the themes of celebrating diverse women/femmes; holding space for diverse women/femmes and allowing them to rest; encouraging women/femmes to practice self-acceptance and stillness, and helping women understand that engaging in the act of rest is an act of resistance to harmful societal norms that erode the positive sense of self and reward selflessness to our detriment.
Having the opportunity to learn about and experience cultural healing practices, healthy foods prepared in innovative ways, welcoming spaces that invited me to rest, and curated activities that allowed my AAKOMA Project team and I to bond, open up, rest, and heal with an incredible group of mental health nonprofit/social impact women and femmes of diverse backgrounds was an incredible gift for which I will always be grateful.
Being able to celebrate Belonging, Equity, Inclusion, and Intersectionality (BEII) at the same time was a balm for my soul.  Thank you to my guests, the amazing staff at The AAKOMA Project, and to my partners at Miraval, I look forward to our ongoing collaborations with eagerness and anticipation for the wonderful things to come.  #LoveLightScience
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<h3>Elevation: Diverse Women&#8217;s Wellness Retreat Weekend Itinerary</h3>
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with The AAKOMA Project + Dr. Alfiee

We use the word mindfulness a lot at Miraval Resorts, a place whose whole mission revolves around creating a life in balance through its lens.

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7 Mindful Moments At Miraval Resorts

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We use the word mindfulness a lot at <a href="http://www.miravalresorts.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miraval Resorts</a>, a place whose whole mission revolves around creating a life in balance through its lens.
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Mindfulness is a practice—we call it that because it’s not a one-off thing; it’s a way of life and a mindset that helps us identify our feelings and respond to them in healthy, compassionate ways. It’s how we purposely focus our attention on the present moment—the here and now—and accept it without judgment.
<h2>Seven Pillars</h2>
The concept of mindfulness rests on seven pillars. They help us anchor <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/wellness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">experiences </a>and connect to the <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/journeys-with-intention/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">intention </a>behind every activity, structure, meal, or moment. Sometimes, that intention is to be still and do nothing at all. Sometimes it sends us soaring on zip lines through treetops.
<h3>Non-Judging</h3>
Remove the labels and see things without judgment.
We get super caught up in a world that compulsively and relentlessly marks our experiences as either good or bad, happy or sad, triumphant or tragic. Imagine how liberating it is to pay attention to a moment without judging it; to experience it for what it is without trying to turn it into anything else.
When I go to Miraval, one of the first things I sign up for is <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/wellness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Floating Meditation</a>. It lets me off the judgment hook and hoists me into a hanging silk that only has room for tranquility, calm, and peace.
Whether in <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/resorts/">Arizona, Austin, or Berkshires</a>, I slip into those smooth silks and feel snugly swaddled into a space where judgment, along with gravity, is suspended for a good long stretch.
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<h3>Patience</h3>
Understand that things will unfold in their own time.
I’m a fidgeter, and I like to move, so it’s no surprise that I get impatient when I try some forms of meditation. I love walking the Labyrinth at any of the three properties because it lets me move while slowing down. It helps me pause by giving me a different way to pace.
If you focus on putting one foot in front of the other, you might—like me—stop worrying about the fact that it’s a rocky road: indirect and roundabout. Before you know it, you suddenly stop hurrying. You instantly get out of fix-it mode and stop trying to finagle a faster route.
The labyrinth is a deliberate, ancient path, a sacred inward journey with one winding way to the center and one way back. It reminds me to ask myself when I get back home: What’s the rush?
<a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/blog/creating-a-sacred-labyrinth-at-home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Click here to learn how to make a labyrinth at home!</a>
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<h3>Beginner&#8217;s Mind</h3>
See things as if for the first time.
Few things make me see through a child’s eye as much as peering into a real, functioning honeybee hive. <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/wellness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miraval’s apiaries</a> and beekeepers take you into a wild and whimsical world buzzing with a life that’s nothing like ours.
Hanging out with the bees taught me that I can view the world without projecting myself onto it. When we were kids, we accepted that most things that were magical and fabulous didn’t make much sense. We cared less about bending mysteries to logic or warping wonder into familiar structures and more about being dazzled, amazed, and awed.
In a lifestyle that’s all about proving what masters we are at our jobs and roles, it’s a sweet revelation and relief to step into a child’s shoes again, taste hive-fresh honey, and think with a beginner’s mind.
<h3>Trust</h3>
Develop a belief in yourself while valuing feelings and intuition.
Miraval Resorts’ <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/wellness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">challenge courses</a> are a master class in figuring out how to trust—your team, your belayer, the ropes—the universe itself. I have done it solo and with girlfriends; I’ve been out on a limb and supple as a flying squirrel, and I have landed in an ungraceful (though unharmed) heap on the ground.
Each time was different, but the constant conceptual net that held me every time was the belief that I could climb up that pole, jump off that platform, or just take in the view (and not jump), depending on where I was mentally, physically, and spiritually on that day. And that was ok.
It made me feel like I could trust my intuition to tell me when it felt ok to say yes or no to the activity at hand. I learned to trust that my feelings would be honored, no matter what I chose to do or not do. Miraval challenge courses have taught me that instead of hiding my vulnerability in a dark corner, I can hold it like a torch.
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<h3>Non-Striving</h3>
Be present with intention while letting go of attachment to future results.
The first time I went on a <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/wellness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miraval Hike</a>, I was determined to get to the summit and get the perfect photo.  We never made it to the top; it rained, my battery died, and I took no pictures.  And guess what? It was the best hike I’d ever taken.
I made new friends, I learned how to forage for mushrooms, and I got soaking wet in an old-growth forest, and it felt good! I was so caught up in finishing the trek at the beginning of the hike, but after I let go of the idea of having to come back with results (summit reached, photo snapped, steps recorded on exercise monitor), I let myself find new things, new people, and new feelings.
Sometimes the best discoveries come when we stop striving so much and embrace what we find along the way.
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<h3>Acceptance</h3>
See things as they are and acknowledge the present moment’s reality.
When bad things happen, sometimes it feels like this growing and flowing life of fusion suddenly fractures and will never come together again. Miraval’s <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/wellness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beauty of Imperfection</a> workshop made me rethink my ideas of being broken or whole.
Plus, sometimes it feels weirdly good to take a hammer and whack a delicate, perfect piece of pottery. It’s not one of those smashing rooms where you just go break things—there’s an idea behind it: you reassemble the shattered shards and highlight the glued-together seams with gold.
If non-judging taught me to let go of labels, then acceptance helped me embrace a non-binary way of seeing things as they are: not the perfect spheres of the past or a pined-for magically reassembled future, but a patched-together, imperfect thing, held together with hard-earned authenticity and a golden glow.
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<h3>Letting go/Letting be</h3>
Observe your thoughts and feelings calmly and let them be.
I can observe that there has been sadness in my life, and I can let that sit next to the joy I feel when the chocolate taco appears on the Cactus Flower dessert menu.
I can notice my muscles’ tightness from typing onto a screen all day, and I can let them relax under skilled hands at the <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/life-in-balance-spas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Life in Balance Spa</a>.
Treatments like Abhyanga taught me how to get rid of old skin and let go of old ideas. Why hang onto things that make us feel scaly, thirsty, or rough when we can dry-brush our limbs and clear our minds?
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While mindfulness is something we all can access, it serves us best when we practice it daily. Sometimes our days get the better of us, and we need a refresh, a reminder, and a reorientation for how we access our higher selves and adapt mindfully when our situations shift.
Toddlers turn into teenagers; our jobs morph locations from office to screen to office again; our parents will age and need us as much as our children do.
Am I always consistently mindful in everything I do? Nope.
But am I always consistently aware that I have the choice to be so? One hundred percent.
I’m a single mom of two teenage boys. I would love to tell you that my response to a melted carton of ice cream left on the kitchen counter overnight is “Namaste.” It’s not.
Sometimes, knowing that there is another option besides a knee-jerk reaction helps me slow down and consider the alternative to reacting impulsively—responding mindfully. I may not have ascended yet to the level of feeling gratitude for a sticky counter, but I have moved beyond uttering an automatic battle cry.
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At Miraval Resorts, we get a few precious days to reset and recall who we are at our core; we remember how mindfulness can propel us out of our stuck spots and open our hearts and minds to acceptance, peace—and even a sense of bliss.
Just like us, our intentions change with each Miraval visit, but what remains constant is the philosophy and guiding principles that beckon like a beam of light from each property, keeping our paths clear and well-lit, even in uncertain times.
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By Araxe Hajian

Inspired by an ancient tradition of mantra meditation, our colleagues wear name tags that say “I am,” followed by a word they have chosen to represent their essence. When colleagues join the Miraval family, they are asked to identify a word that expresses who they are.

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The “i” in Miraval

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<h2>‘Who am I?’</h2>
It’s one of the most challenging questions we can ask ourselves, and it requires us to become observers—of the world and ourselves.
Inspired by an ancient tradition of mantra meditation, our colleagues wear name tags that say “I am,” followed by a word they have chosen to represent their essence. When colleagues join the <a href="http://www.miravalresorts.com/">Miraval </a>family, they are asked to identify a word that expresses who they are.
How often do we sit down and ask ourselves this question?
Do you know who you are in one word?
Getting there requires reflection and introspection, and it takes time to land on one that feels right. Instead of relying on our experiences to define us, we can call upon our intuition to guide us.
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Here’s what it’s not:
<ul>
<li>It’s not the word that describes who we wish we were.</li>
<li>It’s not what other people think we are.</li>
<li>It’s not a promise or a projection.</li>
<li>It’s not a goal or who we hope to be in our finer moments.</li>
</ul>
It is simply who we are at our core.
At <a href="http://www.miravalresorts.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miraval Resorts</a>, we ask everyone to allow themselves to be vulnerable. That process begins with our colleagues, who must reach into a space of vulnerability to identify and access the answer to this question, to distill it into one word.
It is a challenge and an opportunity to shine a light on who we really are, not who we wish to be or who others see in us.
When we identify with our source—our “i am”—we realize that we can clarify our view of life through that lens. Our actions align with our <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/journeys-with-intention/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">intentions</a>, and we hold ourselves accountable to a higher level of authenticity. We can trust that this word, and all it represents, can guide us to interact with the world with presence and purpose.
The Miraval nametag is an aligned expression of the self—one that supports the wearer and those around them, serving the highest good in the present moment, without judgment or attachment to an outcome.
The answer isn’t just the name given to us by our parents or a label given to us by an institution. It’s a word that represents our true nature and guides what we do every single day.
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<h3>Celebrating our Colleague “i am” Series</h3>
Stay tuned and keep checking back in this space for an ongoing celebration of our Miraval colleagues. We are excited to shine a light on our colleagues’ “i am” statements in the upcoming months as we share the stories of their unique talents, passions, and personalities. Learn more about how their word informs and balances their work and personal journeys.

Get to know Hannah Paitoo, Miraval Resorts area leisure sales manager, and learn how she takes each opportunity that comes her way to learn and grow both personally and professionally.

