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Archives: Events

Learning to Love Midlife

12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better With Age

 

Chip Conley is on a midlife mission. After disrupting the hospitality industry twice, first as the founder of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, the second-largest operator of boutique hotels in the U.S., and then as Airbnb’s Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy, leading a worldwide revolution in travel, Conley co-founded MEA (Modern Elder Academy) in January 2018 in Baja California, Mexico. Inspired by his experience of intergenerational mentoring as a ‘modern elder’ at Airbnb, where his guidance was instrumental to the company’s extraordinary transformation from fast-growing start-up to the world’s most valuable hospitality brand, MEA is the world’s first ‘midlife wisdom school’ and has a campus opening on a 2,600-acre regenerative horse ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico in early 2024. Dedicated to reframing the concept of aging, MEA supports students to navigate midlife with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility. A New York Times bestselling author, Conley’s 7th book “Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better with Age” is about rebranding midlife to help people understand the upside of this often-misunderstood life stage and he was asked to give a 2023 TED talk on the “midlife chrysalis.”

Body Intelligence: Listen to Your Innate Wisdom for Longevity

Explore the transformative power of connecting with your body’s innate wisdom and learn practical techniques to promote longevity and well-being.

Do you know how to truly care for your body for optimal health and longevity? This workshop takes a holistic approach to health and well-being, providing insights into the importance of listening to and honoring the body’s needs. Participants will learn practical techniques to tune into their body’s intelligence and access their inner wisdom to make healthy choices with intention. Through experiential exercises, guided meditations, and interactive discussions, attendees will enhance their body awareness and also explore strategies to optimize well-being overall to support the body’s natural healing and renewal processes.

 

Dr. Cindy Tsai, MD, is an award-winning double board-certified Physician, TEDx Speaker, Bestselling Author, and Chief Wellness Officer. As the Founder of Yes & More, a personal growth and wellness company, she empowers leaders and organizations to thrive and say YES to themselves and more with a compassionate approach incorporating mindfulness and integrative mind-body-spirit practices.

Her extensive training at Ivy League institutions and clinical experiences as both an Internal Medicine and Integrative Medicine Physician highlighted the impact of chronic stress on the body and fueled her mission to do more than prescribe medications as a band-aid. Her passions lie in preventative health and holistic well-being with a vision to foster a healthier and happier world.

The Write Stuff: The Basics of Writing and Publishing a Book

Have you ever had an idea for a fiction book but don’t know where to start? From idea to shelf, this program will lead you through the writing and publication journey. Learn how to outline, write, edit, and navigate the traditional publishing industry.

Lecture: Starting Your Novel: Elements of Story + Outline
Methods and tips on story structure, chapter structure plot, character, dialogue, setting, description and how to outline.

Writing Workshop: Writing Prompt

Lecture: Words on Paper: Writing and Revising 101
Methods and tips on how to complete a first draft, edit for strengthening the story, overwriting + underwriting, and create a writing + revising community.

Writing Workshop : Writing Prompt

Lecture: Navigating Publishing: Query Letters + Agents & Editors
Methods and tips on crafting the perfect pitch, landing an agent, and understanding the publishing business.

 

Karina Evans is the author of the middle grade novels, Grow Up, Tahlia Wilkins!, Audrey Covington Breaks the Rules, and Millie of the Manor. She studied English at the University of Delaware before starting a career in the entertainment industry. Karina currently works for Disney, and had previously worked for Paramount, Lucasfilm, and Sony. You can visit her online at karinaevans.com.

Instagram: @karinaewrites

Frank Lloyd Wright, My Art, and Me: An Unconventional Approach

Art as a Way of Life: An Unconventional Approach
Pamela Smilow’s presentation is about the unconventional way she has made art her way of life: her evolution as an artist and the circumstances, including growing up in a very unique Frank Lloyd Wright cooperative community, that have shaped her into the person she is today. Her talk will include many colorful slides of her art and the innovative architecture and design she grew up around.

Tree of Life Art Workshop (up to 2 hours)
Pam Smilow invites you to join her in the Art Studio for the next three afternoons. The subject of her workshop is The Tree of Life, inspired by nature and the Tree of Life Candelabra Vessels that dot Rancho La Puerta. It is open to all abilities and is especially designed for those who don’t think of themselves as artists. “I believe we all have it in us as long as we bring our inner child and leave our self-judgment and self-consciousness out of the picture.” You will leave with your own two-dimensional version of the Tree of Life using paint, mixed media and collage.

