3 Wellness Resorts Around the State to Visit This Mental Health Awareness Month

One in five adults in the U.S. report experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder every year. To destigmatize diagnoses and diminish barriers to treatment, May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month throughout the country.

This month is a great opportunity to spread awareness about the prevalence and severity of mental health issues in our society while prioritizing our own psychological health. Self-care is an effective tool to empower our mental and physical well-being in a personalized way.

Maintain your holistic well-being at these resorts around Arizona that offer nurturing spa treatments, nourishing food and beverage programs, and therapeutic experiences that stimulate the mind, body and soul.

Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa | Tucson
Set at the base of the stunning Santa Catalina Mountains, Miraval invites every guest to set an individual intention when they set foot on the sweeping 400-acre property. Whether it’s self-reflection, relaxation, stepping outside of a comfort zone or overcoming a transition, trauma or loss, Miraval offers customized itineraries aimed to optimize each guest’s mental, physical and spiritual state. Whether that’s through a restorative treatment at the award-winning Life in Balance Spa, wellness workshops facilitated by spiritual guides, culinary and nutrition classes or outdoor adventures, there’s an activity for every intention. The Vasudhara floating massage – a Miraval exclusive – incorporates Thai massage into a gravity-defying journey that eliminates external stimuli through light-blocking eye shields and calming underwater sounds, encouraging the recipient to be present and peaceful. Discover your dharma – or “life’s purpose” – during an immersive class conducted by Jess Holzworth, a spiritual holistic guide and sacred facilitator. The property coexists with the surrounding Sonoran Desert through cohesive landscape and architecture design and a calming, neutral color palette. While guests are certainly permitted to capture meaningful moments on their camera phones, Miraval aims to provide a mindful environment by discouraging the use of digital devices for other purposes. Subtle signs throughout the property remind visitors, “You are here, now.”
Must-Try Meal: Grab a green juice at Palm Court Café, then mosey over to Coyote Moon Bar & Lounge for a house-made plant burger with fresh arugula, onion jam and veganaise on a pretzel bun.
Must-Do Activity: Common Ground: Self-Leadership for Effective Communication allows participants to get up-close-and-personal with Miraval’s equine residents. This transformative two-hour journey teaches guests how to take a horse around a pen without using physical contact or verbal commands, underscoring the importance of body language, emotional intelligence and how our internal biases and behaviors impact our interactions with others.
5000 East, E. Vía Estancia Miraval, Tucson, 855-234-1672, miravalresorts.com/arizona

CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa | Carefree
In addition to a carefully curated environment that blends with the beauty of its natural surroundings, CIVANA stands out for the connection and compassion of its staff. From the servers at onsite restaurant Terras to the attendants at the property’s spa, the employees at CIVANA exude well-being and go above and beyond for guests. Speaking of the spa, it’s one of the property’s crowning achievements – with a special emphasis on the healing elements of H₂O. The spa’s signature hydrotherapy thermal circuit – consisting of hot and cold plunge pools, an invigorating waterfall shower and calming sanarium – allows guests to heal, cleanse and revitalize from the inside out. The Uplift aromatherapy massage aims to generate joy through gentle strokes and mood-boosting scents like grapefruit and jasmine. The property’s newest program, Habit of Happiness, focuses on the connection between mind and body. New classes, activities and experiences provide tools to establish long-term traditions that will translate into everyday habits at home.
Must-Try Meal: Make a meal out of starters like roasted beet hummus and desert guacamole served with a slew of dipping vessels – crudité, za’atar lavosh, pistachio dukkah and crunchy corn chips – at Terras. Stop by Seed for a quick pick-me-up like the iced Mindful Dopamine matcha with strawberry powder and almond milk.
Must-Do Activity: End your day with CIVANA’s Intention Burning Ceremony, which invites participants to write down behaviors or thoughts that are no longer serving them and release them in a grounding ritual with fire and water. Guests are then invited to create space to call in positive traits and tools to align them with the best version of themselves.
37220 Mule Train Rd., Carefree, 480-653-9000, civanacarefree.com

Amara Resort and Spa | Sedona
A recent multimillion-dollar renovation afforded Amara’s lobby, community spaces, spa and guestrooms a refreshed design reminiscent of a refined tree house. This revamp extends to the new and improved swimming area, anchored around the resort’s signature zero-edge infinity pool set against a surreal backdrop of Oak Creek and Snoopy Rock beyond. Signature spa services include the Winds of Change, which incorporates native rattles, herbs, crystals and essential oils to balance chakras and boost relaxation, and Rain Dance – a scalp and body massage using warm oils infused with lavender, rosemary and sage. The resort also offers daily complimentary activities like yoga and stargazing. It’s the perfect denouement to a day of venturing through vortexes – or perhaps enjoying a community dinner at Valley-based event company Cloth & Flame’s newest outdoor location, Venue on the Mesa, which provides panoramic views of Capitol Butte and the Red Rock-Secret Wilderness.
Must-Try Meal: Enjoy farm-fresh fare with a side of awe-inspiring red rock views on the patio at SaltRock Kitchen. The Salt Rock Benedict features smoked salmon and scratch-made avocado salsa and hollandaise. The green juice, an energizing mix of apple, pineapple, kale, spinach, jalapeño, cilantro, ginger and lemon, alone is worth the drive to Sedona.
Must-Do Activity: Rise with the sun and enjoy a Bikram yoga class on the lawn overlooking the pool and imposing red rock peaks peeking out from the trees.
100 Amara Ln., Sedona, 928-282-4828, amararesort.com