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I Am Growing

<h3>Celebrating Our Colleagues</h3>


Get to know Hannah Paitoo, Miraval Resorts area leisure sales manager, and learn how she takes each opportunity that comes her way to learn and grow both personally and professionally.


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Tell us about your journey at Miraval Resorts.


My journey at <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miraval Resorts</a> has been so unexpected and something I am grateful for. My husband and I quit our jobs in Columbus, Ohio, packed up our cars with all our belongings, and moved to Austin, Texas, where I knew I wanted to enter the hospitality industry. I was googling hotels in the area and started interviewing for various positions, but none of them excited me or felt right. It wasn’t until I came across <a href="https://www.miravalaustin.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miraval Austin</a> that I found an opening for a leisure sales coordinator position. This position supported a sales team that works with luxury travel advisors, and, having been a travel advisor in Ohio, I instantly knew it would be a match.


After working as the leisure sale coordinator for 18 months during the opening of the resort, I knew I was ready for my next step to grow into a leisure sales manager. I applied for the position at our newest destination, <a href="https://www.miravalberkshires.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miraval Berkshires</a>, and was elated when I got the promotion. Now, three years into my career with Miraval Resorts, I am an area leisure sales manager, representing all three Miraval Resorts properties in our luxury travel advisor segment. I love that my day-to-day is always different, and I get to utilize all the skills I’ve learned in my various positions.


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What do you enjoy most about being a Miraval Resorts colleague?


I love working for a company that genuinely cares for its employees as they do for guests. Because of this care, I am very proud to work for Miraval Resorts and what we stand for as a company. I also love sharing the Miraval Resorts experience with my friends and family, who may not have ever had access or even known that they needed to come to a place like this. Some of my proudest moments as a Miraval colleague come from hearing my friends share their trips with me and their ‘Miraval Moments’ or breakthroughs.


<a href="https://www.instagram.com/miravalresorts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Follow us on Instagram and share your #MiravalMoments with us! </a>
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What brought you to Miraval Resorts &#038; what keeps you here?


It is the belief in the power of mindfulness and living a life in balance. I believe in the power of self-care and self-growth (every book on my bookshelf at home will prove this) and am always interested in trying new-age modalities to better myself. Working for Miraval Resorts, a global leader in wellbeing and mindfulness, brings inspiration, fun, and incredible experiences to try!  A large part of my job is talking to advisors about the <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/wellness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">experiences </a>available at each resort. Therefore, I’m lucky to have participated in many of them and visited the three destinations. My favorites have been our Challenge Courses, Cardio Drumming, An Unforgettable Canvas, Floating Meditation, and Shinrin-Yoku.
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What have you learned from your time at Miraval?


I’ve learned that we often take for granted the skills that make us superheroes to others. Many people don’t realize that just showing up as yourself and being the best person you can be is enough and all anyone expects. We don’t need to be anything other than our authentic selves.


I’ve also learned to lean into being uncomfortable, as that is when growth happens. Don’t be afraid to say yes to new opportunities, especially ones that may scare you or that you don’t feel 100% prepared for. Say yes, ask questions, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and know that people genuinely want to see you succeed.
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What is the best part of your day?


The best part of my working day is all the people I work with daily. I truly believe it’s the people within our organization that make up our amazing culture. I love being a manager and having a team of four people who I get to support. I am very invested in their growth, success, and happiness, and it brings me joy to support them however I can.


I also truly enjoy working with our amazing clients and travel advisors, many of who have become personal friends to me. We work with some incredible travel professionals, and I genuinely enjoy supporting them and their clients however possible. The best part of my day when I’m on the road attending industry conferences or events is meeting many clients face to face for the first time, that I’ve been working for years. There’s nothing better!


The best part of my day personally is being able to create a work-life balance, unplug, log off and spend time with my husband, Michael. We both travel together often, so if we are on the road or at home, we scout the next new restaurant to try.
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How does Miraval help you create a work-life balance?


Through the many resources available that encourage us to have a healthy balance between our devices and work. We are encouraged to unplug on our days off and recharge.


<a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/blog/?s=Digital+Mindfulness" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read more about Miraval Resorts Digital Mindfulness </a>


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What is your Miraval “i am” word, and why did you choose it?


i am Growing
I chose this word when I started at Miraval Austin in January 2019 as a leisure sales coordinator. I was hungry to grow within the organization, and 18 months after I started, I secured an opportunity to grow within the company and professionally as a leisure sales manager. I believe in the power of manifestation and the law of attraction, so when I moved to the Berkshires and was asked again what I wanted my word to be, I still chose “Growing.” Since I started in the Berkshires, I’ve received more opportunities to grow as a leader with my responsibilities, and I am excited for what is next!


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Is there a story you would like to share that people at work might not know about you?


I recently got married on June 3 to my husband, Michael Paitoo. We got married in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, surrounded by family and friends, and had the best day ever. We both can’t wait to be parents and start a family together.


Would you like to share something about your ancestry, family, culture, or background? 
Many people don’t know I am half Japanese, a quarter French, and a quarter German. My dad was born in Japan and was adopted when he was only a few months old by an American family stationed there (my adopted grandfather was in the Army). I’ve never been to Japan, and I look forward to checking that off my bucket list sometime soon!
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Wellness Award 2022 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtuosotravel/">Virtuoso Travel</a> Luminaries, Legends, and Leaders
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We are thrilled to announce that Miraval Resorts &#038; Spas has been awarded the 2022 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtuosotravel/">Virtuoso Travel</a> Luminaries, Legends, and Leaders awards in the Wellness category!
Congratulations and a special thank you to <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAABzHgw8BuuNbuULgmqi43X_bSOJe6EW2kFA">Hannah Paitoo</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAMpeL8B7NBPtB2BWCZqFYnrVbS5lnMvLic">Candace Taylor</a> who represented Miraval Resorts &#038; Spas at <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtuosotravel/">Virtuoso Travel</a> Week in Las Vegas, NV.
We are honored to receive such recognition and deeply grateful for the support of our guests and community.

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<h4 class="has-black-color has-text-color">Celebrating our Colleague i am Series</h4>


Stay tuned and keep checking back in this space for an ongoing celebration of our Miraval Resorts colleagues. We are excited to shine a light on our colleagues’ “i am” statements in the upcoming months as we share the stories of their unique talents, passions, and personalities. Learn more about how their word informs and balances their work and personal journeys.

Meet Miraval Arizona's Yoga Instructor, MaryGrace Naughton  Read about her 17-year journey at Miraval Arizona and her ability to teach from the knowledge and wisdom she has gained over the years.

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I Am Grace

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<h3>Celebrating Our Colleagues</h3>


Meet Miraval Arizona&#8217;s Yoga Instructor, MaryGrace Naughton


Read about her 17-year journey at Miraval Arizona and her ability to teach from the knowledge and wisdom she has gained over the years. 


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Tell us about your journey at Miraval Resorts.


I have been a part of the Miraval Arizona family for over 17 years and have had the honor to watch us grow as a brand. I appreciate that through many shifts and changes, the thread of mindfulness and helping others grow has remained consistent. Recently, I connected with two guests that have been coming to Miraval Arizona as long as I have been employed. We joked about our kids growing up and even having grandchildren now, which reminded me of the joy of long-term connections.
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What do you enjoy most about being a Miraval Resorts colleague?


What I enjoy most is the ability to teach from my own knowledge and wisdom. We have the freedom to teach from our expertise while continuing to learn from others.


What brought you to Miraval Arizona, and what keeps you here?


I was referred to Miraval Arizona by a former employee named Lhasha. We met on a six-day meditation retreat in which I offered yoga practice as my service to the group. I continue to stay because I get to teach skills and practices that have absolutely improved my life and enhanced my wellbeing. Knowing that I support and help others means a lot to me. I also stay because of the positive benefits, including financial support to further my education.
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What have you learned from your time at Miraval Arizona?


I have learned that I am blessed to have a stunning view of the Santa Catalina Mountains when I teach. I have learned that transitions are difficult but possible when I treat myself as a friend. I learned that often the most difficult people are the ones in the most pain and who are often suffering and that everyone needs more kindness and compassion, including myself.


What is the best part of your day?


Consistently, the best part of my day is teaching the morning meditation. The mindfulness practice of opening to the moment while doing our best to let go of judgment and interpreting the moment can be profound and powerful. Many guests have come back to tell me Miraval Arizona is where they began their meditation journey, and I love that so much! The two other best parts of my day are teaching Mindful Stress Mastery because we go into depth about skillful ways to change our relationship with stress. The world seems a bit more challenging these days, and being able to find calm, have acceptance, and practice with others is extremely beneficial. Finally, teaching aerial yoga is simply joyful for me. My body loves the practice, and I enjoy watching guests overcome fear and allow their more playful side to come out.


<a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/blog/4-steps-to-better-meditation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read 4 Steps to Begin Your Meditation Practice by MaryGrace! </a>
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How does Miraval Arizona help you create a work-life balance?


Through changes Miraval Resorts has made in the number of hours required to maintain health insurance benefits. In the past few years, I had quite a few personal challenges and losses. I used to hold the role of yoga supervisor, but being able to step back to focus on myself and drop down to three days a week, knowing I maintained health insurance, has been a true gift. I have more ease in offering classes with less pressure on me. I also think the education reimbursement is a wonderful way to help with balance in affording to continue learning and growing.
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What do you do outside of work to create balance? 


I maintain a daily meditation practice, use my elliptical on my days off, and do a short yoga practice afterward. I make sure I have quality time with my family and play with the grandbabies to remember the joy of children. When the weather is nice, we go for walks or hikes. I also take trips to our home in San Carlos, Mexico, to play and restore.
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<a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/blog/the-i-in-miraval/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read about Miraval Resorts “i am” initiative here</a>


What is your Miraval Resorts “i am” and why did you choose that word?


i am Grace


I chose that word because Grace is part of my name. Grace is what I open to when I am suffering and need support. Grace is that part of the mystery that helps guide me.


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Is there a story you would like to share that people at work may not know about you? 


My husband gifted me scuba diving lessons in my mid-forties. At first, I thought it was a joke because I had never considered diving and was a little terrified. The lessons were in a pool and a lot of fun and then I graduated to the ocean! Once I overcame my fear of being deep in the sea this was an incredibly peaceful experience.


Would you like to share something about your ancestry, family, culture, or background?


I come from an Irish Catholic family on my dad’s side, and my mom is Italian and Scottish. A family tradition I hope my girls continue with their children is making potato bread on St. Patrick&#8217;s Day and Christmas. My father would make it with us when we were little. It is a simple recipe that is messy, fun, and tasty. I have a framed recipe with my dad&#8217;s words at the end that say, “Potato bread, made with love and shared with love, creates more love.” I look forward to making it with my grandsons in the near future!


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<h4 class="has-black-color has-text-color">Celebrating our Colleague “i am” Series</h4>


Stay tuned and keep checking back in this space for an ongoing celebration of our Miraval Resorts colleagues. We are excited to shine a light on our colleagues’ “i am” statements in the upcoming months as we share the stories of their unique talents, passions, and personalities. Learn more about how their word informs and balances their work and personal journeys.