  

pamela smillowPamela Smilow grew up surrounded by art.  Her father was a modern furniture designer, sculptor and painter.  She was raised in a unique cooperative community founded by Frank Lloyd Wright, where all the modern homes were integrated into their natural surroundings.  New York City, with its myriad museums and cultural opportunities, was her backyard.  From a very early age, she knew that she wanted to be an artist. Although primarily self-taught in art, Pam did attend the University of Michigan (B.A., 1978) and spent one year studying ceramics at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Aix-en-Provence, France.  She had her first       one-woman show in Ann Arbor, Michigan when she was twenty-one and has continued to paint and exhibit ever since throughout the world, including exhibitions in Spain, France, Denmark and Japan. Her paintings are full of life, color and child-like primitivism.  No surprise, since she draws on childhood experiences and memories for her vocabulary of symbols.  These icons have remained consistent over the years:  ladders, windows, vessels, flowers, houses, trees, clothing (based on paper doll cutouts).  Her work grows out of abstract expressionism but has a variety of other eclectic influences. Her interest in language brought her to Europe during the 1980’s and 90’s and she spent quite a few years living and painting there.  This added a new Mediterranean and Nordic perspective to her work.   Pamela met her husband, Danish artist Gert Mathiesen, in the late 1980’s and thus began a collaboration that lasted for many years. Smilow shares her time between a studio in the heart of New York City and a little artist cottage on the Atlantic Ocean in mid-coast Maine. She works in a variety of different media including clay, printmaking, collage and painting.  She also writes a popular weekly inspirational blog entitled “Things We Love.” Smilow’s work can be found in many private and corporate collections throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.

Latin American Music with Juan Pablo Andrade & Friends

Costa Rican pianist Juan Pablo Andrade is the recipient of numerous awards at several international piano competitions in Costa Rica, The U.S. and Brazil, besides being awarded the National Prize of Music by the Costa Rican Ministry of Culture. He performs extensively across the U.S., Latin America and Europe as a recitalist, collaborator and soloist with orchestras. Andrade has been a soloist with the Costa Rica and the Bolivia National Symphonies, as well as the South Bend and the Greensboro Symphonies among others. Recent performances include Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, in Gillette, Wyoming, and Beethoven’s “Emperor” Piano Concerto in Costa Rica’s National Theater.  His recent CD for Centaur Records (CRC3666) titled War to Peace, a recording with violinist Betul Soykan featuring works composed during WW II, has received worldwide critical acclaim. In addition to his performance activities, Andrade is a professor of piano at UT Rio Grande Valley and at the Semper Music international Summer Festival in the Italian Alps.

Piano Concerts with Juan Pablo Andrade

Costa Rican pianist Juan Pablo Andrade enjoys a dynamic presence both on stage and in the academic realm. He has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Costa Rican National Prize of Music— the highest honor bestowed upon a musician by the Costa Rican Ministry of Culture. He has also received top honors at international competitions like the Artlivre International Piano Competition in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and the Carlos Enrique Vargas National Piano Competition in Costa Rica.  With a performance schedule that spans several continents, Andrade has played as a soloist with orchestras such as the South Bend Symphony in Indiana, the Greensboro Symphony in North Carolina, the Powder River Symphony in Wyoming, and the Bolivian National Symphony. He’s also a familiar face with the Costa Rican National Symphony. His recital tours have taken him through the Americas and Europe, with standout performances at the Yehudi Menuhin Forum in Bern, Switzerland, the World Piano Conference in Novi Sad, Serbia, and a recent solo recital tour in South America. His CD “War to Peace” with violinist Betul Soykan, has been warmly received by critics, including a notable review in Fanfare magazine.  In the academic realm, Andrade serves as a Professor of Piano at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. His educational journey spans prestigious institutions, including the University of Costa Rica, Arizona State University, Indiana University-South Bend, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. His commitment to music education extends beyond his university role, frequently serving as a guest faculty at international festivals and founding the La Frontera International Piano Conference in Brownsville, Texas.

Music as a Vehicle to Inner Freedom

Workshop: Songwriting as a tool for Inner Freedom
Guided by Phoebe Hunt

In this workshop, Phoebe will guide participants through a foundational songwriting journey, opening the gateway for creative writing, songwriting, and soul expression. Through a variety of exercises, Hunt will lead the group and then help to workshop a select group participants to turn their writing into song. By being a part of the songwriting experience, all who choose to attend can expect to walk away with a greater confidence in their own ability to write a song. On a deeper level, all participants can expect to have a greater understanding of the process by which a song comes to life as well as the vehicle that songwriting can be toward gaining insight on inner freedom.

 

Phoebe Hunt and Dominick Leslie bring charm and virtuosity to the stage as their original music touches on the roots of American music winding from jazz to country, from swing to bluegrass and even touching on world music with eastern influences with ease and grace. Independently the two have traveled with a number of bands, touring through the States as well as internationally.

