‘Tis the season. For family and friends. For dashing through the snow. For giving. That’s the biggie. The spirit of Christmas should not reside in the mall but within us. And not just on one day a year, but each day.

That’s one of the things I love about Canyon Ranch – the generosity and philanthropy of its founders and staff, something that resonates throughout the organization. Countless departments adopt families at Christmas and attempt to fulfill the wishes of the children. Many collect food for the local food bank to fill the families’ bellies as well.

In this organization, however, the spirit of giving back permeates the entire year – both outward and inward. Not only does our compassionate staff volunteer time and resources to organizations near and dear to them, but when a Canyon Ranch “family” member needs help, there’s always a raffle or bake sale to ease the burden.

In this season of joy and wonder, may you find the true meaning of the holiday and spread it out over the entire year. Others will benefit. But the most satisfaction will come back to you.

Happy Holidays to you and your families – and much health and happiness in the New Year.

Until next time,

Roxanne Housley
Vice President of Sales & Strategic Alliances

I, along with many Canyon Ranch Tucson guests, had the thrill of dancing with a star last week. Louis Van Amstel may be best known as a 12-time dance champion, Emmy-nominated choreographer and consummate professional on the hit ABC show Dancing with the Stars, but last week he led his Louis’ Dance Blast cardio class to a packed gym of eager participants. The energy was incredible and the workout was amazing. Dozens of women doing ballroom-dance-type moves to heart-pounding non-stop music – Wow!

And Louis is as nice as he is talented. He graciously posed with every camera-toting guest who wanted a photo with him (including me!). He taught two classes each day for the three he was here – one advanced class to his students who accompanied him to the Ranch, and a more introductory class for those who hadn’t yet been exposed to his vigorous workout.

Louis believes that great dancers are made, not born, which contradicts most theories, including the classic cop-out from people who claim to have “two left feet.” Proof lies in the celebrity contestants on the show who are athletes, singers and actors with no dance experience or training who end up looking almost as professional as their partners by the end of the season. Similar to the Canyon Ranch philosophy which meets people where they are and helps them make enhancements in their lives.

Our hope is to have Louis not only return to Tucson but visit our other locations as well, so stay tuned to our website for an announcement of dates and locations. Until then, dancer wannabes can enjoy the always-popular Gotta Dance! in Tucson December 5 and in Lenox April 6.

Until next time,

Roxanne Housley
Vice President of Sales & Strategic Alliances

Some people might break out in hives at the mere thought of hosting a dinner party for a couple dozen people. Me? I orchestrate them! You may already know that cooking and entertaining are two of my passions. Put them together and I am in heaven – which is why I invited 20 trail-riding friends to a dinner party at my home recently.

I get excited by every aspect of entertaining, starting with menu planning. Great parties need great food – and I try to serve what I know my guests will like. A savvy hostess always tailors the evening – menu, company, ambience – to her guests’ pleasure. Bottom line: it’s the synergy of the people at the party that constitutes a successful event, so it’s important to invite groups who will mix well together. I also like to include friends who know my kitchen, because inevitably they’ll want to help.

In a “past life” I was a wedding planner, and now at the Ranch I often coordinate outside events with partners, so entertaining is second nature to me. Is it a lot of preparation? You bet it is! For me, the satisfaction comes in watching my guests enjoy themselves and each other as a result. And to hear them tell me they can’t wait to come back!

Until next time,

Roxanne Housley
Vice President of Sales & Marketing

I love artichokes and look for recipes that include them. One of my favorites, Artichoke Dip (see recipe below), comes from the Canyon Ranch kitchen and is perfect for this time of year when friends and family are gathering to watch football games or celebrate holidays. It’s another version of the ever-popular (but highly caloric and irresistibly easy to overload on a cracker) Artichoke Parmesan Dip. The Ranch recipe is also baked in the oven until bubbly and served warm as a dip-it-yourself dip – so it’s easy for portions to get way out of whack!