These are the stories that make us feel so grateful for our guests every day. I recently spoke with Lydia Fenet, whose Instagram post caught my eye when a colleague sent it to me with a wow-you-must-read-this message attached. 

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Lydia Fenet: Living A Balanced Life

Lydia Fenet is a global thought leader and Christie’s Ambassador who has led auctions for more than six hundred organizations raising over half a billion dollars for nonprofits globally. Lydia is represented by CAA and travels internationally as a keynote speaker helping people unlock their sales potential and empowering women in the workplace. She was named one of New York’s most influential women by Gotham magazine and has been featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and Crain’s, and has appeared in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair and Town &#038; Country. Her widely acclaimed book, ‘The Most Powerful Woman in the Room is You’ was published by Simon &#038; Schuster and optioned for TV by Netflix. Lydia’s second book Claim Your Confidence will be published in March 2023.

About Lydia Fenet

I recently spoke with Lydia Fenet, whose <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cavk6nNpNrv/">Instagram post</a> caught my eye when a colleague sent it to me with a wow-you-must-read-this message attached. I was intrigued and reached out to chat with her. Her response was so warm and compelling that I had to share our conversation with you, Miraval Family. These are the stories that make us feel so grateful for our guests every day.
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AH: Was this your first visit?
LF: No, my first visit was with my girlfriends from college. I was pregnant with my third child and couldn’t sleep. I got to Miraval and slept for the first time in my pregnancy. I remember falling into that cushiony, <a href="https://miravalresorts.com/blog/miraval-sleep-experience/">wonderful bed</a> and just crashing, then waking up the next morning feeling like I was climbing out of a dream. I remember going on <a href="https://www.miravalarizona.com/experiences/activities/outdoor-adventures/hiking/">hikes</a>, but taking a lot of naps, too.
AH: What brought you this time?
LF: I had been invited to be part of a coaching session for a <a href="https://www.miravalarizona.com/groups-meetings/corporate-retreats/">visiting group</a>. It seemed perfectly timed with where I was in my life: I hadn’t been traveling a lot because my entire family was in a car accident last year on Halloween.
Someone coming from the other direction flipped over the guardrail and hit us head-on; it was the equivalent of hitting a brick wall going 100 mph. Because of where I was seated in the car, the full impact hit me. I was snapped in half by the seatbelt. The top of the seatbelt broke all of my ribs, and the airbag cut my face open. I had to have surgery because they thought I was bleeding to death internally.
AH: What a terrible thing to go through—emotionally and physically.
LF: I have always been in shape. A lifelong athlete, I ran and exercised all the time. So, it was like going from a fully functioning body to one that did nothing overnight. I was broken in half. It has been an ongoing march back from that point and a lesson in humility. Everything in me wants to run 10 miles with no problem or play any sport I want, and I can’t do that at the rate I could before.
AH: How was it to be back at Miraval Arizona?
LF: It was a very different trip this time, but also amazing. I love that you can set out on your own. In the mornings, I had this incredible time—for the first time in a long time—that was just mine. I would wake up early and write before it got light, which was such a gift because I’m usually frantically writing before my kids get out of bed. I would take long walks and jog on the trails in the early, early morning, and it was so restorative.
I love that you put your <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/digital-mindfulness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phone to sleep</a>. On the first day, you find yourself reaching for it, and it’s almost like a second skin you need to shed. Then you realize that there’s beauty in just looking at a sunrise. The longer you are there, the easier it gets to leave the phone in its little bed—not just during the night but all day.
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AH: Were there any services or offerings that were particularly impactful?
LF: I had an amazing neuromuscular massage at the <a href="https://www.miravalarizona.com/experiences/life-in-balance-spa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Life in Balance Spa</a>. You think you go into a massage to relax, but it’s really scary to get a massage when you’ve had a spinal fusion. Half my spine was opened up, and I have a titanium rod in my back. So even having anyone touch the scar is very weird because it’s a place where everything hurt for so long.
My therapist said at the beginning, “This is an 80-minute massage, but it is going to be a massage of trust. I need you to trust that I can give you a massage and that it won’t hurt.” A lot of it is psychological when it comes to recovery, especially from intense trauma like mine. We talked the whole time, and he would say, “How about this?” or “Do you see what I’m doing here?” And it was very helpful in getting my mind to a place of being able to say, “You’re right, this doesn’t hurt. It’s not pain.” It’s just uncomfortable, and that’s different.
AH: When movement is replaced with fear, it takes a lot to return to a place of trust and vulnerability, to be able to sit with discomfort.
LF: Yes, it does, but it’s so worth it on the other side.
AH: We don’t always ask who helps the helpers. How was it to be giving and receiving since you were there as a coach?
LF: It fills you up. It fills your cup to the brim, and then you feel like you can give. A lot of times, when you are putting a lot out there, you feel very depleted. So, the opportunity to receive that comfort and general balance is helpful.
I had missed my connecting flight from Phoenix to Tucson and took a magical ride across the desert to get to Miraval, which helped me transition. My phone didn’t work, and I thought I’d just sit and look out the window. When do you get to do that?
I talked to my driver for two hours as the sun set on the desert—it felt like magic. By the time I got there, I felt so calm and had dinner in the lounge alone (I never do anything by myself because in New York, I have kids, and nothing is ever done alone). I wrote in my journal. It was such a peaceful way to arrive, and it was needed. But I didn’t know that I needed it. I wonder if that’s something a lot of people say about Miraval.
AH: People do say that Miraval calls to them but that they don’t realize they’re responding to a call until they arrive and answer it.
LF: Yes, I can absolutely agree with that. And certainly, when you’ve had an injury like mine. My body wasn’t even connected anymore; the whole thing was broken. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t do anything. So, to be in a place where I felt like I didn’t need to sprint but could move and take a long walk and lose myself and find my way back—it was wonderful to have so many opportunities to move at my own pace.
AH: Did you connect with the attendees?
LF: I was teaching a sales &#038; networking class as part of a <a href="https://www.miravalarizona.com/groups-meetings/">corporate retreat</a> to help people unlock their potential and give them key steps in terms of how to be great at selling authentically and making that connection. It’s so easy to do this sort of thing at Miraval because everyone is so relaxed, in their version of athletic chic, and there’s no pressure, urgency, or hectic pace.
It was so lovely to just be with these people—I had dinner with them afterward (I usually don’t linger after a presentation) and ate breakfast with them the next morning. The beauty of Miraval is how there’s such a sense of community. Some people are alone, and some are not. If you want to be alone, you can be; if you don’t, there’s always someone willing to go on a hike with you in the morning. So, even if you come by yourself, you’re not ever truly alone at Miraval. It has an excellent way of drawing you out without pressuring you.
AH: What a treat to be in a place that has already prepped your audience and put them in a mindset of presence.
LF: Everyone was so open to hearing what I had to say. These last few years have depleted all of us, and any activity that makes you go hard or out late is so unappealing for so many right now. It’s more about filling yourself back up and giving yourself the tools to live a more balanced life. Miraval has hit the nail on the head, no question.
AH: What would you want to explore on your next visit?
LF: I would do more <a href="https://www.miravalarizona.com/experiences/">classes</a>. I arrived there in such a state of exhaustion and recovery that I took it easy. And that’s ok because Miraval really does meet you wherever you are. I would love to take a few more classes, and I wouldn’t miss out on the massages. They’re my favorite part.
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AH: Could you share what was going through your mind when you wrote that Instagram post?
LF: I was inside on the Peloton and thought, why don’t I go outside and just stretch? Especially before that time, I had not done any stretching because I wasn’t even allowed to bend or lift anything as part of my recovery restrictions. So to even feel like I could squat in warrior pose felt so empowering and wonderful. I attribute a lot of that to being in such a calm, beautiful, empowering environment.
The light is so different out there among the desert and mountains. At night, too, those pinks stay on the horizon for so long. It lends itself to so much introspection and a quieting of everything. As a New Yorker going a million miles a minute with three children, it’s nice to have that time to yourself to just think about what has happened in life and what you want from it. It was wonderful.
AH: I love that it was a yoga pose rooted in a Hindu story of grief transformed into compassion. I can imagine how empowering it was to hold that stance.
LF: I was really being conscious of what my body had overcome to get to the point that it could even do that pose. Because the week I left the hospital, I wasn’t allowed to bend over, so they had to teach me to lunge. I remember my whole body shaking with the effort of doing one lunge. The morning of the accident, I had played in two back-to-back tennis clinics. Imagine going from that to being unable to put my knee to the ground without feeling like I was going to die. So, to be able to lunge into warrior pose felt amazing, not painful, and really happy.
You can push yourself in life to more and more, which is fine. But there are also times that you need to step back and realize that success will not always be the same. Success on the morning of the accident looked really different from how it looks now. It’s the small things, right? Success for me now is taking a run outside—a year ago, that might have seemed trivial, but now it’s a big thing.
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Read how Brittany uses empathy, compassion, and commitment to guide herself and others throughout her career at Miraval Resorts.

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I Am Imperfect

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<h3>Celebrating Our Colleagues</h3>


Meet Miraval Austin&#8217;s Human Resources Manager, Brittany Chaffin


Read how Brittany uses empathy, compassion, and commitment to guide herself and others throughout her career at Miraval Resorts.


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Tell us about your journey at Miraval Resorts.




I started with Hyatt Hotels &#038; Resorts in 2014 at Park Hyatt Aviara as a front desk agent. I had the opportunity to work in several different positions at Park Hyatt before transferring to Miraval Austin in September 2018 as front office manager. I had the pleasure of being part of the pre-opening and opening teams here at Miraval which was one of the most fulfilling times of my career. I did work as front office manager for a little over a year before being promoted to assistant director of rooms. My journey then transitioned slightly when I took a position with Human Resources last summer. My experience is not uncommon and that is one of my favorite things about Miraval Resorts. We are a company that is deeply committed to internal growth and promotion – and I love being living, breathing proof of that aspect of our culture.


What do you enjoy most about being a Miraval Resorts colleague?


The most fulfilling thing about my current position is being able to offer employment opportunities to others. I truly love working with Miraval Resorts and being able to welcome folks to the family is incredibly rewarding. Truthfully, I also love our benefit package – paid time off, retirement saving plan options, and awesome insurance. I love having discounted hotel stays with Hyatt hotels globally and I especially love the free nights! I enjoy having access to the resort activities and facilities including discounts at our spa. All these things understandably have a positive impact on my quality of life and overall wellbeing.


<a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/careers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn more about Miraval Resorts Careers &#038; Benefits</a>


What brought you to Miraval Resorts?


What drew me to Miraval Resorts was the challenge of asking our guests to experience wellness with purpose. Miraval Resorts delivers luxury levels of service while also offering life-changing experiences. As a hotelier, I couldn’t think of a more fulfilling brand to be a part of.
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What keeps you here?


Miraval Resorts provides us as colleagues the tools and resources to create our own life in balance, and that is something I really appreciate. Finally, I think the endless career opportunities and the sense that there is no ceiling as it relates to my career path is something that provides me with a lot of excitement!


What have you learned from your time at Miraval?


