Each week at the Ranch offers a unique experience.
Our Specialty Weeks are week-long health and fitness programs held in addition to regular classes. Visiting instructors (the finest in their fields) are dedicated to enriching your mind/body/spirit experience.
Special Presentations include evening events, guest lecturers, arts and crafts classes, workshops, concerts and more. Our special programs are free of charge (but some classes, such as wreath making and "prayer arrows", have a small materials charge), and we encourage you to enjoy as many as possible during your stay.
Click
on the dates below to see detailed information regarding each week's
theme and special presenters. Please note that the information and
schedules are subject to change (although this is rare) without
notice. Although
many of our guest presenters spend an entire week with us, those
with busy schedules may come only briefly. In order not to miss
a presentation that is important to you, check the weekly events
calendar as soon as you arrive.
In addition to our guest presenters, Ranch co-founder Deborah Szekely gives an inspiring evening talk each week (schedule permitting) followed by a question and answer period. These warm and informal talks take place almost every week, and are a mix of philosophy, history, and inspiring observations on how to live the "longer healthier life."
- Contemporary Dance Week | Henry Daniel
- Gyrokinesis Week | Diane Daniel
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Wild Goose Qigong | Olaf Dietze
- Handwriting Analysis | Lena Rivkin
- The Longevity Revolution | Robert N. Butler, M.D.
- Pilates Week | Conni Ramsey
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- The Matters that Matter… No Matter What | Molly Davis & Kristine Van Raden
- A Memorable Meal | Judith Weber
- Fitness on the Ball Lizbeth Garcia
- Change Your Mind, Change Your Body: Emotional Wellness… | Jody Miller
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Pilates Week | Karen Sanzo
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Self-Discovery Through Journal Writing | Rita D. Jacobs, Ph.D.
- Reading Frida Kahlo | Renee Sandell, Ph.D.
- Dance Week | Donna Sternberg and Dancers
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Conversing with Works of Art | Renee Sandell, Ph.D.
- Pilates Week | Cathleen Murakami
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Visiting Teacher Peggy Knickerbocker
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Concert | Debbie Voltura
- The Positive Power of Hypnosis | Bee Epstein-Shepherd
- Swim Week | Dr. Jane Katz
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Mindful Yoga | Ann-Marie Ahye
- Sexuality and Your Health | Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D.
- Make Your Own Alebrije | Lauren Sherman
- Broadway Here I Come | Larry Lane and Shelley Estes
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Point of Impact -- Bring Your Camera | Pat Harrison
- Nia® Week | Liz Ganz
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Visiting Teacher Kitty Morse
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Writing Workshop | Shelley Harrison Rae
- Soul Motion | Vinn Marti
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Sensuality and Sexual Health | Beverly Whipple, Ph.D.
- Water Week | Craig Stuart
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Ballet Week | Roni Mahler
- Sensuality and Sexual Health | Beverly Whipple, Ph.D.
