Set among the amber Santa Catalina Mountains and the golden Sonoran Desert, Canyon Ranch is often touted as the leading wellness centre in the US, offering a myriad of creative, spiritual and life-management classes. First up is a "biofeedback" assessment to assess your stress levels by measuring your breathing, temperature and skin responses. Participate in crystal sound activation to bring the mind, body and spirit into balance or attend a spiritual dialogue session to bring another dimension into your daily life. Spiritual wellness aside, the sprawling 7,400sq m spa promises to convert even the most hesitant guests with its 26 treatment rooms, nine gyms and state-of-the-art yoga pavilion.

Nestled in the shadow of the soaring red-rock Boynton Canyon, Mii Amo (meaning "my path" in the local Yuman language) is steeped in sacred Native American desert culture. Guests choose between three-, four- and seven-night "journeys", which include accommodation in one of 16 casitas, all meals and two treatments each day, as well as classes. Meals are nutritious and they don't demand a diet/detox. A well-stocked bar is on hand and dessert can be delivered to your room upon request, though they do substitute the bread basket for fresh juice at mealtimes. Embracing the traditions on which Mii Amo was built, Native American teachers provide intimate classes focusing on reflection and renewal. The spa is a spiritual powerhouse, due to the metaphysical attributes of its Boynton Canyon location, so be sure to book in for an astrology or psychic massage session while you're here.

A haven for chilling out, Sanctuary Camelback Mountain's indulgent spa takes a more traditional wellness approach than its new-age competitors. White robes are practically mandatory as you work your way through the pampering Asian-inspired treatment menu, which includes medicinal herb massages and vibration therapy. Rooms are clad in a neutral palette to accentuate the amber glow of the surrounding mountains and most have outdoor tubs - ideal for dark-sky desert stargazing. If you can't tear yourself away from the view, a selection of in-room spa treatments are also available. For a more active approach, sign up for tennis lessons with a gold-medal US champion.

Miraval Arizona structures its wellness programmes around the position of the moon, tailoring activities to allow guests to soak up its energy. Full-moon gong baths aim to remove mental and physical baggage through the vibrations of Himalayan singing bowls, with twilight zip-line adventures sure to remove any lingering cobwebs. Particular emphasis is placed upon equine experiences that require you to move your horse with just your mind… kudos if you succeed. All rooms are clad in earthy tones and made from sustainable materials, with glass walls bringing the outside in. Expect private patios, fire pits, freestanding tubs and indoor/outdoor showers. Get out into the desert and hike to the summit of Mount Lemmon, then give weary feet a pummelling with the acupressure stone found in the waterfall pond.

Make this your polestar for stargazing in Arizona. Some 80km north of Phoenix, there's little light pollution spilling into the Sonoran Desert at night around here, so celestial shows are five (billion) star. When not gazing upwards, guests spend their time soaking in crystalline natural pools and rock-coddled hot springs. The mineral-rich water sources that feed Castle Hotel Springs have been used by native Arizonan tribes - including the Hopi and Zuni - for centuries, and are thought to have healing properties. The team at Castle Hotel Springs sees the surrounding desert landscapes as vital to rebalancing your wellness, so expect to be heading out between the saguaro cacti, too. The retreat is home to a unique hiking route, the Via Ferrata, or "Iron Way", on which participants scramble up ladders and rungs to summit red-rock canyons, as well as taking on a 60m-long aerial walkway. There are cottages and bungalows on site, but we'd suggest booking one of the cute clapboard Sky View cabins; at sunset, they offer front-row seats to the changing light over the Bradshaw mountain range.

The oh-so-suitable name of this Arizona town pairs perfectly with the offering at CIVANA Wellness. This is one for mindfulness maniacs. Start your day (complimentary alkaline water bottle in hand) with sunrise soul flow yoga that transitions into a sonorous sound bath, then head to the retreat's rose garden for some daily intention setting. At nine, you'll be starting a guided labyrinth walking meditation, a warm-up for the total-body barre class that follows. Then, it's onto a breath lesson to improve your inhales, before you pick from hikes, gong baths, aerial yoga, mindful mixology, HIIT workouts and bike rides. If you're needing some time out from your time out, swan your way to the spa for a Spirit of the Desert treatment; you'll be rhythmically stroked along energy pathways with herb-laced sachets and warm oils. By the time you get to your room (a visual reimagining of a goop shop), you won't need much advice on getting a good night's sleep.