Best known for her TEDx talks around the healing power of music and as front woman of her band, Phoebe Hunt & The Gatherers, Hunt is a top-shelf fiddler and songwriter who spends her time between performances holding space for others to grow through the power of music. Drawing from 30 years spent studying the violin/fiddle, Hunt’s latest release interweaves her classical upbringing with Appalachian Old Time, Texas Swing, and a maturity of songwriting that creates an unfiltered, raw expression dripping with palpable vulnerability.
“Hunt certainly doesn’t neglect her roots, but she doesn’t wallow in the dirt of her influences, either.” – Rolling Stone|

Colorado native Dominick Leslie has been around live music all his life, having attended his first bluegrass festival when he was just five months old. Best known as a touring member of GRAMMY award winning bluegrass band, Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway, Dominick Leslie has been involved with many outstanding projects over the years including The Deadly Gentlemen, The Grant Gordy Quartet, Missy Raines and the New Hip, The Bee Eaters, Noam Pikelny & Friends, Hawktail, Sam Reider and the Human Hands, Phoebe Hunt and the Gatherers and several other spontaneous groups.

YOUTUBE LINKS
Telephone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aGJDxPGENQ
Just For Tonight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCa8fQJvqbQ

TEDx TALKS:
Sing Your Pain Away, Songs Written w/ War Veterans
Plant Seeds Of Music

www.dominickleslie.com
www.phoebehuntmusic.com

All About Sleep

Sleep: Secrets and Strategies
Sleep is a key factor in our cognitive, emotional, and physical wellbeing.  Demystify the science of sleep, why we need it, and what happens if we don’t get it. Learn the essentials of sleep disorders, how to recognize them, and what to do if you might have one.

Chasing Sleep: A Do-it-Yourself Guide to Overcoming Insomnia
Trouble sleeping can interfere with life, both night and day, and is almost always treatable – without medication. Learn how to decode sleep struggles identify your own opportunities for better sleep. Build your own do-it-yourself toolkit for insomnia and begin to craft your own approach to effective sleep.

Sleep and Performance: Strategize Your Sleep to Maximize Physical and Mental Potential
We’ll delve into the science behind the power of sleep and strategize ways to survive and thrive when sleep is hard to come by.  Each participant will leave with a plan for optimizing sleep for their own resilience and performance.

Lifestyle for Life
Evidence-based lifestyle changes can prevent, treat, and even reverse chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Learn the key elements of the pillars of lifestyle medicine, including plant-based dietary pattern, exercise, restorative sleep, stress management, and positive social relationships. Decode food labels, food industry jargon, and dietary guidelines, build an exercise plan to meet your own goals, explore joy and meaning through positive psychology.

Sarah ZallekSarah Zallek, MD is a sleep neurologist who has been practicing sleep medicine with a mindfulness approach – and teaching sleep with relevance and humor to a wide range of audiences – for more than two decades. She is a professor of neurology at University of Illinois College of Medicine, is board certified in Neurology, Sleep Medicine, and Lifestyle Medicine. She is Medical Director of OSF HealthCare Sleep and Vice President, Chief Medical Officer of OSF Saint Joseph Medical Center. She has developed and led conferences that integrate mindfulness, art, and science to foster individual wellness and reduce burnout. In addition, she has led the development of a compassion-based communication course that connects individuals to work together toward shared goals. Dr. Zallek is a frequent keynote speaker and industry consultant on communication and leadership.

Walking As A Way Of Life

This program explores walking for fitness, recreation, inspiration and transportation, how walking can boost your brain power and creativity, how to incorporate walking into your life and what it takes to make your neighborhood a more interesting and engaging place to walk.

Walking for Fun and Fitness
Walking is one of the easiest ways to stay fit and active, lead a healthy lifestyle, and avoid obesity. Do you really need 10,000 steps per day?  We’ll answer that while exploring how to get more bang for your walking buck and how to incorporate walking into your daily routine.

Creating Walkable Places
What does it take to make your neighborhood a more interesting place to walk?  Learn how design can motivate you to walk more often, what you need to know about transportation planning to advocate for creating walkable places where you live, and the details that matter to make it easier and more fun for you to get out and walk.

Walking to Boost Your Brain Power
Throughout the ages, poets, philosophers and pilgrims have found inspiration in walking. From Aristotle and Beethoven to Muir and Thoreau, great minds have one thing in common:  walking.  We’ll take a stroll through walking history to learn why your best thoughts and creative ideas come while walking and how you can tap into the power of daily walks to clear your mind, boost your brainpower and energize your creative juices.

Walking Workshop:  Walk Your Way to Fitness
Learn some basic techniques for fitness and recreational walking to help you bring health and energy to your life!  This workshop will cover walking technique, including stride, posture, shoes, and stretches for warm up and cool down with on-the-track instruction and evaluation.

Lynn Weigand, Ph.D., has “walked her talk”  for recreation, transportation and fitness for most of her life and brings a unique perspective to the topic with experience as both an urban design and transportation planner, and as a fitness coach. As an urban planner, she has managed transportation planning projects focusing on pedestrian and bicycle access and was the founding director of the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation at Portland State University.  She holds a PhD in Urban Studies with a focus on designing healthy communities.  Lynn also is a Certified Personal Trainer and the owner of Portland, Oregon-based Encore Fitness, focusing on fitness walking and health coaching.