I have learned that meeting people where they are at is critical to successful relationships. My empathy gene has grown tenfold while working at Miraval Resorts. Empathy is one of Hyatt&#8217;s core values and I certainly felt it earlier on in my career, but being at Miraval Resorts has amplified my ability to empathize not just with others but also with myself. I think that my emotional intelligence has also increased due to being in a setting that allows me to be my whole self and encourages me to connect with others authentically.
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What is the best part of your day?


I do feel like getting to know our colleagues past the surface level – getting to know about their loved ones, their passions, their pets, their goals and interests – is the best part of my day because it provides me with the opportunity to create some really meaningful and lasting connections!


How does Miraval Resorts help you create a work-life balance?


Miraval Resorts helps me create a work-life balance through our benefit package and through our culture. Travel is one of my favorite ways to reconnect with myself. Our generous paid time off program coupled with our discounted or complimentary room nights makes travel so easy and accessible to me. Our culture also promotes balance as a value. We are encouraged to not overcommit ourselves and to set healthy boundaries – which I know isn’t always the case in every work environment.
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<a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/blog/the-i-in-miraval/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read about Miraval Resorts “i am” initiative here</a>


What is your Miraval Resorts “i am” word, and how did you choose this word to represent your essence?


I am Imperfect


I always get some raised eyebrows about this word but I absolutely love it. I selected this word because I am human, and I am perfectly flawed. We all have our imperfections – and it’s amazing what happens when we practice self-compassion and quiet the negative self-talk. That said, I embrace my imperfections and give myself permission to be imperfect. As we all know, empathy is critical to the success of anyone who works in our industry. When I am compassionate with myself, it allows me to be compassionate with others. I like to view the value of empathy as something that can be applied equally internally as it is externally.


Is there a story you would like to share that people at work might not know about you?


In another life, I was a nail technician! In all seriousness, skincare and nail care are my personal passions. My at-home nail kit is next level. I think it is a powerful passion for a variety of reasons. Firstly, as we all know, self-care is key. Secondly and more prominently, there is something surprisingly meditative about the practice of painting your nails. It brings you to the present moment, I can clear my mind and my physical space. I paint my nails 2-4 times a week – which is crazy, I know!


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Would you like to share something about your background?


I would like to share my professional background. One thing I cannot stress enough is that there is no ceiling in the hospitality industry. The opportunities and possibilities are endless. There are so many industries within the larger hospitality aggregate and I am living, and breathing proof of that. You can have a background in hotel operations and gravitate to sales, marketing, spa, human resources, finance, and the list goes on. If this is an industry you are even remotely interested in, take the leap – you won’t regret it!


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<h4 class="has-black-color has-text-color">Celebrating our Colleague “i am” Series</h4>


Stay tuned and keep checking back in this space for an ongoing celebration of our Miraval Resorts colleagues. We are excited to shine a light on our colleagues’ “i am” statements in the upcoming months as we share the stories of their unique talents, passions, and personalities. Learn more about how their word informs and balances their work and personal journeys.

Meet Miraval Resorts' Area Reservations Sales Assistant Manager Alex Lee.  Learn how Alex believes in the power of support, inspiration, and community in the workplace.

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I Am Inspirational

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<h2>Celebrating Our Colleagues</h2>
Meet Miraval Resorts&#8217; Area Reservations Sales Assistant Manager Alex Lee.
Learn how Alex believes in the power of support, inspiration, and community in the workplace.
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Tell us about your journey at Miraval Resorts.
I started my journey with <a href="http://www.miravalaustin.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miraval Austin</a> in April 2019 as an experience planner. I was dedicated to my work and quickly received a promotion to area reservations supervisor in November 2019. I was able to learn, lead, and grow in my position. In July 2021, I was promoted to area reservations sales assistant manager and am still in my current role.
What do you enjoy most about being a Miraval Resorts colleague?
At Miraval Austin, we have amazing colleagues who go above and beyond for our guests and each other. These last two years have not been easy, and our team overcame the obstacles thrown at us by sticking together. Not only as a reservations team but resort-wide. We created a community, and I am very fortunate to work with them!
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What brought you to Miraval?
When I moved to Austin, I worked at a telemarketing business where I sold digital marketing to lawyers and contractors but was laid off on February 1, 2019. I decided to take that time to evaluate what I wanted in life. I looked into different career paths where I could still be involved with one of my passions—helping people. My final decision was to jump into hospitality because the career options are endless. I started looking at hotels and resorts in the area when I came across Miraval Austin. I researched the brand, fell in love with the concept of guiding people to create a life in balance, and instantly applied. I originally applied for the front office agent position, but after a few interviews, the team saw me as a perfect fit as an experience planner.
What keeps you here?
One of the reasons I stay here is the growth opportunity. My director, Dena Orzolek, is invested in my growth at <a href="http://www.miravalresorts.com/">Miraval Resorts</a>. By creating development plans, learning, and more, Miraval Resorts takes the time to help colleagues on when they should make that next step. Our leaders go the extra mile to help you succeed.
My second reason is the impact we make on our guests. We welcome guests who come at their highest points in life and—on the flip side—guests who are dealing with significant transitions. We offer services to help them connect to their authentic selves and get back on track to mental wellbeing and living a balanced life. It’s very easy to stand behind a brand that genuinely means this. We share the same values with our colleagues, which is very motivating.
Our jobs aren’t always easy, but I try to be resilient and lean on the support around me. I have been in tough positions when interacting with guests, and some challenges tempted me to walk out the door. The support I receive when dealing with challenges is unmatched and the words of encouragement from my team are why I decide to stay. I remain strong with my supervisor’s support, guidance, and the team behind me.
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What have you learned from your time at Miraval?
I had the privilege of participating in <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/austin/life-in-balance-spa" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pravasana</a> at Miraval Austin. It’s one of our <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/austin/life-in-balance-spa" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Energy &#038; Eastern</a> spa services. You start the service by setting an intention. Mine was to go in with an open mind and let the universe tell me what I needed to hear. During my experience, I had a realization. My thoughts surrounded my cell phone, what was happening on it, its notifications, and my need to reach for it. I knew I didn’t have my phone on me, but I was still reaching for it. At that moment, I knew I needed to set boundaries and detach from my phone. When I left the service, I grabbed my phone and turned off about 60% of my notifications. Now I try to unplug, set boundaries, and live in the present moment as often as I can.
<a href="https://miravalresorts.com/digital-mindfulness/">Learn more about Digital Mindfulness</a>
Another thing that I’ve learned at Miraval is to work on communication. I am a person who will take on the world and put everything on my shoulders. There’s a meme that says, “what is harder to say? I love you, I’m sorry, Worcestershire, or I need help.” For me, it was “I need help.” I can get inside my head or feel overwhelmed, but I have learned to lean into my support at Miraval Austin. I’ve learned it’s okay to ask for help, ask for more time, or even say that I cannot complete a task—as long as the communication is there.
What is the best part of your day?
It is very rewarding to see guests get what they need from Miraval. I get my true fulfillment assisting my colleagues and ensuring they care for our guests. I strive not to make things transactional, especially if my colleagues reach out for guidance. It has been busy, so if a colleague reaches out, I try to ask an off-topic question to see how they are doing and catch up a bit. I’ll even send a message to lighten the mood or make someone smile.
How does Miraval help you create a work-life balance?
By constantly reminding colleagues to check in with how they are feeling. Sometimes I get so caught up in the busy flow of working that I forget to check in with myself, but my team continually reminds me to take time for myself, rest, and rejuvenate. Recently, I have told myself that I don’t need to tackle everything at once and that some tasks can wait until tomorrow. Miraval also encourages us to use our paid time off.
Is there a story you would like to share that people at work might not know about you?
Boxing &#038; MMA fighting is my passion and a great way to destress! People think that fighters are always angry or have to be filled with rage to perform at a high level, but that is not always the case. Acting out of anger gets you nowhere. Even in a fight, you need to stay calm, cool, and collected, or you can get yourself into trouble quickly. My goal is to participate in at least one MMA or boxing match!
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What is your Miraval “i am” word, and how did you choose this word to represent your essence?
“I am” inspirational.
I was inspired to choose this word because of the late Nipsey Hussle, a rap icon who tragically lost his life in 2019. He didn’t grow up in the best conditions, but he made the most of it, which truly inspired me. He focused on spreading positivity to the community and uplifting people who felt they did not have a chance. He overcame a lot during his short-lived life and used that to build his community and touch lives. When it’s all said and done, life is about inspiring others to want better for themselves, and I try to live like that every day.
<a href="https://miravalresorts.com/blog/the-i-in-miraval/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read about Miraval Resorts “i am” initiative here</a>
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<h3>Celebrating our Colleague “i am” Series</h3>
Stay tuned and keep checking back in this space for an ongoing celebration of our Miraval colleagues. We are excited to shine a light on our colleagues’ “i am” statements in the upcoming months as we share the stories of their unique talents, passions, and personalities. Learn more about how their word informs and balances their work and personal journeys.
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Join Miraval Resorts and Actually Curious in a new series called The Wellness Check-In Series, Virtual Retreat, and Resort Trip Giveaway.

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The Wellness Check-in With Empathy Expert Michael Tennant

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Purchase a copy of the Actually Curious card game by visiting our online shop here.