To help manage the calories, I prefer to spread the unbaked dip on baguette slices (you can also use bagel crisps or whole-wheat pita chips) and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for about 12-15 minutes. Before serving, I generally add either fresh basil that has been soaked in balsamic vinegar or thinly sliced Roma tomatoes that have also soaked in balsamic vinegar. This preparation makes serving easy and I know exactly how much dip is going on each slice.

The leftovers – if there are any – can be stored in the refrigerator and warmed in the microwave. This is a great fall recipe that I hope you enjoy as much as I do.

Until next time,

Roxanne Housley
Vice President of Sales & Marketing

Artichoke Dip

1/2 cup low-fat cream cheese
1/2 cup nonfat sour cream
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
1/2 cup chopped green chili
2 cups canned artichoke hearts, drained and rinsed

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Process until smooth and creamy. Add artichokes and pulse until artichokes are chunky.
3. Place dip in an 8-inch baking pan and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until bubbly.

Makes 16 (1/4-cup) servings, each containing approximately:
55 calories
5 gm. carbohydrate
2 gm. fat
8 mg. cholesterol
4 gm. protein
282 mg. sodium
1 gm. fiber

Partners are great – in life, in dancing, and as workout buddies – to provide support, opinions, expertise and camaraderie. In business, strategic partners function in pretty much the same way. And for Canyon Ranch, they serve as an extension of our marketing efforts by helping us reach prospective guests we might not have otherwise been able to access.

Canyon Ranch has been fortunate over the years to strategically partner with amazing companies, organizations and individuals who share our philosophy. For example, Joan Hamburg, WOR-NY radio personality, has been a long-time friend to the Ranch hosting groups to our Lenox property and exposing hundreds of her listeners to a healthier lifestyle. Judith Ripka is not only the name in jewelry, her luxury retail boutiques have served as the sites for a gathering of her clients and ours to hear Canyon Ranch wellness speakers. In a similar vein, the stunning showrooms of Viking Range – the top name in ultra premium indoor and outdoor kitchen appliances and culinary products – have been the locale for several guest-client get-togethers featuring Ranch cuisine and informative speakers.

The Ranch is always open to new and like-minded partners with whom we can share resources and synergy. One of those we are especially excited about is Physique 57, with workout studios in New York and Los Angeles and a vigorous dynamic exercise method that, like Canyon Ranch, can help transform your body.

Strategic partnerships are a natural way to combine efforts for mutual business results.

Until next time,

Roxanne Housley
Vice President of Sales & Marketing

When the doctor told my husband that his ankle replacement surgery would require him to be off his feet, non-weight-bearing for the better part of six weeks, I felt for him. How would this active, independent cowboy adjust? Little did I know that my life was about to take a turn that has left me with much adjustment too.

Roxanne and The General

Eldon has always been the main caretaker for our on-property horses, while I put on my Adrienne Vittadini suit and head off to work. It’s been an arrangement that works beautifully for us. Now, however, instead of blowing my hair and applying makeup first thing in the morning, I can be found in the stable feeding, watering, fly-spraying and cleaning up after our horses. Lovely! I am also now in charge of pool cleaning and plant watering. Thankfully, our daughters have taken on the grocery shopping to alleviate that task from my ever-growing list.

I’ve tried not to let all this get in the way of my workout routine – although I must say that caring for three horses morning and night is a workout in itself! I typically enjoyed getting my exercise in after the work day, but now have had to wake up even earlier to get in my two-mile run in the morning. (Still can’t get myself to use a treadmill – I’ve got to be outdoors!)

Eldon’s doing better each day and for that I am grateful. It will be a while longer, though, until he is able to fully resume the horse & house chores that he does so well. Until then, hand me that shovel … I’ve got work to do!

Until next time,

Roxanne Housley
Vice President of Sales & Marketing

I had a chance to catch up with an old friend, Barbara Dooley from Athens, Georgia, on her recent Canyon Ranch visit. Barbara has been coming to the Ranch since the 80s, which is when I first met her. She started by bringing small groups of friends – and over the years the size of her groups grew as word-of- mouth spread. (These were the days before social media, when you picked up the phone, called your girlfriend and said, “I just had the most fabulous trip and next year you’re coming with me. Period.”)