Mothers & Daughters Unfiltered

Exploring the Complexities of the Mother-Daughter Dynamic
The bond we share with our mother shapes our lives. While this connection can be nurturing and supportive, it can also be challenging and even detrimental. Join us in this transformative workshop led by author, Diane Danvers Simmons of My Mother Next Door, Diane Danvers Simmons and her daughter Natalie Simmons, hosts of the enlightening podcast, Mothers & Daughters Unfiltered. Together, we will navigate the intricacies of motherhood and the complexities of our identities as mothers and daughters, the conflicting emotions of loss and longing, embracing forgiveness and acceptance of our mothers’ imperfections, breaking free from harmful patterns to forge stronger relationships with the next generation, and discovering effective ways to foster open and honest communication with our mothers and daughters as we move forward.

Disclaimer: Please note that this workshop is designed to be an experiential journey and discussion. As such, it should not be considered as medical advice or a substitute for professional help. 

Uncovering Our Story:
We all have a story – a story which begins with our mothers. In the first of this four-part workshop, you will unpack your own story guided by memoir author, Diane Danvers Simmons, and discover how this narrative has shaped you.

Empathizing with Our Mother: What would you learn if you were cast as your mother in a movie? Step into your her shoes in the second workshop of this four-part series. Together we will uncover our mother’s deeper motivations working to understand their perceived imperfections with newfound empathy.

Breaking Generational Patterns:
Each of has the opportunity to set a new path forward for the next generation. During this session we will revisit both stories – yours and your mothers – and examine how they differ and where they overlap. We will ask ourselves what we can learn from, versus what we can thoughtfully leave behind? We will then transition to exploring how this exercise can support us in managing expectations and nurturing the next generation.

Intergenerational Conversations:
In our final workshop together we move from self-reflection to action. Our goal is to share ways we can bridge the intergenerational gaps through conversation. Our intention is to coach each other through how to honor, respect, and support each other’s dreams; and accept our own needs, boundaries, and evolution to maintain a strong loving bond as we grow individually and together.

Diane Danvers Simmons is the author of My Mother Next Door, her debut novel, which explores her relationship with her mother and her abandonment. Diane identifies with many titles from world traveler to speaker, reiki master, brand builder, women’s activist, and advocate. Ultimately, her role as mother rises above the others; she prides herself on her relationships with her children, including co-host and founding an inter-generational podcast with her daughter entitled “Mothers & Daughters Unfiltered” which explores topics facing women of all ages today from the lens of their relationship. A British native and American transplant, she strives to lead a mission-driven life with the goal of sharing stories that shine a light, inspire the humanity in each of us, and encouraging empathy and unity in our fractured, mad, world.

Connect at www.mothersanddaughtersunfiltered.com

Checking most of the boxes you’d expect from a millennial: achievement-oriented, entrepreneurial, social impact driven, and restless *audible sigh*, Natalie Danvers Simmons is outspoken and honest-to-a-fault (she keeps Diane honest too)! A digital nomad since 2022, Natalie is chasing stamps on her passport and the finish line of her next triathlon all while managing her operations team in NYC hosting team-building-focused corporate events. Her heart is in furthering women’s rights and opportunities as she serves on the board of Nevada’s first abortion fund and volunteers her extra hours as a Hotline Advocate for the DC Rape Crisis Center.

Website link, social media link, Media selection/Praise for
www.mothersanddaughtersunfiltered.com
Instagram: @motherdaughterunfiltered
https://www.mothersanddaughtersunfiltered.com/media

Some examples from media section
International Press:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10372431/My-narcissist-mother-left-new-life-door.html

Live TV:
https://www.mothersanddaughtersunfiltered.com/press/daily-blast-live-author-diane-danvers-simmons-on-being-abandoned-by-her-mother-at-age-16

Natalie interviews Diane – Pre Book-Launch:
https://www.mothersanddaughtersunfiltered.com/podcast/the-story-behind-my-mother-next-door

On- Line Magazine – Elephant Journal:
https://www.mothersanddaughtersunfiltered.com/press/5-ways-to-break-the-complexity-of-the-mother-daughter-relationship

Mothers Perspective – Articles /Blogs Published in Parenting  /Lifestyle mags:
https://www.mothersanddaughtersunfiltered.com/blog-categories/mothers-perspective

Tai Ji

The Essence of “Creative Tai Ji” practice for optimum vitality and well-being in Body-Mind-Spirit, through the “Watercourse Way” of TAO in joyful daily living.

 

Chungliang Al Huang, was immersed in the classics and Chinese scholarly arts from a young age in China. He came to the United States in 1955 to study architecture, cultural anthropology and dance. His intuitive knowledge of the ancient wisdom and rich traditions of his native China led to early collaborations with philosophers and scholars such as Joseph Needham, Alan Watts, Joseph Campbell and Huston Smith.  In demand as a keynote speaker at conferences and workshops around the world, Huang returned to China in 1982 as a consultant to prominent American business groups. He is the founder-president of Living Tao Foundation and the director of the International Lan Ting Institute with its Chinese base in the sacred Wu Yi Mountain and its United States base on the Oregon coast.