Join<a href="http://www.miravalresorts.com/"> Miraval Resorts</a> and <a href="https://www.actuallycurious.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Actually Curious</a> in a new series called <a href="https://www.actuallycurious.com/pages/wellnesscheckin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Wellness Check-In</a> Series, Virtual Retreat, and Resort Trip Giveaway.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-15878" src="https://login.miravalresorts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Michael-Tennant-outside-1024x683-1.jpg" alt="Michael Tennant outside on path with trees in background" width="1024" height="683" />
This is Michael Tennant: checking in. I’m the founder of <a href="https://www.curiositylab.io/?_sm_nck=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Curiosity Lab</a> and the creator of the conversation card game, <a href="https://www.actuallycurious.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Actually Curious</a>.
I had the opportunity to spend time with amazing guests at <a href="http://www.miravalarizona.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miraval Arizona</a> in June during a special time of year: Juneteenth weekend. For me, Juneteenth has become an essential holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans and the value of freedom — a value that is universally desired. How are we cultivating freedom in ourselves and the world around us?
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Over the weekend, I facilitated two experiences, The Language of Feelings and Finding Your Values, to help guests connect with their emotions and somatic experience, explore their core values, and draft their own purpose statement. Once we better understand our emotions and core values, we strengthen our ability to show up for ourselves and the people around us.
In honor of Juneteenth, and in honor of all who have struggled and persevered to enable my personal freedom, I’m thrilled to use the platforms and opportunities I have received to advocate for emotional safety and freedom to pursue a life of wellbeing and happiness, for all.
A significant part of my daily wellbeing ritual is saying affirmations such as, “I am grateful” or “I am free.” Affirmations are reminders of what is good, what is trusted, and what are the things that keep us going.
From that place of gratitude, I have partnered with Miraval Resorts on <a href="https://www.actuallycurious.com/pages/wellnesscheckin">The Wellness Check-In</a>, a series created to normalize and encourage wellbeing by checking in with our colleagues and loved ones with an intentional conversation.
Intentional conversations are therapeutic, and we are partnering to show how Actually Curious, the game I created, can help facilitate conversations that promote your wellbeing and deepen your connection with yourself and others.
Stay tuned for a new video series The Wellness Check-In, where I get to have an intentional chat with some of <a href="http://www.miravalresorts.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miraval Resorts’</a> specialists. I provide a space for them to relax, open up, and receive the support they so generously give to thousands of Miraval guests.
It takes a village to remain resilient and abundant, and we want to support each other using empathy to supercharge our collective mental wellbeing.
Inspired by The Wellness Check-In series, I have designed a self-guided virtual wellness retreat, using my Five Phases of Empathy model to teach how empathy can be used to gain greater resilience, happiness, and freedom in your life.
Over the course of five weeks, you’ll receive weekly affirmations and exercises that will help you slow down, gain more clarity around your personal core values, and increase your mental wellbeing. You will also automatically be entered to win a three-night retreat to the<a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/resorts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Miraval Resorts location</a> of your choice (valued at $6600).
<h3><a href="https://www.actuallycurious.com/pages/wellnesscheckin">Enter to Win</a></h3>
<a href="https://www.actuallycurious.com/pages/wellnesscheckin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sign up</a> for the virtual wellness retreat, follow along through <a href="https://www.instagram.com/actuallyc_rious/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram </a>and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-tennant/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn</a>, and receive tips on using self-empathy to unlock greater wellbeing and emotional freedom in your life and the world around you.
I look forward to checking in with you at the virtual wellness retreat and am excited to explore empathy, purpose, and abundance alongside Miraval Resorts and community members like you.
<h3 class="has-text-align-center has-black-color has-text-color has-background">The Wellness Check-In Series</h3>
Our mission is to provide a guide anyone can follow and create a safe space for open-hearted discussion about the things that inspire, motivate, and make us feel grateful. It is our ambition to give you the tools and inspiration to spark deep conversations at the dinner table, in the workplace, or when you need to show up as an empathetic listener for loved ones, colleagues, or someone who simply needs to be heard.
Watch the first The Wellness Check-In with Michael Tennant and Tariq Pinkston below:
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 By Michael Tennant

One of the best parts about summer is the opportunity to spend more time outdoors

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Miraval Berkshires Yoga In The Heart Of Nyc

Learn More about Miraval's experiences

One of the best parts about summer is the opportunity to spend more time outdoors. Longer days filled with warmer weather and a sense of carefreeness harken back to that childhood feeling when schools were out, and the possibilities for fun seemed endless.
Summer gatherings in the park were always ideal for leisurely afternoons and evenings, taking in golden hour sunsets or basking under the stars. I was excited to learn about <a href="http://www.miravalberkshires.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miraval Berkshires</a>‘ partnership with New York City <a href="https://bryantpark.org/activities/yoga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bryant Park’s Summer Yoga Series</a>. After being on hiatus for a few years due to the pandemic, the yoga series was brought back due to popular demand, offering free classes to the public through August 24, 2022.
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I was lucky enough to attend the opening night’s event at Bryant Park on May 25, and join hundreds of fellow New Yorkers, visitors, and yoga lovers for an invigorating evening of wellbeing and mindfulness. Rows and rows of yoga enthusiasts came together to stretch, feel grounded, and flow through an upbeat yoga practice led by Miraval Berkshires Specialist Shannan Hoff Weber.
Similar to how every yoga and mediations session begins at<a href="https://www.miravalberkshires.com/experiences/activities/yoga-fitness/yoga/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Miraval Berkshires Resort &#038; Spa</a>, participants start by setting an <a href="https://miravalresorts.com/blog/wellbeing-with-intention/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">intention </a>for their practice. I intended to be fully present and express my gratitude for reconnecting to the city’s energy and taking in all the happy faces rolling out their yoga mats, ready to move and groove to music on a perfect New York summer evening.
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I was overcome with a profound sense of appreciation, witnessing hundreds of individuals move in sync through a series of yoga poses in a beautiful outdoor space. A few years ago, being a part of a gathering of this size felt impossible. And now, we have the opportunity to gather and celebrate the sheer joy of connecting with each other. That is the beauty of setting an intention and having that emotional energy flow through you as you move and stretch yourself physically.  I hope anyone fortunate to be in New York City this summer will take advantage of this complimentary activity brought to you by Miraval Berkshires.
Bryant Park&#8217;s Summer Yoga Series 
Presented By Miraval Berkshires Resort &#038; Spa 
Tuesdays 10-11am or Wednesdays 6-7pm now through August 24, 2022
For anyone who wants to continue their meditation or yoga practice at home, the <a href="https://miravalresorts.com/blog" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miraval Life in Balance blog</a> has a wealth of wellbeing resources. Explore a curation of <a href="https://miravalresorts.com/blog/intuition-guidance-you-can-trust/">Sensory Journeys</a>, Spirit and Soul meditations, <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/blog/category/cultivate">healthful recipes</a>, <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/blog/category/renew">fitness tips</a>, and more, all designed to help individuals create a life in balance. For those who want to experience a personal wellbeing retreat at Miraval Resorts &#038; Spas. to escape New York City for a bit, Miraval Berkshires is offering roundtrip transportation in partnership with the Hampton Jitney.

By Heather David

Meet Matthew Coelho, Miraval Arizona’s Marketing Manager. Learn how Matthew infuses passion and pride into activism and his work at Miraval, and how you can too.

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I Am Magic

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<h2>Celebrating Our Colleagues</h2>
Meet Matthew Coelho, Miraval Arizona’s Marketing Manager. Learn how Matthew infuses passion and pride into activism and his work at Miraval, and how you can too.
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<h3>Tell us about your journey at Miraval Resorts.</h3>
I came to<a href="http://www.miravalarizona.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Miraval Arizona</a>, almost by accident. After getting engaged, my husband Blake and I moved from Nashville, Tennessee, to Tucson, Arizona, where Blake grew up.
When we arrived in the sunny Sonoran Desert, I saw an Experience Planning position at Miraval, and I instantly applied. In that position, I worked closely with guests to help <a href="https://miravalresorts.com/blog/wellbeing-with-intention/">set intentions</a> and plan their entire visit. I heard so many stories and felt connected to each of them. Sometimes their stories are so impactful that you end up sharing their emotions and tears over the phone. The more I made that connection, the more I realized this is where I should be.
My natural curiosity was heightened, and I wanted to continue my journey and learn more. A sales coordinator opportunity opened up, which let the creative passion in me flow, and led me to the marketing team, where I am today as the Marketing Manager for Miraval Arizona. I like to think of myself as a creator, and I get antsy quickly and easily, so I channel that into collaboration and creation.
<a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/careers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Explore Miraval Resorts Career Opportunities</a>
<h3>What do you enjoy most about being a Miraval colleague?</h3>
There is a true sense of purpose in the work that I am doing here. Working at Miraval Arizona is fulfilling–I get to combine my skills, talent, and passion to create memorable connections and see every day how Miraval truly makes a difference in people’s lives.
More specifically, I was invited to contribute to Miraval’s DEI (Diversity, Equity &#038; Inclusion) initiatives by serving on the council, led by Dina Fenili, Miraval Resorts Director of Sales, Marketing &#038; Brand. This council allows us to craft marketing guidelines to ensure that we stay true to our core beliefs and values of keeping diversity, equity, and inclusion at the forefront.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://login.miravalresorts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Blog_IAmMagic2-1024x427-1.jpg" alt="Matthew and his husband at parade" width="1024" height="427" />
I love these meetings and getting to hear from my colleagues in a safe and open space to share, be vulnerable, and honest. It is so refreshing and empowering to know that as colleagues we have the ability to truly create a welcoming and safe environment for our guests.
<h3>What brought you to Miraval?</h3>
I resonate deeply with self-growth and self-help, which are prevalent themes at Miraval. I struggled a lot growing up while coming to terms with my identity, so creative arts like music, performing, and singing allowed me a medium to get out of my head. Reading many self-help books allowed me to understand myself more intimately and become more conscious of who I was at the core and in my soul, beyond the color of my skin, sexual orientation, religion, or gender identity. I learned to become acquainted with the observer within me and get to know that part of the self, behind the ego, where transformation begins.
<h3>Matthew’s Must Reads</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&#038;&#038;p=5da6147fda12f1764a03d87dfc4507496fa1ace4e3c30638910c43b469d38cabJmltdHM9MTY1NDcxMzcwNCZpZ3VpZD0zZWQ2NDk2ZC1lNTc4LTRmN2EtYTIwZC1jYzFhMWM0ODczZGYmaW5zaWQ9NTIxOA&#038;ptn=3&#038;fclid=a4f11c87-e75a-11ec-827c-aecb1bc17410&#038;u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYW1hem9uLmNvbS9Qb3dlci1Ob3ctR3VpZGUtU3Bpcml0dWFsLUVubGlnaHRlbm1lbnQvZHAvMTU3NzMxNDgwOA&#038;ntb=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Power of Now</a>: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Toll</li>
<li><a href="https://www.miguelruiz.com/the-four-agreements" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Four Agreements </a>by don Miguel Ruiz</li>
<li><a href="http://bendeckermeditation.com/books" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Modern Spirituality:</a> A Practical Guide to the Heart of Mindfulness, Meditation, and the Art of Healing, by Ben Decker</li>
<li><a href="https://brenebrown.com/book/daring-greatly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Daring Greatly:</a> How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, Brene Brown</li>
<li><a href="https://www.alysonstoner.com/e-book-landing-page" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mind Body Pride: 7-Step Guide to Deeper Inner Connection</a> (100% of proceeds go to LGBTQ+ youth wellness)</li>
</ul>
<h3>What keeps you here?</h3>
What keeps me here is recognizing the importance of having accessible tools, resources, and programming and knowing that I get to be a part of many people’s journeys behind the scenes. I feel like this is more than just a job or even a typical career in the hospitality or travel industry. I’d say my colleagues and I work in an environment that most people dream about. I don’t think that will ever be lost on me, and I am really grateful. 
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<h3>What is the best part of your day?</h3>
I appreciate the wellness walks at the resort – feeling the warm sun as it reflects from the water features and hearing the birds sing. I like gazing at rows of cairns guests make during mindful breaks in their day and walking past smiling faces.
These wellness walks are bright reminders of the beauty that comes after a stressful period—a reminder that even if a day seems to be getting the best of me, I can always turn it around with a walk.
<h3>How does Miraval help you create a work-life balance?</h3>
Miraval provides many <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/careers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">benefits to their colleagues</a>, everything from providing wellbeing resources to remote work options. This is great because it allows us to plan and integrate part of our everyday home life when needed for appointments, errands, or family time. Miraval also allows us to use the resort and experience wellness offerings. We get to benefit from the same <a href="https://www.miravalarizona.com/experiences/activities/well-being/wellness-counseling/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wellness counseling</a>, <a href="https://www.miravalarizona.com/experiences/activities/yoga-fitness/fitness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fitness classes</a>, workshops, and lectures that our guests do and apply those teachings to tend to our own wellbeing.
<a href="https://blog.miravalresorts.com/2022/05/05/the-i-in-miraval/"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://login.miravalresorts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Digital_Social_LinkedIn_IAM2-1024x535-1.jpg" alt="Orange flowers with miraval i and text am" width="1024" height="535" /></a>
<a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/blog/the-i-in-miraval" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read about Miraval Resorts “i am” initiative here</a>
What is your Miraval “i am” word, and how did you choose this word to represent your essence?
I am magic.
I picked magic because it’s a more mystical way of describing what manifestation is. Our Marketing department sometimes has to make magic happen and create materials to translate an intangible experience with words and images. Magic is believing something enough to make it happen. That can be anything from asking myself if I have the strength to make it through the day to wondering if I have the creative energy today to make sure our websites look good. It reminds me to get creative. Choosing magic as my word was an opportunity to reflect and think about the kind of energy I put into the world and who I am.
<h3>Is there a story you would like to share that people at work might not know about you?</h3>
I love to write and record my own music; it keeps me grounded. Writing and being in the studio are therapeutic for me. My husband and I met through the music community in Los Angeles, and we’ve written music for many artists, including our own projects. When we were creating our wedding playlist, we realized how little music there was for a same-sex wedding space, so we wrote<a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/10nEq1x2RDBWA3xAmP90CS?si=GP3f2i8XQ96gYeDl7PeCsg&#038;nd=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Everything</a> – a song for ourselves that felt authentic to our love. Today, we receive many messages online from people worldwide (including other bisexual, gay men, or anyone who identifies as male) who have danced to it at their wedding.
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://login.miravalresorts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Matthew-Coelho-6.jpg" alt="Matthew Coelho playing the guitar and singing" width="1920" height="1080" />
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://login.miravalresorts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Matthew-Coelho-5.jpg" alt="A group of friends making music together in studio" width="960" height="720" />
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://login.miravalresorts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Matthew-Coelho-3-edited.jpg" alt="Matthew Coelho and husband getting married, dancing the first dance in front of people" width="2048" height="1151" />
Blake and I are so thrilled to be starting our family as we navigate our <a href="https://www.blakeandmatthewadopt.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adoption journey</a>. We were recently legally approved by the state of Arizona to become adoptive parents. We have always known we wanted to be dads! We look forward to opening our home and hearts to share our love, and it’s been so great with the support we’ve received. My Miraval colleagues have been supportive and always ask about updates, sharing in the excitement.
It’s nice to know that I’m accepted for who I am, especially when so many anti-LGBTQ+ bills are being supported in courtrooms across the country, and hate crimes have been rising. It’s not always safe to be out in the world, fully expressing myself as a bisexual man, but I’m glad that Miraval is a safe place to be me.
<h3>Matthew’s Favorite Organizations &#038; Resources:</h3>
<ul>
<li> <a href="http://www.hrc.org/">Human Rights Campaign</a>: The Human Rights Campaign envisions a world where every member of the LGBTQ+ family has the freedom to live their truth without fear, and with equality under the law.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.thetrevorproject.org/">The Trevor Project</a>: The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.thetrevorproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/How-to-Support-Bisexual-Youth.pdf">How to Support Bisexual Youth</a> – Guidebook by The Trevor Project</li>
<li><a href="http://www.glaad.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GLAAD</a>: GLAAD (Gay &#038; Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) is an American non-governmental media monitoring organization, founded as a protest against defamatory coverage of gay and lesbian people.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Would you like to share something about your ancestry, family, culture, or background?</h3>
My dad moved to the United States when he was 12 from India. I was fortunate enough to visit India for the first time when I was 15 with four of my cousins. My aunt and uncle are Christian musicians who perform worldwide to raise funds for various organizations in Singapore and India. So, when they planned a tour, they asked if we were interested in learning more about our culture. I joined them, and we traveled around India for two weeks by planes, trains, rickshaws, and motorcycles. I saw the Taj Mahal and the Ganges River and even saw where my grandfather grew up in the city of Tuticorin.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://login.miravalresorts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_0892-1024x768-1.jpg" alt="Group photo in front of white temple in India" width="1024" height="768" />
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At 21, I went back to India with my dad and his brothers to see the town he grew up in. Both of these experiences were incredibly eye-opening, and I will always feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to experience my family’s vibrant culture. I will always be thankful for the trips that taught me about values, the importance of relationships in my life, and gratitude.
<h3>Celebrating our Colleague “i am” Series</h3>
Stay tuned and keep checking back in this space for an ongoing celebration of our Miraval colleagues. We are excited to shine a light on our colleagues’ “i am” statements in the upcoming months as we share the stories of their unique talents, passions, and personalities. Learn more about how their word informs and balances their work and personal journeys.

