Deerfield Spa: Go for the Exercise, Stay for the Food

Admittedly I'd never heard of Lo-Wei, an exercise class that combines yoga, strength training and flexibility that stretched my body in ways my mind never thought possible. But it is only one of almost three dozen fitness classes, all part of the dawn-to-dusk workout, weigh- loss and education focus of the one-of-a-kind, all-inclusive Deerfield Health Retreat and Spa in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, where my friend Kathy and I spent three nights recently.

The first morning's dilemma?

Should I start with a sunrise hike, morning stretch, water aerobics, Pilates, yoga or a circuit class? Or just go back to sleep. Nope, unacceptable — especially with a mouthwatering breakfast waiting at 8 a.m. I followed morning stretch with Butts and Guts — and all I kept thinking was, “Man, am I going to feel this tomorrow!” which, right there, is a high recommendation for the class.

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You're never far from food at Deerfield — three meals and two snacks included – and our first exposure at lunch upon arrival was a tomato Florentine soup filled with veggies. I thought if everything else is this good (and it was), I'm never going home!But more on that later.

Time for some exercise. I'm a novice yoga-ite, so admittedly I had some difficulty visualizing the cleansing of my lungs. But I could still appreciate the relaxing nature of the exercise as I learned to follow the instructor's admonishment to “enjoy the stretch.” But I am a veteran hiker, and they offer beginner through advanced hikes. We were forewarned that the beginner hike was a stroll in the park compared with the intermediate, and the guide took one look at Kathy and me (70-plus can be deceiving) and tried to talk us out of it. But our experience on the Appalachian Trail over years stood us in good stead, and the intermediate hike was not only eminently doable but beautiful as well.

And then there's lunch. There are multiple choices for each meal plus daily specials, all calorie-counted. Dinners — salad, entree, veggie, dessert (and oh, those desserts!) are 600 calories; we were allowed 1,200 for the day. Did I mention there are also two snacks? Are they sure this is also a weight-loss center?

And it is, as many guests attested — despite the campfire at the fire pit with s'mores. OK, all sugar-free, but still. And the cooking class with Karen, whose meal of jerk chicken with mango salsa, rice with pecans and asparagus added a mere 200 extra calories. Or mocktail hour.

I felt obligated to actually count my day's intake at least once, so I chose a day that didn't include either the cooking class, s'mores or the mocktails. So: breakfast of bruschetta omelet with cheese plus cantaloupe balls; lunch — Mexican corn soup, a huge plate of cottage cheese, tuna salad and fresh fruit; dinner — spinach salad with strawberries and walnuts, baked fish with string beans and ice cream with a sweet strawberry topping. Throw in some half-and-half with my morning coffee and voila – 1,065 calories. And I was stuffed.

En route to class one day I overheard a guest excitedly exclaim, “Just being in the hammock is one of my favorite places.” I didn't even know there was a hammock. And that's one of the most appealing aspects of Deerfield. If you want just to relax and de-stress, that's fine. If you want to work your butt off, that's fine, too.

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But I didn't have time to think about it as a Cybex Circuit class was next, followed by Core on the Floor. I discovered that contrary to popular belief, the core extends well beyond the abs and includes butt, back, lats, spine, obliques and every body part in between — all of which were unmercifully tested. Getting up off the floor was the biggest challenge. It was great! But don't worry — every class can be modified to accommodate any workout level.

But what also makes the Deerfield experience so special is the ambience, the camaraderie, the laid-back atmosphere where everything feels natural and comfortable. At times in the evening, after that night's lecture — Top 20 Fitness Mistakes, Sleep Deprivation, Potion Control, Pilates as Aid for Back Pain and so many others — folks just hung out in the lounge. With 80 percent of guests being repeat customers, the talk often turned to war stories accumulated over the years. It felt very much like a family.

And that includes the staff, from whom a love for the spa readily radiates, which in large part is due to owner Joan Wolff, whose mother started Deerfield in 1979. I was surprised to discover there was no tipping allowed. As Wolff explained: “The waitstaff, trainers, masseuses and housekeepers are never tipped as much as they deserve, so it's all processed into their salaries.” Which might explain why most of her staff has been there for more than 10 years.

So what do you need after a full day of hiking, weightlifting, water aerobics and yoga? A massage, of course. So naturally that's also included.

The next day Kathy dragged me kicking and screaming to the car — but not until we had enjoyed another two meals and four classes.

WHEN YOU GO
For more information, visit www.deerfieldspa.com.

Fyllis Hockman is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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