From the renowned Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, to the world’s major capitals, he shares the stage with luminaries such as the HH Dalai Lama and primatologist Jane Goodall. He is the recipient of the prestigious Gold Metal from the Ministry of Education of the Republic of China, a fellow at the World Academy of Arts and Science, and an assembly member of A Parliament of the World’s Religions. Architect, performing artist, brush calligrapher, Huang is also a celebrated author, with a number of best-selling books including: Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain: The Essence of Tai Ji, which has been translated into 17 languages and is now in its 5th decade of publication. www.livingtao.org
info@livingtao.org

Oral History as a Reflective Practice

In the age of social media, the way we document our lives can feel frantic and overwrought. What if we slowed this process down and gave ourselves time to reflect on how we share our stories? During these interactive workshops, we will practice oral history’s time-honored and reflective process. Active listening, empathy, and curiosity will guide us as we share our own stories while we acquire new tools for collecting and sharing the stories of our loved ones. This rejuvenating storytelling practice offers an embodied approach to celebrating the personal history all of us make every day.

Interactive and informative classes that use the practice of oral history to gather and celebrate family and community stories.

Celebrating the Power of the Story
An hour-long, interactive presentation about oral history and the power of personal narrative. The presentation will include a discussion of the many applications for oral history–family stories, community history, personal memoirs, and more. Audience members will experience various oral history excerpts as both storytellers and listeners. The presentation will also include a discussion of the art of interviewing, the ethics of storytelling, creating safe and brave spaces, and exploring the intersection of curiosity and empathy. The presentation also includes a brief storytelling activity and a Q&A.

Session 1: Taking History Personally
Session 2: The Artifact Interview
Session 3: Introduction to Oral History Editing

 

In 2010, Cliff Mayotte created the education program for Voice of Witness, an award-winning non-profit that advances social justice through oral history. The program currently serves over 400 educators and 15,000 students from around the world. Cliff has designed and facilitated storytelling workshops for numerous. universities and nonprofits, including The Bronx Documentary Center, Columbia University, the New Americans Museum, the University of Chicago, True/False Film Festival, The Nelson Mandela Foundation, and Trinity College Dublin. Cliff is the co-author of Say It Forward: A Guide to Social Justice Storytelling, published by Haymarket Books. His writing has also appeared in Edutopia and Salon.com. He is a recipient of the Beverly Kees Educator Award from The Society of Professional Journalists.

 

Jazz Magic Duo

Saxophonist/flutist/vocalist Kristen Strom and guitarist Scott Sorkin have been married and playing together for many years.  For these RLP concerts, they will present music from their unique and varied repertoire.

 

Kristen Strom has played alongside many well-known artists, including Manhattan Transfer, Gladys Knight, Natalie Cole, Roberta Flack, Johnny Mathis, Jimmy Heath, Pamela Rose, and the touring company of Blues is a Woman. She also performs in a celebrated duo with husband/guitarist Scott Sorkin. In addition to her albums, Intention, Sojourn and Moving Day: The Music of John Shifflett, she has recorded more than 40 CDs with various jazz and pop artists. Her latest album, Moving Day, was listed as one of Best Jazz Albums of 2018 by The Mercury News and has gotten national and international airplay.

Scott Sorkin is a Bay Area guitarist, composer, producer, teacher and recording engineer who performs and records in styles ranging from jazz to Brazilian and Latin styles. His solo CD “Laika” was released in 2017. Performance credits include the Count Basie Orchestra, Mary Wilson (The Supremes), Nneenna Freelon, Paula West, Louie Bellson, Vince Giordano, Tammy Hall, Pamela Rose, Kristen Strom, touring shows “Dream Girls” and Disney’s “Newsies”, Symphony Silicon Valley, Great Performances, PBS Television and SFJAZZ. Sorkin has extensive recording credits as well as film scores (including composer credits). Scott co-leads the international jazz group “Crossing Borders”, featuring Kristen Strom, Jennifer Scott, and Rene Worst. He’s been a featured artist at many festivals.

Forest Bathing

Forest bathing, or Shinrin-yoku, is the practice of immersing oneself in a natural environment, mindfully engaging with all senses. With no specific agenda, it’s a serene journey fostering a deep connection with nature. This experience promotes stress reduction, tranquility, and an interconnected sense of well-being by appreciating the sights, sounds, and scents of the forest.

Not a hike, environmental education, or a typical nature walk, instead, it is a 90-minute stroll through the oak-filled areas of Rancho La Puerta. Guided by Paula Pijoan, your experienced guide, this immersive experience involves gentle invitations to open up and explore nature through all your senses. This allows you to fully embrace and enjoy the therapeutic benefits that Nature has to offer.

 

Paula Pijoan has been a long-time naturalist and advocate of the native plants of Baja California, having co-authored the book “Edible native plants of Baja California”.