When the world needed it most, mental wellbeing became Miraval Resorts’ primary focus in 2021. Our renewed commitment to ...

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Miraval Resorts Partnership with NAMI, the National Alliance of Mental Health

When the world needed it most, mental wellbeing became Miraval Resorts’ primary focus. Our renewed commitment to elevating mental wellness includes the ongoing development of tools guests can use to re-center their minds and souls, ground them in nature, and boost their spirits.
We are proud to partner with NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a non-profit, grassroots organization providing no-cost advocacy, education, and support to anyone affected by mental illness. Together, the Miraval Resorts and NAMI teams have launched a series of events and programs that aim to highlight the intersection of mindfulness and mental wellbeing, an essential juncture in today’s world.
“Throughout its 25-year history, the Miraval brand has helped countless guests re-center their minds and souls, create balance in their lives, and elevate their spirits,” says Susan Santiago, head of Miraval operations at Hyatt. “We are all experiencing unpredictable, unprecedented events that can make us feel uncertain and out of balance. Our new NAMI partnership strengthens our mission of helping people restore that balance. Together we can help people build resilience and foster peace of mind in any situation.”
This year, our newly created series of 12 complimentary Sensory Journey videos (Listen and watch below) features autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) techniques. Our Mantras &#038; Meditations collection offers guided meditations created and narrated by award-winning Miraval Resorts specialists.
Miraval’s continued commitment to supporting NAMI throughout 2022 has included direct support and additional philanthropic initiatives to increase mental wellbeing awareness and widen access to helpful resources.
Read more about our new Thought Leader series on Well Defined &#8211; <a href="https://welldefined.com/miraval-launches-thought-leader-series-to-empower-both-guests-and-staff/">Miraval Launches Thought Leader Series to Empower Both Guests and Staff </a>
“We are delighted to work with the Miraval brand, a pioneer in the wellness space that has long championed mindfulness and its role in fostering a positive outlook,” said NAMI Chief Development Officer Jessica Edwards. “We’re excited to tap into the many knowledgeable experts and wealth of resources at Miraval Resorts as we continue our mission to advocate for and support all individuals and families affected by mental illness.”
As we approach the holidays, we wish all our readers a season of joy. As we celebrate our festive moments, we hope you can join us in supporting the essential work of organizations like NAMI, who strive tirelessly to educate the public and elevate awareness of mental wellbeing and mindfulness.
For more information about NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, please visit <a href="http://www.nami.org">www.nami.org</a>.
<h2>Sensory Journeys</h2>
As part of our mission to share mental wellbeing resources with the world, Miraval in partnership with NAMI, The National Alliance on Mental Illness, has created a new video series that feature meditations, mantras, and soundscapes for serenity.
<a href="https://vimeo.com/536503881">Miraval Berkshires Soundscape For Environment</a>
<a href="https://vimeo.com/536498516">Miraval Austin Soundscape For Breath</a>
<a href="https://vimeo.com/536501409">Miraval Arizona Soundscape For Resilience</a>
<a href="https://vimeo.com/536500300">Miraval Berkshires Meditation For Environment</a>
<a href="https://vimeo.com/536511608">Miraval Austin Meditation For Breath</a>
<a href="https://vimeo.com/536507765">Miraval Arizona Meditation For Resilience</a>
<a href="https://vimeo.com/536502607">Miraval Berkshires Soundscape For Community</a>
<a href="https://vimeo.com/536506401">Miraval Austin Soundscape For Appreciation</a>
<a href="https://vimeo.com/536505097">Miraval Arizona Soundscape For Body</a>
<a href="https://vimeo.com/536499360">Miraval Berkshires Meditation For Community</a>
<a href="https://vimeo.com/536509909">Miraval Austin Meditation For Appreciation</a>
<a href="https://vimeo.com/536512401">Miraval Arizona Meditation For Body</a>

America’s most famous horse race, the Kentucky Derby, traditionally falls on the first Saturday in May, which is right around the corner. 