- Jazz Piano | Joel Camche
- Water Week | Craig Stuart
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Ballet Week | Roni Mahler
- Writer's Week | Dan Wakefield, April Smith, Lynne Sharon Schwartz and Lena Rivkin
- A Breath of the Himalayan Tradition | Swami Veda Bharati
- Authentic Ashram Yoga Study Comes to Rancho La Puerta
- Pilates Week | Laura Penn Gallerstein
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Visiting Teacher Matthew Murray
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Mask and Hamsa Hand-Making; Storytelling; Drama Games | Lynn Hazan
- A Breath of the Himalayan Tradition | Swami Veda Bharati
- Authentic Ashram Yoga Study Comes to Rancho La Puerta
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Joy of Herbs | Luna Rose
- A Breath of the Himalayan Tradition | Swami Veda Bharati
- Authentic Ashram Yoga Study Comes to Rancho La Puerta
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Dance Week | Demetreous Hill
- A Breath of the Himalayan Tradition | Swami Veda Bharati
- Authentic Ashram Yoga Study Comes to Rancho La Puerta
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Aerobics with Soul® | Maria Nhambu
- Aerobics with Soul® | Maria Nhambu
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Visiting Teacher Pam Anderson
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Iyengar Yoga | Mary Obendorfer
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Self Expression through Digital Photography -- Bring Your Camera | Lynne Harty
- Labyrinth Week | Eve Eschner-Hogan
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Inspiration: Yoga and Writers' Workshop | Phyllis Pilgrim and Irene Borger
- Yoga and Ayurveda | Carla Levy
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Spirit Week | Phyllis Pilgrim and Susan Duhan Felix
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Visiting Teacher Marie Simmons
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Yoga and Meditation | Michele Hebert and Mehrad Nazari
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Visiting Teacher Deborah Schneider
- All Gershwin Concert | Tom Barabas
- Make Your Own Alebrije | Lauren Sherman
- ---------- Couples' Week ----------
- The Joy of Anusara Yoga | Jennifer Fox and Paul Gould
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Learn to Tango | Elena and Victor Pankey
- ---------- Couples' Week ----------
- Love's Four Journeys | Linda Carroll
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Visiting Teacher Deborah Madison
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- African Dance | Wyoma
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Concert | Debbie Voltura
- White Lotus Flow Yoga | Ganga White and Tracy Rich
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Visiting Teacher Barbara Fenzi
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Living in the Full Presence of Life | Lorna Francis
- Fitness Walking | Linda Warren
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Make Your Portraits Come Alive | Connie Reider
- Journaling in a New Way | Illia Thompson
- Bird Week | Joe Sweeney and Phil Pryde
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- What to Eat | Marion Nestle, Ph.D., M.P.H.
- Feldenkrais® Week | Ilana Nachoum
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Yoga and Partner Thai Massage | Kate Olafson, M.Ed.
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Feldenkrais® | Donna Wood
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Visiting Teacher Mary Karlin
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Writing Workshop | Ellen Sussman
- Sexuality and Your Health | Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D.
- The Lady of Guadalupe Procession
- Fitness Dance Week | Ranch Fitness Staff
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Zen Qigong | Robert Rosenbaum
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Concert | Ensemble Mira
- Folklore and Stories: A Window to the Soul | Rabbi Michael R. Zedek
- Inspiration: Yoga and Writers' Workshop | Phyllis Pilgrim and Irene Borger
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Creative Chef Jesús González
- Concert | Ensemble Mira
- Make Your Own Alebrije | Lauren Sherman
- Iyengar Yoga | Mary Obendorfer
- Make Your Own Alebrije | Lauren Sherman
- Raja Yoga and Meditation | Mehrad Nazari and Michele Hebert
- Understanding Women in the Developing World | Jane Fonda
- Current Events in Foreign Policy | Phyllis Oakley
- Current Events | Linda Wertheimer
- Change | David Baum
- Writing Workshops | Grace Dane Mazur, MFA, Ph.D.
- Iyengar Yoga | Eddy Marks
- Gyrokinesis | Cathleen Murakami
- Pilates | Kelly Kane
- Point of Impact -- Bring your Camera | Pat Harrison
- Feldenkrais® | Betsy Ingalls
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Visiting Teacher Lynne Rossetto Kasper
- Handwriting Analysis | Lena Rivkin
- Improving with Improv | Charlie Allenson
- The Power of the Mandala | Susie Self
- Sexuality and Your Health | Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D.
- The Joy of Walking | Lynn Weigand
- Point of Impact -- Bring your Camera | Pat Harrison
- Integrative Medicine | Frank Lipman, M.D.
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Visiting Teacher Molly Stevens
- Cooking Classes at La Cocina Que Canta | Visiting Teacher Su-Mei Yu
- Self-Discovery Through Journal Writing | Rita D. Jacobs, Ph.D.
- Self-Discovery Through Journal Writing | Rita D. Jacobs, Ph.D.
- Iyengar Yoga | Mary Obendorfer
- Iyengar Yoga | Eddy Marks
- The Art of Happiness Meditations | Danielle Levi Alvares