Originally trained as an Oceanographer, the plant world stole her attention fully in 2007 and, aside from studying them and teaching others about them, she felt a strong inner healing by spending time with them, outdoors. This coincided with a newfound interest in meditation which led her to become a meditation teacher in 2012. However, she felt she could unite both worlds -teach about plants and the environment AND meditation- in one same format and that´s when she found the practice of Shinrin-Yoku, or Forest Bathing. In 2017 she became a certified guide by ANFT (Association of Nature and Forest Therapy), making her the first certified guide in Mexico and one of the first in Latin America. She has been leading dozens of walks since and is always astounded by the profound experiences many of the participants have.

www.respirabosque.com
www.facebook.com/respirabosque
www.instagram.com/respirabosque

Telling Your Story

ADHD Is Not Just for Little Boys
Ten million American adults struggle with serious distraction, forgetfulness and impulsivity, the hallmarks of ADHD. This can become a crisis as we age and lose the structure of family life and jobs.

How can you tell if it’s really ADHD? What are the best ways to manage it?

Katherine Ellison is a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist,  author and co-author of a dozen books, and frequent contributor to the Washington Post and other national media. She has also coped with ADHD all her life, although she wasn’t diagnosed until age 48.

Come hear Katherine tell you the secrets she has learned — the hard way — about caring for your brain, whatever state it’s in, and getting things done despite clinical-grade distractions, as she shares some hilarious and heartwarming stories about falling into manholes and riding her bike into parked cars along the way.

Writing Workshops: Telling Your Story
In three writing workshops, which you can attend separately or in serial, Katherine Ellison, a prize-winning veteran journalist and author and co-author of 12 books, will share her tips on productivity, conquering writer’s block, and making your prose shine, whether you want to write personal essays for publication or a memoir for your grandchildren. We’ll have notebooks available because we’ll do some writing in each of these classes.

1. Start Me Up
Creativity has some rules. How do you get your seat in the chair each day and spend an hour or more making progress in a world full of distractions? How can you start or join a writing group that will help keep you disciplined? What’s a writing group, anyway?

2. Cardio-writing
In this fast-paced session, based on a strategy Katherine has honed at the Ranch, she’ll help you tone up your prose, with some simple rules that will make your writing lean and spicy.

3. What’s your story?
In this session, we’ll talk about our goals for the year ahead and plan the steps that will ensure we have something to show for them. Katherine will be available for individual coaching.

 

Katherine Ellison is a Pulitzer-prize winning former foreign correspondent and author and co-author of 12 books. She writes about ADHD, murder, motherhood, and more.

Your DNA is NOT Your Destiny!

DNA is only responsible for approximately 15% of our life expectancy. The emerging field of Epigenetics explains how our choices of health-related behaviors control proteins that can modify the expression of our genetic code. Learn how to optimize your immune system, enhance brain function, delay aging and maximize the joy in your daily life – not only by making smart decisions involving exercise, nutrition, stress management and life-balance, but also by choosing to engage in a meaningful, purpose-driven life.

 

With more than thirty years as a family practice and sports medicine physician, Dr. Lee Rice has become one of the premier medical experts on wellness in the United States and abroad. He has been head team physician for professional and Olympic teams including the San Diego Chargers, Los Angeles Clippers, San Diego Gulls, San Diego Soccer’s, USA Olympic Volleyball and America’s Cup Sailing syndicates including Oracle Racing. Drawing on these experiences, Dr. Rice founded Life Wellness Institute, a revolutionary healthcare facility focusing on health promotion and individualized wellness programs for families and corporations.  Dr. Rice is a clinical professor at Western University of Health Sciences and a Voluntary Clinical Instructor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego. He was honored to be the initial Dr. Jerry Lee Chair of Wellness and Integrative Health at the National University System. He is an internationally known speaker for executive organizations including Young Presidents Organization (YPO and YPO Gold), Chief Executives Organization (CEO), and Vistage International. Dr. Rice is a founder and past president of both the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine, as well as a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Sports Medicine. Dr. Rice is an active board member with the San Diego Epilepsy Foundation and McAlister Institute, and is past president of the San Diego chapter of the American Heart Association; he is also a trustee and currently Vice Chair for the non-profit National University. Dr. Rice’s vision for comprehensive health is incorporated into all his activities and is the guiding principle of the Life wellness Institute.

Sedentary Lifestyle is the New Smoking

Our bodies were made to move. Regular motion is the key to healthy circulation, optimizing cardiac risk factors, maintaining muscle mass, functional capacity, and joint flexibility – not to mention prevention of early dementia and some forms of cancer!  After age 35, most people every year lose significant lean mass and strength and gain fat mass, leading to a myriad of self-inflicted health issues. Dr. Rice will explore the latest clinical insights regarding the benefits of an active lifestyle and will explain the necessary ingredients for minimizing associated health risks.