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Beyond The Race

Book your next Miraval Berkshires getaway here

<h2>Miraval Berkshires &#038; Derby Day</h2>
America’s most famous horse race, the Kentucky Derby, traditionally falls on the first Saturday in May, which is right around the corner. When it came to attending turn-of-the-century horse races in America, the bigger the hat, the better the luck.
If you are visiting <a href="http://www.miravalberkshires.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miraval Berkshires</a>, you might want to pack your most oversized wide-brimmed hat because we plan on celebrating in style.
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<h3>A Nod to Tradition</h3>
No, we aren’t taking you to the races, but we are honoring an institution through the Miraval lens. In a nod to a bygone era of gilded glamor, we raise a glass to tradition and tip our hats to the upcoming summer season. In this moment of in-between, we can indulge in a cool sprig of mint, ride through bucolic hills, and journey to a place beyond first-place winners, where second chances are plentiful.
At the beginning of May in the Gilded Age of the late 19th century, the Berkshires would be preparing to receive its high-society summer residents. Red columbine, rockcress, and bearberry’s lantern-shaped blooms dotted the landscape as the mountainside blossoms basked in sunshine.
Prominent New York families—including Vanderbilts, Astors, Morgans, and Carnegies—built estates and visited high-society friends in opulent country homes here, called “cottages” (where cottages were defined as a secondary residence with a minimum of 30 rooms and 20 acres). A stately horse and carriage would meet visitors at the Stockbridge train station, ready to whisk them away to their various homes.
Our own <a href="https://www.miravalberkshires.com/accommodations/wyndhurstmansion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wyndhurst Mansion</a> was one such cottage and continues to host city-dwellers seeking respite and renewal in Western Massachusetts’s rolling hills and peaceful pastures.
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-15965" src="https://login.miravalresorts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FINAL-070-683x1024-1.jpg" alt="black horses on meadow" width="683" height="1024" />
<h3>A Slower Pace</h3>
This Saturday, guests will gather at the Mansion, donning outfits ranging from comfy casualwear to their Derby best, to join <a href="https://www.miravalberkshires.com/experiences/explore/specialists/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cultural Connoisseur Nick Grimaldi</a> for an informal historical chat while sipping a cool mint julep, Miraval-style. Miraval <a href="https://www.miravalberkshires.com/experiences/explore/specialists/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Animal Connections Specialist Jen Leahey</a> will then whisk guests away to the Meadowview Acres Farm, home to horses, donkeys, chickens, goats, owls, bees, and falcons.
At the Meadowview Farm, Jen will offer a brief background about our co-evolution with horses and the history of horseracing, an ancient sport with aristocratic ties.
Take this opportunity to meet Captain, a rescued racehorse who found a slower pace and second chance in our <a href="https://www.miravalberkshires.com/experiences/activities/sustainable-living/farm-garden/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Animal Connections program</a>. He wasn’t fast enough for the track and was sold to a young woman who bought him to be a jumper. After developing a knee injury, Captain came to Meadowview Acres Farm, where he is free leased to us from the family who owns him.
Here, like our human guests, he will get the support, care, and comfort he needs at this stage of his life. It’s a fast and tough life on the track, and Captain is happy to be in a new place with a deliberate pace, where he can develop trust, slow down, and join our Miraval Herd. Like so many of us, he is in transition and getting used to a new beginning and a new era.
<blockquote>“Captain,” says Jen, “reminds us that life is not about crossing the finish line. We all have gifts to share, no matter where we are in the race.”</blockquote>
<h3>A Sip of Serenity</h3>
Since the early 19th century, juleps and racetracks were intertwined, as sterling silver julep cups were awarded as trophies to first-place jockeys. In 1877, famous Polish actress Helena Modjeska visited the Derby. Some say that she liked the exceedingly large mint julep (meant for sharing with a group) so much that she kept it for herself and ordered another. In 1939 it became the event’s official drink and has become an official element of the present-day Derby ceremony and Winner’s Party.
“The mint julep,” says Nick, “is one of America’s most delicious and refreshing drinks and one best sipped at an unhurried pace. If you let the ice slowly melt inside the frosted tin, it fuses that orange-infused bourbon with the oil from our own farm’s fresh mint into an elixir of bliss. It’s a drink that might have been created for the fast world of races and raucous crowds, but it’s best when savored and sipped in a serene place like this.”
<h2><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-15963" src="https://login.miravalresorts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/AdobeStock_454750302-683x1024-1.jpeg" alt="Glas of mint cocktail with ice" width="683" height="1024" /></h2>
<h2>Mint Julep Recipe</h2>
<h3>Ingredients:</h3>
<ul class="has-black-color has-text-color">
<li>8 mint leaves</li>
<li>4 cups Bourbon*</li>
<li>1 large orange</li>
<li>2 tablespoons local honey</li>
<li>3-5 cardamom pods (black or green)</li>
<li>1 cinnamon stick</li>
<li>Sparkling water</li>
</ul>
<h2>Orange-Infused Bourbon</h2>
<h3>Directions:</h3>
<ol class="has-black-color has-text-color">
<li>Pour 4 cups of bourbon in a large jar.</li>
<li>Slice one orange and place on grill or grill pan to get a light char.</li>
<li>Place orange slices and ¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice in a pan</li>
<li>Add honey, cardamom pods, and cinnamon stick and bring mixture to a boil.</li>
<li>Turn off heat and let cool.</li>
<li>Add mixture to bourbon, cover, and preserve in a dark cabinet for three days.</li>
<li>Remove cardamon and cinnamon.</li>
</ol>
<h2>Mint Julep</h2>
<h3>Directions:</h3>
<ol class="has-black-color has-text-color">
<li>Shake 2 ounces of orange-infused bourbon with ice and 2 ounces of mint-infused sparkling water.</li>
<li>Pour into a metal mint julep mug filled with crushed ice and garnish with fresh mint sprig.</li>
<li>Enjoy!</li>
</ol>
*For a spirit-free version, substitute any variation of black ice-tea for bourbon.
<a href="http://www.miravalberkshires.com/"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-15980" src="https://login.miravalresorts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/DigitalAd_BlogAds_728x906.jpg" alt="Person in climbing gear on rope" width="971" height="120" /></a>

When smartphones arrived in 2007, we didn’t anticipate negative consequences because we loved their benefits so much.

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Digital Mindfulness: Mental Wellbeing

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Guest post by Catherine Price is Miraval’s Digital Wellness Ambassador, founder of Screen/Life Balance

To read Both/And is to follow a life’s journey that is both unfathomably foreign and strikingly familiar. 

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Huma Abedin, Both/and: A Life In Many Worlds

<h2>What We’re Reading</h2>
To read Both/And is to follow a life’s journey that is both unfathomably foreign and strikingly familiar. I read this book on my last visit to <a href="http://www.miravalresorts.com/">Miraval</a>, sitting in my favorite fireside spot at The Roost. It was snowing in April – also a time of both/and in the Berkshires: a day that feels like both winter and spring, a sky holding both snow and sunshine. It’s a title that invites us to accept both parts of a whole simultaneously, two fragments unaccustomed to sharing space.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://login.miravalresorts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/HYT-Miraval-Winter-Roost-3-1024x683-1.jpg" alt="Woman in robe sitting on window reading a book" width="1024" height="683" />
Huma Abedin begins her memoir by telling us that she “grew up surrounded by stories.” And the story she tells engulfs us in a sweeping tale of trust, betrayal, heartbreak, and healing.
Oscar de la Renta, her long-time friend who designed her exquisite wedding gown, once likened her to Scheherazade, the beautiful queen and weaver of stories from “One Thousand and One Nights.” Like Scheherazade, Abedin was called upon—starting as a White House intern and eventually becoming Hillary Clinton’s trusted aid and advisor— to use her wits and skills to think on her feet and fix any situation. She credits her mother for instilling this trait in her.
<div id="attachment_15971" style="width: 1030px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15971" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://login.miravalresorts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/02-35-Insert.jpg" alt="Michelle Obama holding baby, Huma Abedin, Hillary Clinton " width="1020" height="814" />Photo by: Sonya Herbert/The Obama White House</div>
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It’s fitting that Ms. Abedin is visiting <a href="https://www.miravalberkshires.com/event/what-were-reading-with-huma-abedin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miraval Berkshires on Mother’s Day</a>, a time to honor the women who loved us into being, whether they appeared in our lives as biological mothers, chosen nurturers, or found mentors. A large part of her story roots itself in the firm foundation her parents gave her and the tradition she continues as a mother. She dedicates her memoir to her parents, who taught her to “live fully,” and her son, who taught her “to love unconditionally,” telling her story as both mother and daughter, storyteller and listener.
In an early chapter called “A Point of Light,” Abedin mourns the loss of her father and honors her mother’s remarkable resilience. “If I needed to bring cupcakes to school the next day, I would fall asleep to the smell of baking from the kitchen. If I needed an outfit for a costume party, she sat down at her sewing machine and whirred away.” She reflects on the impact her mother had on her and on the scores of other women she inspired. “She had found her calling: mentoring a generation of women to find their own purpose, whatever that might be. She was, in other words, a total badass.”
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://login.miravalresorts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/01-15-Insert.jpg" alt="Huma Abedin and her mother" width="583" height="815" />
<h3>No Accidents</h3>
Abedin grew up in a home filled with books and newspapers. When she was young, her father brought her a copy of Silas Marner by George Eliot (a.k.a. Mary Ann Evans). “Abbu,” she asked her father in confusion, “why didn’t she just use her own name?” He explained that women weren’t taken seriously by writers in the Victorian era but presciently told her, “When you write your book, you will use your own name. And everyone will take it seriously.”
She fulfilled her father’s prediction, but she couldn’t have known then that her own life would return to parallel themes of the book she held in her hands as a child. At Miraval, we often say there are no accidents, but there is a strong sense of synchronicity. When we seek connection and coherence, the signs appear.
It is no surprise that this story she recalls from her youth is significant for both its author (who wrote as both man and woman) and its narrative arc. Silas Marner is also a weaver whose story’s warp and weft reveal betrayal by a best friend and a broken heart. Secrets, society, community, and companionship take Silas on a similar journey of loss, integration, parenthood, and purpose. Written in 1861, it’s a novel people might have read right here on the <a href="https://www.miravalberkshires.com/accommodations/wyndhurstmansion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wyndhurst Mansion’s</a> Great Lawn in a bygone era of Gilded-Age grandeur.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://login.miravalresorts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/JamesBaigrie_Wyndhurst_exterior_630-copy-1920x922-1.jpg" alt="Sunset " width="1920" height="922" />
Abedin tells us we can slip the shackles of our saddest stories by choosing how we respond to them. We have agency over what endures, and the message we extract from our narrative is what lingers. It imprints onto our minds, stamps itself on our spirits, and has the power to bind or unburden our bodies. She has made her choice in these pages, and what emerges and endures is love. It is presence, and it is hope.
And even if we don’t have the same blessing of mother or mentor that Huma had, we can become that source for others. We can mother ourselves; we can look to our highest selves to serve—to share with others and create a sisterhood of solidarity, a brotherhood of balance.
<h3>Growth Through Transformation</h3>
The book begins with a chapter called “Denial” and ends with “Suffering is Optional.” It’s a familiar arc for our Miraval Family. How many of us first came to Miraval wishing we could disown our most difficult moments?
It takes several hundred pages of Both/And to move from that opening chapter title to a space where agency is earned by facing fear, pain, and misfortune. Abedin propels us from the stasis of denial to a path through pain by holding hardship in the same hand as hope. We create action through authenticity. Suffering, Abedin learns, might be on the trail she has had to hike, but it’s not where she chooses to pitch her tent.
At Miraval Resorts, we often talk about transformative learning and how much of that learning happens outside of our comfort zones. Abedin has spent plenty of time in discomfort. As she puts it, “I have walked through fire and it didn’t destroy me.”
Her emotional journey of peaks and potholes—from the glow of first love to the dull ache of despair and back to a mindset of recovery—takes us through the public arena of politics and scandal, historical triumphs, and tabloid tragedies. Yet beyond the fascinating unfurling of global events, the glimpses of her growth and humanity resonate and rise above the borders of geography to expand our notions of faith, authenticity, and identity.
<div id="attachment_15969" style="width: 621px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15969" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-15969" src="https://login.miravalresorts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/02-43-Insert.jpg" alt="Huma Abedin and son holding hands, walking in hallway" width="611" height="815" />Photo courtesy of Opal Vadhan</div>
We can tell our stories—not just for survival like Scheherazade or in secret like Silas Marner, but with both gratitude and growth. We can read Abedin’s book and grasp the idea that without the husband who broke her heart, she wouldn’t have the son who mends it every day. We don’t get to choose what brings light or loss into our lives, and we don’t get to parse out the parts we prefer. We celebrate our bounty alongside our blunders. And, Abedin reminds us, we are better for it.
We all have our guides who help us set our <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/journeys-with-intention/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">intentions</a>. At Miraval, we reach out to outdoor coaches to harness us safely when we fly through treetop <a href="https://www.miravalberkshires.com/experiences/activities/outdoor-adventures/challenge-course/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">challenge courses</a>. Specialists hold space with us in spiritual practice, breathwork, introspection, and <a href="https://www.miravalberkshires.com/experiences/activities/well-being/meditation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meditation</a>.
Abedin, throughout her story, is guided by her Islamic faith, American identity, and an unwavering belief in her purpose and passion.
“True believers in Islam are not expected to be passive supplicants. We are taught to pursue knowledge, to question, to push ourselves to greater understanding of the purpose in our lives…You are not making a prayer to just leave it all in God’s hands. No, you make an intention. Whatever it is.”
This book offers a living example of mindfulness in motion. Abedin examines each aspect of her life, from her origins and ancestry to the experiences that shaped her present day. Each chapter makes us feel her losses without wallowing in a past of ruminations and resentments or pining for a future out of reach. Even as she faces the barrage of reporters and riffraff who might have made a less grounded person waver into the land of would-haves and should-haves, she keeps us in the here and now of every moment. We jet-set with her to lofty locales and larger-than-life social circles, and we free-fall at her side through the follies of life’s messier or mundane moments.
“So,” she asks, ”what is on the other side? For one, resilience, as I have seen in my brave little boy. And maybe something else.”
That something else is a thing we all seek—something beyond our stories, beyond our suffering—that awakens a sense of gratitude inside of us.
“Each day I get to wake up healthy and whole,” Abedin writes. “I get to love and laugh. To work and learn. To continue to explore the wonder and adventure that is motherhood. To welcome new relationships with an openness and excitement I never allowed myself before. Each day brings a new experience, a new challenge, a new opportunity, and a new level of happiness, satisfaction and yes, maybe even eventually—bliss.”
Like the best storytellers, Abedin helps us understand our mind’s power to rewrite the narrative we are given, transform how we express it, and integrate its wisdom into our hearts.
When I turned the last page of Both/And, I found myself clutching the covers and closing my eyes, doing that thing we do when we don’t want a story to end. We can only hope that Abedin shares the next chapter of her tale with us and takes us on another journey into her many worlds. And we hope it’s another yarn that is both wondrous and wild.
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Miraval Berkshires is honored to welcome Huma Abedin and feature her New York Times best-selling memoir, Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds, as part of our “What We’re Reading” series.
Visit Miraval Berkshires May 6-8, 2022 to meet Huma, discuss lessons and themes from her book, and participate in Miraval activities together.
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Araxe Hajian is a senior writer who covers wellness stories and specialist offerings at Miraval Resorts &#038; Spas.

