by Bernard Burt
Balancing on one foot, I focus on the pleasure of being in a Thai house of healing on a ranch in British Columbia. Every morning, before breakfast, guests at Echo Valley Ranch gather in this beautiful wooden structure to practice ancient exercises known as Ruesri Dut Ton.
Led by spa director Jaranya Hanoi, a native of Bangkok, we assume the lotus position on a heated wooden floor. Meditation precedes movements. There are 15 basic positions in the “head-to-toe” Ruesri Dut Ton exercise system. Hanoi demonstrates how to breathe as we follow her movements for an hour. Bending and stretching, standing, and on my stomach, I feel a surge of energy deep within my body.
Thai doctors believe Ruesri Dut Ton helps prevent illness, increasing circulation of blood and oxygen. At the Ministry of Health in Bangkok, staff members exercise together in a replica of caves where hermits and ascetic monks are said to have conceived the system of self-stretching exercise centuries ago.
Now, Ruesri Dut Ton is practiced in city parks and villages throughout Thailand. Miniature statues of ruesri positions decorate schools and homes.
Built in 2001, the Canadian Baan Thai has royal connections. Inspired by a visit to Thailand, ranch owner Norman and Nan Dove commissioned the architect responsible for Thailand’s royal residences to design a structure that integrates past and present. The ancient house of healing sits atop a conference center with state-of-the-art facilities. Adorned with hand-carved teak panels and silk drapery, it’s a living work of art.
Hanoi schedules me for a traditional Thai massage in the main “sala” upstairs. Equipped with the most luxurious shower and hydrotherapy tub this side of the Rockies, the spacious salon has two large massage platforms set close to the floor. As in Thailand, I am presented with comfortable attire for the workout; the two-piece cotton pajama puts me in a relaxed mood as she stretches every muscle in my body. Ginger tea is offered at the end, perfect for sipping on the verandah surrounded by forests, mountains, and meadows.
Tucked into the vastness of British Columbia, the Baan Thai at Echo Valley Ranch neighbors comfortably with the resort’s main lodge and horse barns.
One log lodge houses the Cariboo Spa where western-style salon services and bodywork are offered. Next to the fitness center, an indoor swimming pool is enhanced by natural mineral water from springs that supply all of the ranch’s drinking and cooking water.
Thursday is Thai night at the lodge. Chef Kim Madsen surrenders his kitchen to Thai spa staffers who cook a dinner of well-spiced favorite food.
We join guests from Germany and Britain who have come to explore the wild beauty of the Fraser River valley. Adding a taste of Thailand is what makes Echo Valley Ranch unique.
Getting There: Located off the historic Cariboo Trail of gold rush fame,
Echo Valley Ranch is a six-hour drive north of Vancouver. Nearest airport: Kamloops, B.C., where a ranch van provides transfers; Private planes land at the ranch on a paved runway. Open through November.
Contact: www.evranch.com; 250/459-2386 or 800/253-8831
- Earth Science - April 17, 2026
- Sweed Beauty - April 17, 2026
- Farmhouse Fresh - April 17, 2026