Marcos has been teaching tennis as well as Cardio Boxing, Cardio Challenge, Sculpt & Strengthen, Circuit Training and Aqua Plus since 1986. What he loves most about The Ranch is meeting a wide variety of people and the opportunity to inspire someone to start or jumpstart their exercise career. His hobbies include going to the beach with his family.
Archives: Fitness Staff Members
Ranch Nutritionist
We don’t just help you feed your mind and soul at Rancho La Puerta. More than sixty years of culinary creativity, experimentation and dietary research in our kitchens have culminated in a superb, all-natural diet. Largely vegetarian, it is low in fat, sodium, and refined flour and sugar — while high in energy, fiber, and complex carbohydrates. But lest you think you’re in for a week of eating something akin to cardboard, don’t despair: Delicious and beautifully presented, the meals at Rancho La Puerta will have you coming back for seconds, if not thirds. We offer weekly talks by experts in the field of nutrition. Topics vary based on current relevancy and expertise.
Donna Wood
Donna is a Feldenkrais practitioner in full-time private practice since 1996, when she graduated from the Feldenkrais Professional training program directed by Mark Reese. She practices and teaches at her studio in San Diego and provides service for Rancho la Puerta.
Donna has the additional certification of Assistant Trainer. She teaches regularly in four-year Feldenkrais Professional Training programs in Paris, New York, Baltimore and San Diego. She works with a wide range of people and situations. Donna is a sculptor with an extensive background in Martial Arts and dance. These elements deepen and inform her work.
Jonelle Rutkauskas
Jonelle Rutkauskas is a Registered Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist with 14 years of experience in Craniosacral Therapy. She is a member of the Craniosacral Therapy Association of North America. She is a Holistic Health Practitioner and has been in the Holistic & Healing Arts for 22 years. Jonelle has a private practice in La Jolla, California in Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, Energy Medicine, Somatic Trauma Healing, Spiritual Counseling, Yoga Therapy, Lifeline Technique, Meditation & many forms of Massage, including Swedish, Shiatsu, Thai, Lomi Lomi and Deep Tissue. Jonelle has been a teacher of Yoga for 30 years and a teacher of Surya Meditation for the last 10 years. Jonelle’s light touch carries you into a “settled stillness” that helps to reset your Central Nervous System into a healthier more embodied state. This allows a magnification of Energy Forces, that soothe, feed and free your Bones, Tissues, Cells &, Organs.This dissolves blocks and negative patterns that cause pain, injury and disease. Craniosacral Therapy builds the potency of your healing intelligence throughout your body, which brings you to a higher level of function in all systems of the body. By calming and resetting your Central Nervous System all, systems of the body reorganize, gathering the potency of health that is already inside of you.
Craig Stuart
Craig Stuart is the founder and Director of HYDRO-FIT®. A certified fitness instructor with AEA and ACE, Craig leads the water exercise industry as an innovator, specialist, educator and fitness professional. He is well known for his educational techniques focusing on the practical application of water-specific skills to enhance group exercise instruction. Craig is the 1992 recipient of the Contribution to the Aquatic Fitness Industry Award and the 2002 recipient of the Aquatic Therapy & Rehab Institute’s prestigious Tsunami Spirit Award.
Dianne Hayes
Dianne first came to Rancho La Puerta in 1980 as a guest. That visit changed her life and introduced her to group exercise as well as a healthy lifestyle. Back home, she found a class, attended it regularly and eventually became an instructor certified by ACE and the Cooper Institute…all while still visiting the ranch yearly. In 1988 she became a member of the “ranch family” of instructors, and has had the opportunity to teach a variety of class formats. One of her very favorites has always been water exercises including Hydro-Fit, which she teaches here at The Ranch. She loves introducing our guests to the amazing properties of water and its ability to enhance their exercise programs.
Margie Caldwell Cooper
Margie has been instructing at the Ranch since 1993 as a rotating “all-around” Ranch Instructor. Her classes include Hydro-Fit and Aquatics Specialist, but she also teaches Pilates, Yoga, Hiking, and more! Her happiest moment at the Ranch is watching the sunrise from Mt. Kuchumaa in the winter, when the light is gorgeous. She was awarded the Global Aquatic Fitness Instructor of the Year 2006 (from the Aquatic Exercise Association).
Monica Picard
Monica has been teaching Hydro-Fit Aqua Plus, Waterworks, Aqua Flow & Flexibility, Swim Clinic, L.A.B., Circuit Training since 2009. Her hobbies include is a wife of one and mother of two and enjoys hiking, biking, BUNCO and my pets. She was selected to work for Hydro-Fit in Merchandising and as a part of the Hydro-Fit Academy.
Karen Sanzo
Pilates instructor, teacher trainer, and physical therapist Karen Sanzo is internationally recognized for her innovative approaches to the Pilates method. At Pilates Unlimited, her studio in Dallas, Texas, and in her physical therapy practice, Karen sees clients of all ages and fitness levels, utilizing Pilates as an adjunct to therapy and as the next level of self care for her patients, which include a Dallas Cowboy recovering from injuries, a corporate executive improving his golf swing, a young dancer perfecting her posture, and a new mother getting back into shape. D Beauty, a publication of D Magazine of Dallas, included Pilates Unlimited in their 2008 list of Best Places to Work Out. Her award-winning instructional DVD, Pilates for All Bodies: Getting Started is a two-DVD set that explains and demonstrates the basic exercises, then presents a thirty-minute mat class conducted by Karen. Awarded “Best Beginners DVD” by Pilates Style magazine in the January/February 2008 issue, it was touted in their review as “perfect for those just starting out, with a clear, in-depth tutorial on principles, moves and beginner modifications.”
Roberto Perretta
Roberto Perretta has been drumming for over 25 years. He has played with well-known musicians and bands from San Diego and Los Angeles. While living in Los Angeles Robert studied drums and percussion, and also worked in live television as a backing musician for many Latin artists.
Roberto has performed and worked with bands and artist such as Innis, Cabas, Afrojazziacs, B-side Players, Jerry Rivera, Maiz, Kumara, Voz de Mando, and many more. He is has been with The Ranch’s very own Rancho la Puerta fiesta band for over 10 years.
Timothy Hinchliff
Timothy Hinchliff has been an artist and specialty presenter at Rancho la Puerta for over twenty five years. A collection of his colorful work is featured in the art walk gallery.
Timothy is a natural teacher and will bring out the artist within while he shows you how to create artwork with intention.
Fitness Staff
Our skilled fitness instructors teach results oriented classes that are challenging, dynamic, and transformative. Nationally certified instructors make up Rancho La Puerta’s Fitness Team, and each has several specialties, such as yoga, postural therapy and cardio. These are not the hardcore, intimidating teachers you might find at your neighborhood gym – our instructors have at least five years of teaching experience and bring fitness and wellness together to help you improve your whole being.
Fitness Specialty Instructor
Our Fitness Specialty Instructor specialize in all types of fields – from yoga, Pilates®, The Bar Method®, HYDRO-FIT® and a myriad of other workouts that are proven to ramp up your metabolism and burn calories. Check the Events Calendar for the schedule of Fitness Specialty Instructor visits.
Hike Shepherds
Details to come…
Specialty Presenter
Please visit the event calendar of your week for more details.
Visiting Chef
Details to come…