With over 50 million people transitioning from traditional office settings to remote work, teams have had a lot of learning and adjusting to do. There is no playbook for keeping your team motivated...

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Meeting For Work, Reconnecting For The Soul

Interested in bringing your team to Miraval Resorts for your next retreat? Learn more <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/groups-retreats" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> or request a proposal today.

Request a Proposal

With over 50 million people transitioning from traditional office settings to remote work, teams have had a lot of learning and adjusting to do. There is no playbook for keeping your team motivated, excited, and engaged in your brand mission. The era of collaborative brainstorming in conference rooms or innovative ideas springing from impromptu coffee and lunch breaks has officially ended.
Our new workplace-normal consists of video conferences where you may or may not see the face of your fellow participants. You may spend 40 hours a week virtually with teammates you have never physically met. Or you may be selling a product you have never experienced firsthand. There is no longer a physical connection between the people and places that are foundational to a company or brand.
Sure, we have found ways to stay connected. Video happy hours, anyone? Entire conversations composed in GIF form with your work bestie? (If I’m being honest, that was already becoming the norm pre-pandemic). But really, how long can we function as collaborative and creative teams who feel fulfilled and purpose-driven in the sometimes isolating existence of working from home.
Let’s face it, remote workplaces and hybrid schedules are likely here to stay, making in-person gatherings with teammates all the more important and special.
So, how do you make the most of the in-person time spent with your team?
One option is to embark on a wellness journey together. One led by specialists who create supportive environments and offer truly unique activities that open hearts, inspire minds, and invigorate spirits. These activities serve as the foundation for building stronger bonds, fomenting creative new strategies, and seeing challenges from a new perspective.
Read on to learn about my team’s recent wellness retreat at <a href="https://www.miravalberkshires.com/">Miraval Berkshires</a>, our takeaways, and how it helped us <a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/berkshires/groups-retreats">reconnect as a team</a>, not only in person but on a deeply empathetic, soulful level.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-16004" src="https://login.miravalresorts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG-4264-edited.jpg" alt="Miraval team on team retreat" width="2000" height="1250" />
<h2>Team Retreat at Miraval Berkshires: The Itinerary &#038; Responses</h2>
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<h3>First up: QIGONG</h3>
Class Description: Engage in the moving meditation of Qigong, an ancient Chinese healing art integrating controlled breathing, posture, and movement exercises. 
Explore Miraval Berkshires meditation experiences
“I was so excited to visit Miraval Berkshires and see my whole team in person (some for the first time) and share these experiences with them. Everything from meals together, collaboration during work, and trying new experiences was an amazing bonding experience that was truly missed these past few years.”
– Syrena Welch, Brand &#038; Content Manager
“The meditation specialist helped us reconnect with our inner peace. It was such a grounding way to start the day. We were guided to let go of stress and harness the positive energy that permeates this property.”
– Heather David, Director of Digital Marketing
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<h3>Followed by: Annual Oracle Card Reading</h3>
Class Description: Explore the relationship between your own energy and the energy of the Year of the Tiger. Receive your own I Ching card deck and discover your personal theme for the year ahead. Beth Grace guides you through a month-by-month forecast with insights for carving out your most advantageous path as you navigate through the energy of the new year.
<a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/berkshires/experiences/wellbeing">Explore Miraval Berkshires spirit &#038; soul experiences</a>
“This experience was absolutely fantastic. The best part was being with my teammates and getting to know them more personally!”
– Emily Wojtkowski, Marketing Coordinator
“It was fascinating to learn about the subtler aspects of our personalities and how these emerge in work conversations and collaborations. It helped me put myself in my co-workers’ shoes by working together to uncover our individual and collective challenges and successes intuitively with this centuries-old practice.” 
– Araxe Hajian, Senior Writer
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<h3>Ending the day with: Alchemy of Resilience: Breathwork, Mindset &#038; Cold</h3>
Class Description: Learn how to use the alchemy of breathwork, cold immersion, and mindset meditation to build a stronger foundation of resilience and adaptability in stressful times. In this physiological, science-based experience, Mark Gerow guides you with intention setting and transformative breath techniques to help you build resilience and unlock dormant potential.
<a href="https://www.miravalresorts.com/berkshires/experiences/wellbeing">Explore Miraval Berkshires wellness counseling experiences</a>
“Permission to commit as a team to doing something outside our comfort zones together was a powerful bonding experience.”
– Liz Moriarty, Director of Partnerships
“After the breathwork, I felt like I could conquer anything, especially with my team. We all work so closely, and I knew I could trust them during this experience. The support we all showed each other in the pool showed that we are very powerful as a team. We were in it to win it together, and in the end, we all did it and conquered our fears and any feelings of self-doubt.”
– Syrena Welch, Brand &#038; Content Manager
“I truly never understood the power of breathwork and what an impact that would have on me mentally. It was such a release. I didn’t know I could experience peace and exhilaration at the same time!? In the end, I felt so pumped to get in that freezing cold water. It was a powerful bonding experience and something I’ll never forget.”
– Amie Bartel, Senior Graphic Designer
Our few days together at Miraval Berkshires were some of the best “work” days we’ve experienced as a team over the past few years. We were able to recenter ourselves in our brand mission and strengthen our connections as a team. We gained a deeper understanding of each other’s strengths, vulnerabilities, passions, and ideas, all of which we continue to carry forward to support each other’s wellbeing and our work missions. If I could summarize the experience in a GIF, it would be this.
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Work from home statistic. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/10/business/remote-work-office-life.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/10/business/remote-work-office-life.html</a>

By Heather David, Director of Digital Marketing at Miraval Resorts

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Sleep & Stress

Where is your phone while you sleep? If you’re like most people, it’s probably near—or even in—your bed, and you look at it right before you close your eyes at night and right after you open them in the morning. This is a guaranteed way to prevent yourself from getting a good night’s rest.
The reason has to do with our bodies’ chemistry. As the sun sets, our brains release melatonin, a hormone that prepares us for sleep. Exposing our brains to any type of light right before bedtime disrupts this process and suppresses melatonin’s release. The “blue” light emitted by screens is particularly problematic: it mimics daylight and has the biggest effects on our bodies’ internal clocks. When you expose yourself to high levels of blue light before bed, you’re telling your body it’s daytime when it’s not. In other words, you’re essentially giving yourself jet lag.
Furthermore, the content most people view before bed often isn’t soothing. You might check email, visit social media, play games, or read the news – all of which are often stimulating, and thus make it harder to fall asleep.
Not only will this make you more tired when you wake up, but too little sleep can upset cortisol levels (a stress hormone)—and anything that gets our cortisol levels out of whack can negatively impact our health.
Here are some tips for how to create better boundaries with your devices so that you can get better sleep.
Get an alarm clock that is not your phone. When your phone is your alarm clock, you are guaranteeing that your phone will be the first thing you interact within the morning—because you are going to need to touch the phone in order to turn off the alarm. This means that whatever messages or notifications are waiting on your phone will dictate how you start your day.
To prevent this from happening, get a standalone alarm clock and create a charging station out of your bedroom—or, at very least, out of arm’s reach. (I also recommend getting a watch while you’re at it—many people use their phones to tell the time. Unfortunately, in addition to the clock, our home screens also show notifications—which puts us at risk of getting sucked into a phone spiral whenever we check the time.)
Then, proactively decide how you want to start your day. For example, you could exercise, or do a short meditation, or savor a cup of coffee—you may be surprised by how much time opens up when you don’t start your day staring at your phone.
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Set a “bedtime” for your phone at least 30 (but ideally 60) minutes before your own. This will help your body recover from screen light—and whatever content you were looking at!—which in turn will make it easier to fall asleep.
Note that this doesn’t mean that you can’t check your phone after its bedtime; it just means that if you want to use it, you have to go to the phone. (In other words, it needs to stay plugged in.)
If you’ve visited Miraval in person, you should have received a special phone “sleeping bag,” which you can use to keep your phone out of sight while it recharges (this will help you recharge, too!). Regardless of whether you have an official “sleeping bag,” I suggest that you charge your phone out of sight, so that it will also stay “out of mind.”
I personally charge my phone in a closet, which means that if I want to use my phone after its bedtime, I have to stand in the closet! Needless to say, this is not very comfortable—and makes it a lot less likely that I’ll get sucked into a spiral of mindless scrolling.
Find an alternative activity that you can do in the evening instead of scrolling through your phone. For example, you could create a daily meditation practice and maintain it with our YouTube channel videos, which include guided meditations and sensory journeys. (To minimize your exposure to blue light, you can turn off the screen and just listen to the audio.)
It’s also helpful to put a book, magazine, or journal on your bedside table where you used to charge your phone. When you automatically reach for your phone, you’ll encounter a reminder of a new habit you’re trying to establish.
Create a calming environment. Keep your sleeping space dark and cool (blackout curtains are helpful); introduce peaceful scents, such as lavender, and colors you find soothing. Ideally, you should not watch television in your bedroom (and neither should your kids)—it can cause the same disruptions to our sleep as our phones. Your bedroom should be a sanctuary, not a stimulant.

Miraval Resorts is proud to honor and celebrate our women partners and collaborators who create space for our guests and colleagues to learn, grow, and thrive.