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When Spa learned about a group of longtime friends

nual trips to Miraval in Tucson, Arizona, we wanted

So we sat down with the ladies (except Nancy and

chimed in by email) over wine and hors d’oeuvres to

scoop on their tradition — and some tips on how to s

Above: One of Miraval’sthree swimming pools.All black-and-white pho-tos are from the SpaGirls’ personal collec-tion; in photo at far left,clockwise from top left,are Vicki, Jerri, Ellen,Carol, Nancy, Barbara,Christy and Cheryl.

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The Day-to-Day Like most of us, these women have

busy schedules lled with work, ami-

lies and other travel commitments. But

this trip has a unique magic or these

childhood riends, giving them time

away rom their hectic lives to reconnect

  with each other and themselves. The

agenda is always the same: There is no

agenda. “We all do whatever we want,”

says Christy Delk, a 51-year-old busi-ness owner, to nods all around. “It just

depends on how you’re eeling that day.”

“I’ve got ve children and am a tness

anatic,” says Nancy Habi, a 49-year-oldlactation consultant. “This trip is all about

throwing mysel into my zone o exercise

and not eeling one ounce o guilt.”

But activity isn’t required i you’re not

in the mood. “On the last trip, Carol had

an injured leg and I had a bad knee so we

 just laid by the pool while everyone else

did activities,” laughs Vicki as she reaches

or the spinach dip. “There’s no pressure

to have to do what everyone else is doing.”

There is one Spa Girls rule: No mat-

ter how you spend your day, everyone

reunites at 6:30 p.m. or drinks and din-

ner. It ’s a highlight or them all. “There

is such good camaraderie among us all

and always lots o laughing,” says Vicki.

“We’re not all alike, and that’s good.”

O course, as with any group o diverse

personalities, it can get chaotic. “All eight

o us were on our last trip,” says Christy.

“That irst night, we just talked reely

around the table. But it’s like a big amily

— everyone can’t chat at once.” So Ellen

Titen-Wojcik, a 52-year-old business

consultant who acts as the overall trip

coordinator or the group, came up with

a solution: the talking spoon. “We pass a

spoon around the table,” Ellen explains.

“Whoever is holding the spoon has the

oor and she has the chance to share her

avorite part o the day, or maybe a unny

experience that took place during the day— something she knows the group would

love to hear.”

Why Miraval? The group roster may shift from year

to year,   but one thing remains true:

The Spa Girls always return to Miraval.

“Have you ever considered going some-

 where else?” we ask, as the waiter pours

more wine. Yes, one year they experi-

mented and went to another spa resort.

(Out o respect, they reuse to tell us

 which one.) While they had a good time,

they all agree — it just wasn’t the same.

“Ater trying the other place, we don’t

have that conversation anymore,” laughs

Ellen. “When you have something so

perect, why would you eel the need to

change it? Miraval eels like home to us.”

One thing they love about Miraval is

the variety o activities. From cooking

demos and hiking outings to yoga andZen spinning (where the instructor gets

 you to release calories and tears), there’s

something or everyone. “Why High was

a great experience,” says Carol Zurcher,

a 47-year-old CPA. “There are three

poles attached by a tightrope; you climb

on the poles and walk toward each other

and meet in the middle. Ellen and I did it

together, and we denitely bonded over

it,” she recalls, sharing a smile with Ellen.

 Another unique ofering is the Equine

Experience. “Through my interactions

Little did Vicki Berman know when she rst visited Miraval that she’d be starting a tradition. “In 2003,

my brother took me for my rst visit,” recalls Vicki, a 51-year-old attorney, as we settle in at the table.

“He owed me a favor, and that was how he paid for it.” A Type-A personality, Vicki took on the experi-

ence as she does most things: wholeheartedly. “When we walked in, [Miraval] had all these activities

listed on the board,” she says. “I think I signed up for all of them!”

She had such a great time that a year later she decided to return — but this time she invited

Jerri Johnson, a 51-year-old dermatologist and her close friend since grade school, to come along.

“Jerri is really active, so I knew she’d love it,” says Vicki. The year after that, they added two more

friends, the year after a few more, and before they knew it, the Spa Girls (eight total) was born. Though

every member doesn’t make the trip every time, at least some portion of the group returns to Miraval

every year to keep the tradition alive.

and body language with the horse, I

learned that I have a tendency to ocus

on the goal instead o the journey,” says

Barbara Hill, a 51-year-old CEO whose

quest or spiritual growth earned her the

nickname The Seeker. (All o the women

have nicknames, which the rest preer to

keep private.)

The treatments are stellar as well. “I

always get a Thai massage,” says Ellen.

“I’ve tried it multiple places and none

compare. But I’ll also go to my avorite

massage therapist and try whatever sherecommends.” “I changed up everything

this year,” says Jerri. “It was great!”

But the biggest lure or the group is

something simpler: the staf. “They are

abulous,” Nancy says. “We love seeing

them every time we come back,” says

Christy. “You can tell that Miraval really

 works with their staf. There’s a lot o loy-

alty and longevity there.” Jerri adds, “We

stay in touch with them through the year,

and they know when we’re coming.”

Ellen has strict dietary restrictions due

to ood allergies, which can be a problem

 when she travels. “I was nervous about

my rst visit,” she shares, “so I met with

 Alberto Laveaga, the ood and bever-

age manager. We went over everything,

and he paid such attention to detail. It  was beyond perect. He ound creative

replacements or oods that I could never

have. He even made me lunch or the

plane ride home!”

 When Ellen brings up Alberto’s name,

a silence alls over the group. “When I

called the next year to make plans to see

him,” she continues, with tears in her

eyes, “we ound out that he’d been killed

in a car accident.” “It’s a amily out there,”

Christy adds. “We were all devastated.

