Activities at Windmill Wellness Ranch
Movement, stillness, time outdoors and creative work, because recovery asks something of the body as well as the mind.
Activity Is Part of the Work
At Windmill Wellness Ranch, we believe activity is a key component to restoring the body and mind in the process of recovery. With that in mind, we offer plenty of activities here on the property to keep our clients engaged.
Our 75-acre ranch in Canyon Lake gives you room to move, whether that is a yoga mat, a set of weights, a trail, a volleyball court, a quiet room or a paintbrush.
Yoga
Yoga offers a wide range of benefits that can help you heal your body and your mind. Throughout our lessons you will be reminded to focus on your breath and practice mindfulness.
Yoga is for everyone and is not a competitive sport. It allows each person to grow at their own pace and comfort level, so it does not matter whether you have practiced for years or have never been on a mat. Movement and yoga are also part of weekly residential programming.
What Regular Yoga Practice Does
Four things clients notice first.
Heightened Focus
Focus is the ability to guide your mind to a single thought, and weak focus prevents us from effectively accomplishing our daily tasks. Being reminded to return to your breath is precisely what heightens your focus over time.
More Patience
Practicing regularly builds the ability to completely enjoy the present. You dedicate yourself to the here and now, and learn to enjoy the moment rather than worry constantly about the future.
Detox
By increasing the amount of oxygen in your blood, yoga allows the body to naturally clear out toxins that may persist in your organs. Certain poses also stimulate the liver and kidneys to perform better.
Increased Self-Confidence
Yoga increases self-confidence because you get to experience your body's strength, inner balance and focus. As your poses improve, your confidence grows accordingly, and many people find a sense of being grounded and at peace that is new to them.
Meditation
Meditation is practiced daily at Windmill Wellness Ranch. Sitting quietly with your own thoughts is one of the harder things to do early in recovery, which is exactly why it is practiced every day rather than saved for the days it comes easily.
The skill is a practical one. A few minutes of stillness gives you something to reach for when a craving, a wave of anxiety or a difficult conversation arrives. It is taught alongside relapse prevention planning in our education and skill-building groups, so it becomes part of how you handle a hard moment rather than an idea you heard once.
If stillness comes more easily with something to anchor it, sound healing and 9D breathwork are also available.
Personal Training
Mens sana in corpore sano is a Latin phrase, usually translated as a healthy mind in a healthy body. We want to help you get that healthy body so that your mind can get healthy at the same time.
Our on-site personal trainer works with each client individually, building a routine around your age, your current health, and a consultation with our nursing staff. Whether you arrive with years of training behind you or have not exercised in a long time, the plan starts where you are.
Strength work, conditioning and guided movement sit alongside the clinical side of treatment, so physical progress and mental progress happen together. There is more on that on our physical healing page.
Outdoor Activities
Windmill Wellness Ranch is located in the scenic hill country of central Texas. Connecting with nature and realizing the beauty around you is soothing for the soul, and helps reduce stress.
Our 75 acres hold a large network of walking and hiking trails waiting to be discovered. Closer to the lodge you will find sports courts, a sand volleyball court, an outdoor pool, and yard games such as cornhole, so there is something whether you want a long quiet walk or a game with the people you are in treatment with.
Canyon Lake itself is known as the water recreation capital of Texas, with 80 miles of shoreline and scenery worth the trip.
What You Will Find on the Ranch
Creativity
Sometimes all we need to feel better is a way to express ourselves through art and creativity. That is why Windmill Wellness Ranch started a stone painting project.
Each client paints a stone and adds it to the wall, building a colorful record that every client who comes through the ranch has contributed to. It is a small thing to do with your hands on a hard day, and it leaves something behind for the people who arrive after you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What activities are available at Windmill Wellness Ranch?+
Yoga, daily meditation, personal training, outdoor activities and creative projects. The ranch has walking and hiking trails, sports courts, a sand volleyball court, an outdoor pool, a gym, and yard games such as cornhole.
Do I need yoga experience to take part?+
No. Yoga is for everyone and is not a competitive sport. It allows each person to grow at their own pace and comfort level.
Is meditation part of the program?+
Yes. Meditation is practiced daily, and is taught alongside relapse prevention planning in our education and skill-building groups.
Do I need to be in shape to work with the personal trainer?+
No. Our on-site personal trainer builds a routine around your age, your current health, and a consultation with our nursing staff, so it starts where you are.
What is there to do outdoors on the ranch?+
Our 75 acres include a large network of walking and hiking trails, sports courts, a sand volleyball court, an outdoor pool, and yard games such as cornhole. Canyon Lake, known as the water recreation capital of Texas, has 80 miles of shoreline.
Are activities part of the treatment program?+
Movement and yoga are among the topics covered in weekly residential programming. Other activities are there for the rest of your time on the ranch. Read about residential treatment.
What is the stone painting project?+
Clients paint a stone and add it to a growing stone wall, so every client who comes through the ranch contributes something to it.
See How Activity Fits Into Treatment
Movement, time outdoors and creative work sit alongside the clinical side of treatment. Read about The Windmill Way and our holistic approach, or reach out to get started.