You come to Miraval, Life in Balance in Catalina, Ariz., not because you want to be in the Sonora Desert, although you are — and it’s beautiful. You come here to balance your mind, body and spirit.

Skeptics may be thinking, “Come on, a weekend in the desert is going to change you?”

I have to admit, the psychological mumbo jumbo was at first a bit of a turnoff for me. Did I really have to listen to a New Age “prayer” and do meditative breathing before the start of an exercise class? But the enthusiasm of the other guests is contagious, and the classes are actually excellent.

As annoying as some of the spa’s philosophy of “mindfulness” might be, this is a peaceful place, and after a few days you do feel refreshed and ready to conquer the world.

The top-rated resort offers a signature hot stone massage and other soothing treatments. And there is creatively prepared Southwestern cuisine with calorie counts — for those who really want to know.

I found the challenge activities, such as Out on a Limb, especially cool. I climbed 30 feet to walk across a log, to the whooping enthusiasm of a group of compatriots about to do the same thing. It’s this sort of activity that really makes Miraval unique — no wonder Oprah Winfrey frequently touts the place.

Dozens of activities, including nature hikes into the desert to see the many varieties of cactus and local critters including bunnies and hummingbirds, are on the daily roster. There’s also mountain biking and horseback riding as well as tennis and golf.

For those more interested in intellectual pursuits, there are plenty of options. There’s a course about tea taught by a woman who wrote her Ph.D. thesis on the subject. A professional photographer leads a course in black-and-white photography course (the spa will loan you a camera). You can even try your hand at beading or drumming. And there are all sorts of healthy pursuits, from yoga to cooking demos. Those into self-improvement can choose from such offerings as “Aging into Wisdom” or an anti-stress class called “Breath for Life.”

One activity Miraval has designated as a signature offering is a program called “Equine Experience.” It involves learning to communicate with a horse to get him to do what you want him to do. The idea is for participants to look at how they create and deal with stress. My horse didn’t always do what I wanted. This made me mad. That’s what I learned.

Fortunately there are no required activities. If you want to stay in your bathrobe all day, getting treatments (one treatment a day is included in the room rate), you are free to do so; ditto for putting on a bathing suit and hanging at one of the four swimming pools.

This is not rigid spa-dom. You can use a cell phone if you like, although only in designated areas; there is free email in the main building; and the guestrooms have DirecTV and VCRs (movies are available to borrow). There’s a coffee shop that serves real coffee and latte. And there’s a bar — that serves real cocktails — in the main building.

The resort’s low-rise, Southwestern-style buildings are situated on 135 carefully manicured acres replete with wildflowers, burbling brooks, Zen gardens and other places to sit and reflect on life. And at night, it’s actually dark enough to see the stars.

For more information, call 800 232 3969 or visit http://www.miravalresort.com