 

With more than thirty years as a family practice and sports medicine physician, Dr. Lee Rice has become one of the premier medical experts on wellness in the United States and abroad. He has been head team physician for professional and Olympic teams including the San Diego Chargers, Los Angeles Clippers, San Diego Gulls, San Diego Soccer’s, USA Olympic Volleyball and America’s Cup Sailing syndicates including Oracle Racing. Drawing on these experiences, Dr. Rice founded Life Wellness Institute, a revolutionary healthcare facility focusing on health promotion and individualized wellness programs for families and corporations.  Dr. Rice is a clinical professor at Western University of Health Sciences and a Voluntary Clinical Instructor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego. He was honored to be the initial Dr. Jerry Lee Chair of Wellness and Integrative Health at the National University System. He is an internationally known speaker for executive organizations including Young Presidents Organization (YPO and YPO Gold), Chief Executives Organization (CEO), and Vistage International. Dr. Rice is a founder and past president of both the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine, as well as a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Sports Medicine. Dr. Rice is an active board member with the San Diego Epilepsy Foundation and McAlister Institute, and is past president of the San Diego chapter of the American Heart Association; he is also a trustee and currently Vice Chair for the non-profit National University. Dr. Rice’s vision for comprehensive health is incorporated into all his activities and is the guiding principle of the Life wellness Institute.

The Power of Meaning and Purpose

Learn how to harness the incredible power of the epigenome to enhance both life quantity and, more importantly, quality.

 

With more than thirty years as a family practice and sports medicine physician, Dr. Lee Rice has become one of the premier medical experts on wellness in the United States and abroad. He has been head team physician for professional and Olympic teams including the San Diego Chargers, Los Angeles Clippers, San Diego Gulls, San Diego Soccer’s, USA Olympic Volleyball and America’s Cup Sailing syndicates including Oracle Racing. Drawing on these experiences, Dr. Rice founded Life Wellness Institute, a revolutionary healthcare facility focusing on health promotion and individualized wellness programs for families and corporations.  Dr. Rice is a clinical professor at Western University of Health Sciences and a Voluntary Clinical Instructor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego. He was honored to be the initial Dr. Jerry Lee Chair of Wellness and Integrative Health at the National University System. He is an internationally known speaker for executive organizations including Young Presidents Organization (YPO and YPO Gold), Chief Executives Organization (CEO), and Vistage International. Dr. Rice is a founder and past president of both the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine, as well as a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Sports Medicine. Dr. Rice is an active board member with the San Diego Epilepsy Foundation and McAlister Institute, and is past president of the San Diego chapter of the American Heart Association; he is also a trustee and currently Vice Chair for the non-profit National University. Dr. Rice’s vision for comprehensive health is incorporated into all his activities and is the guiding principle of the Life wellness Institute.

Your DNA is NOT Your Destiny!

DNA is only responsible for approximately 15% of our life expectancy. The emerging field of Epigenetics explains how our choices of health-related behaviors control proteins that can modify the expression of our genetic code. Learn how to optimize your immune system, enhance brain function, delay aging and maximize the joy in your daily life – not only by making smart decisions involving exercise, nutrition, stress management and life-balance, but also by choosing to engage in a meaningful, purpose-driven life.

 

With more than thirty years as a family practice and sports medicine physician, Dr. Lee Rice has become one of the premier medical experts on wellness in the United States and abroad. He has been head team physician for professional and Olympic teams including the San Diego Chargers, Los Angeles Clippers, San Diego Gulls, San Diego Soccer’s, USA Olympic Volleyball and America’s Cup Sailing syndicates including Oracle Racing. Drawing on these experiences, Dr. Rice founded Life Wellness Institute, a revolutionary healthcare facility focusing on health promotion and individualized wellness programs for families and corporations.  Dr. Rice is a clinical professor at Western University of Health Sciences and a Voluntary Clinical Instructor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego. He was honored to be the initial Dr. Jerry Lee Chair of Wellness and Integrative Health at the National University System. He is an internationally known speaker for executive organizations including Young Presidents Organization (YPO and YPO Gold), Chief Executives Organization (CEO), and Vistage International. Dr. Rice is a founder and past president of both the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine, as well as a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Sports Medicine. Dr. Rice is an active board member with the San Diego Epilepsy Foundation and McAlister Institute, and is past president of the San Diego chapter of the American Heart Association; he is also a trustee and currently Vice Chair for the non-profit National University. Dr. Rice’s vision for comprehensive health is incorporated into all his activities and is the guiding principle of the Life wellness Institute.

An Eye for the Extraordinary

Angela Damman is a sustainable luxury brand inspired by the beauty of native plant fibers and the ancient artisanal traditions of Yucatán, Mexico. Since 2012, Angela and her talented team of artisans have been collaborating on design and production of textiles, luxury products and limited edition works, handcrafted from the fibers of agave and sansevieria plants. Her operation is full circle from harvesting and defibering plants to producing the final products. Her constant search for innovation result in unique pieces that bring imagination to life. Angela’s efforts not only connects centuries-old knowledge with contemporary design, it aims to help stimulate local economic development and preserve the cultural heritage of Mayan communities.