 Alberto embodied the Miraval spirit.”

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   p   H   O   T   O    C

   r   E   d   I   T

Now whenever they visit, they make a

point to pay their respects at the tree

planted in Alberto’s honor. Ater a moment o silence, the mood

lightens again as the girls talk o other

stafers, many o whom have been avor-

ites or years. “I always request Peter

Bird or Thai massage,” says Vicki. “It’s

awesome, and I can’t get that treatment

at home. And every night Emilia Cajigas

 brings me my avorite gluten-ree peanut

 butter cookies.”

 Aside rom the staf and delicious cui-

sine (which comes with calorie, at and

carb counts or every dish), the group also

loves Miraval’s commitment to nature.

“We saw a bobcat walk by the picture win-

dow during a pilates class,” says Christy.

“And then there was the hawk situati on

... ” As she says this, warning glances are

exchanged all around.

“What hawk?” we ask. They decide

to share. In keeping respect or its sur-

roundings, Miraval does its best not to

interere with the natural habitats o 

its neighbors — even i those neighbors

happen to be a pair o hawks that built

their nest between the dining room and

a block o guest rooms one year.“It was a gorgeous day, and I was walk-

ing to breakast when a giant hawk landed

on my head!” recalls Jerri, instinctively

putting her hands to her head. “I could

eel the claws in my scalp. They got Ellen

too — steps rom her room!” “I think they

enjoyed challenging us,” chuckles Carol.

Rather than disturb the hatchlings

 by moving the nest, Miraval came up

 with another solution: They gave all o 

the guests umbrellas to put over their

heads when they walked through the

hawks’ territory, warding of any pro-

tective dive bombs.

“We didn’t mind, though,” says Vicki.

“They are committed to the ecosystem,

 which is very important.” And it carries

on to the guests. “One day I sat or 10

minutes watching an ant carry a eather,”

 Vicki says. “I love it there so much, when I

die I want my body thrown into the woods

so the critters can eat me!” This kicks of 

an uproarious group laugh.

When it comes to the heavier con-

versations, the women tend to com-

municate more with their eyes than

 with words. That’s the kind o bond only

true riends can understand — one that

comes rom years o shared experiences

and acts like a secret language.

But they did share some personal sto-

ries with us. Such as the one year when,

 just prior to the trip, Christy was diag-

nosed with cancer. “I never considered

not going,” says Christy, thankully now

cancer-ree. “I was with riends that I

trusted, and I elt sae. I think that trip was

a huge part o my healing process.”

“What is there to lie that really matters

except our experiences and the memo-

ries we create?” adds Ellen. “Being part

o a group o girlriends who have known

each other or so long, it adds color to the

amily o memories we share. This may

not be our amily o origin, but truly it is

a amily o choice.”

“Though our lives have traveled in

dierent directions, there’s an instantreconnection that occurs when we’re at

Miraval,” says Barbara. Christy agrees:

“We share things there that we don’t share

 with other people. It’s a sae place where

nothing leaves. That’s why we weren’t even

sure we wanted to talk about the hawk!”

The eects not only strengthen their

riendships but carry through to their daily

lives. “I ll up spiritually and physically

rom these trips,” says Cheryl Orlansky, a

55-year-old registered dietitian, “but they

also help me to help my patients by rein-

orcing the message o mindulness.”

“So does one trip stand out above the

rest?” we ask as the evening winds down.

“No,” they all emphatically agree. “Every

 year is the best one ever,” says Vicki. “It

never gets old.”“I eel so blessed to be a part o this

group,” says Nancy, a sentiment they all

share. While others have asked to be a part

o an upcoming Spa Girls trip, one thing is

certain: The tightknit clan won’t be adding

another member anytime soon. “Eight is

enough,” pronounces Ellen, to cheers all

around. (It also happens to be the size o 

the largest dining table at Miraval, so i 

they added more, they’d have to spread

to two tables — something no one wants.)

Jumping back into her role as coor-

dinator, Ellen asks the group to raise

their hands i they intend to never miss

another Spa Girls trip. A unanimous show

o hands hits the air ollowed by laughter,

smiles and hugs — all the things special

riendships are made o.

Ellen’s Tips for Planning a Group SOnce the Spa Girls expanded beyond a fewning became an issue — so Ellen Titen-Wofcial trip coordinator, working with the to gure out timing, organize ights, assighandle any other needs. Here are her timarranging your own spa tradition.

Assign a coordinator. “You need someone to organizing reservations, ight times, etc. Otunwieldy as emails y back and forth. This wissue or question, they can just go to the coo

Group size matters. “For us, eight is enougwould impact the chemistry and the ability tmeals. However, saying no to a new Spa Girl is

Be selective. “Look for invitees who are inde

People need to be comfortable being on their odo what they want without pressure. You alsthose who you can share your inner heart witsharing will stay within the group. The experclasses or the challenge course can bring out

The Spa Girls RosterVicki Berman, 51, attorney, Winter Park, Flo

Christy Delk, 51, business owner, Orlando, F

Nancy Habif, 49, lactation consultant, Atlant

Barbara Hill, 51, CEO, Superior, CO

Jerri Johnson, 51, dermatologist, Altamonte

Cheryl Orlansky, 55, registered dietician, Atl

Ellen Titen-Wojcik, 52, business consultant, W

Carol E. Zurcher, 47, CPA, Winter Park, Flor

Breathwalking for Wellness is one of theprograms offered by the acclaimed AndrewWeil, M.., Integrative Wellness rogram.

Want to start your own Spa Girls tradition? Miraval is making it easy for any group of friends a fth-night-free package, available now through the

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The Ties That Bond