Barbara is one of the most charismatic women I know and I can’t imagine anyone saying “no” to her – whether she’s reaching out for a fundraising cause or coming to Canyon Ranch. One year, Barbara couldn’t make the trip, so her husband Vince escorted the ladies and they had a ball! Barbara has now turned the group lead over to her daughter Deanna Cook, and Deanna brought her daughter this trip, so we hosted three generations of Dooley women! This generational “relinquishing of the reins” is not uncommon when it comes to groups.

Another wonderful friend, Sara Martineau, will be here later this month with her husband and some of their Dallas friends. Sara is active in Crystal Charity Ball and has helped raise a substantial amount of money for that very worthwhile organization. Sara is a long-time Ranch loyalist and has also brought her children and their spouses too. Sara most definitely embraces a healthy lifestyle and, believe me, it shows!

What a privilege it has been to get to know women like Barbara and Sara during their trips to the Ranch.

Until next time,

Roxanne Housley
Vice President of Sales & Marketing

I’ve been a fan of hard-bound books my whole life – the massive cover, the smell of the pages, the excitement and adventure contained inside. Nothing beats the feel of a great book in your hands when snuggled in bed or curled up by a fire. Even school textbooks had a certain authority to them.

Fast forward to the 21^st century where technology rules the world and time is the great equalizer – when business travel consumes the majority of your life and taking luggage on a plane costs almost as much as the fare itself. When I travel, I tend to stuff my carry-on with at least one or two books, a laptop, bottled water, snacks and all the assorted items you’d expect a woman to have. I’ve been a road warrior for 25 years and the extra weight, particularly on my right shoulder, has gotten downright uncomfortable.

My husband evidently heard me complaining, because on Valentine’s Day he surprised me with a Kindle – one of those great techno-items you use to download and read books. Now, I can carry dozens of books and the weight of my bag never changes! I just finished reading Cutting for Stone and the last of the Stieg Laarson trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest. I love my new, lightweight, self-contained library in a box. Roses for Valentine’s Day just became very passé.

Until next time,

Roxanne Housley
Vice President of Sales & Marketing

Baking has always been one of my passions I developed early on from my grandmother, who never used a measuring tool or recipe. I passed on this loving tradition to my own daughters, by always having something sweet in the oven – cookies, pies, crisps tarts – when they arrived home from school or on the weekends. It’s no wonder their friends always wanted to come to our house!

Of course, the key is always moderation. Baking is one thing – resisting is another! That’s why our family rule is, “You bake, you take.” Baked goods never stayed in the house for long. They became welcome “gifts” at school, work or friends’ homes. That way I could satisfy my love of baking, but not over-satisfy my sweet tooth. It’s a great adage to keep in mind when trying to maintain a weight-conscious environment – and a reminder that you don’t have to give up the things you love in order to stay healthy. And sharing is always appreciated.

Until next time,

Roxanne Housley
VP of Sales & Marketing

In most companies, it’s good to be “in the loop,” but for me at Canyon Ranch, it’s equally important to be “on the loop” …. the two-mile loop, that is. Working at a fitness resort, we get to take advantage of many of the health & wellness offerings. The one I use the most is a two-mile loop trail that weaves around the perimeter of the Tucson property, affectionately called “The Loop.”

Most days in the year, when the weather is beautiful and delightful, I take off walking on the loop after a long day. It provides solace, exercise, beauty of nature and time for reflection. Other times, I enjoy walking it with a colleague – discussing work activities or just gabbing about the latest restaurant we’ve tried or movie we’ve seen, what our kids are up to, etc. It makes the time pass so much more quickly – even when you go around the loop twice like I do!

So find the “loop” in your neighborhood – literally or figuratively – something you enjoy doing alone or with a friend that gets you outdoors, breathing fresh air and engaged in activity.

Until next time,

Roxanne Housley