Her work is produced at her studio located at a historic hacienda in Yucatan, Mexico, and in neighboring villages. She cultivates her own materials for her work at the hacienda, including henequen agave, sisalana agave and sansevieria. Her first endeavor was to weave a highly refined textile from henequen fiber using the ancient process of a backstrap loom in collaboration with local women who are experts in this craft. The result was a beautiful luminous textile which opened up opportunities for new designs and applications in the luxury goods market. She has since continued exploring unique art and design ideas with plant fibers, extending her efforts to include espadin agave from the fields of Oaxaca.

Angela’s work has been shown in several museums and exhibitions around Mexico and abroad, including the Museo de Arte Popular, Fundación de Artistas, Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo MUAC, Museo Franz Mayer, Epiphany Arts Center Chicago, Zona Maco, London Craft Week, Design Miami, Paris Design Week, Object D’Art, FOG Design and Art Fair, Le Tri Postal, and more. She has been featured in various publications including Vogue, Architectural Digest Mexico, Architectural Digest US, New York Times, Times Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Monocle, Departures, L’Officiel Mexico, Manera, Trend Tablet, Selvedge Magazine, Hotbook and Coolhunter, among others.

Angela studied Fashion, International Business, and Natural Resources at the University of Wisconsin campuses. She spent 20 years in international development of plant based products, renewable energy, and sustainability initiatives in the U.S., Canada, China, India, Brazil, Australia, Spain (Canary Islands), Brussels (for the E.U.), Mexico, and Argentina. She made her way back to her first passion of design, incorporating inspirations she has gained from her world travels.

Developing Your Posture for Growth

Are you at a crossroads, contemplating the next chapter of your life, or simply seeking to enrich your life journey with purpose and joy? This workshop helps you develop the art of personal transformation and tap the source of enduring well-being. Discover how ancient teachings and modern science converge to illuminate the path of lifelong learning and adaptability. Engage in reflection and reframing exercises, thought-provoking discussions, and practical growth hacks to spark curiosity, creativity, and connection in your life!  You can attend all of the sessions for a complete guide to sustainable lifetime learning or attend any single session for a self-contained sample of insights and actions you can take to support your personal growth.

The Foundations of a Personal Growth Posture
In this session, you’ll expand your understanding of adult maturity and longevity with a tour of modern adult development frameworks that are anchored with insights from ancient religions. Assess if you are both ready and able. Explore how adopting a posture of insatiable curiosity, a desire for excellence, and an appetite for experimentation puts you in the best position to navigate the path of personal growth.

Radical Self Awareness is Fuel for Growth
When you embrace the power of deep self-knowledge you can break out of common patterns in roles and relationships that hold you back. This session offers introspective exercises based on Transactional Analysis and the Drama Triangle and helps you uncover and understand various aspects of your personality. Success in any journey depends on a sound understanding of where you are in the first place, but due to many psycho-social dynamics, this is a surprisingly difficult location to establish.

Update Your Story and Clarify Your Vision
Self-talk and historical events have a strong grip on our ability to engage and act in almost any life situation. Here we will focus on personal storytelling, core values, and priorities. Drawing from the principles of several leading psychology frameworks we’ll explore the idea of competing commitments and the interaction of your three selves. The activities in this session provide a transformative step toward living a life of purpose, intention, and fulfillment.

Accelerate Your Evolution
This session offers “growth hacks” to spark your growth and move you forward. We’ll experiment with practical and powerful exercises from resilience training, cognitive behavioral approaches, and habit design to give you a toolkit of quick, effective strategies to overcome obstacles, embrace challenges, and make significant strides in your personal growth.

Regenerative Practices for Sustainable Growth
Nurturing long-term well-being and growth is not a one-time treatment. It’s about cultivating practices that ensure ongoing development that expands your heart, mind, and soul to encounter the full potential of humankind. Learn how to establish routines and practices that nourish and renew you, physically, mentally, and emotionally… in concert as a whole person.

 

John Foster is a leadership coach and organization designer who helps people and organizations perform at their best. He has served many of the world’s most innovative companies helping them through transformation and scaling challenges. He’s held Chief People Officer roles at IDEO, Hulu, Thrive Market, and TrueCar and significant HR leadership roles at Fidelity Investments, Levi Strauss, and Citibank, John founded Gamut HCD (Human Centered Design) as a platform to advise companies and build tools that help people learn and grow. He maintains a variety of relationships from short-term projects to long-term advisory and full-time leadership roles. He has deep expertise in psychology, organization behavior, leadership, and communication; and has spent thousands of hours facilitating workshops and coaching leaders.  John started his career leading outdoor education and team-building programs for schools and community organizations and earned a Master’s degree in experiential learning from Colorado State University and a dual BA in Psychology and Communication from Miami University. He lives in California with his wife and four children and enjoys travel, playing guitar, and adventure sports.

The Great Microbiome and Other Topics

The Great Microbiome: Our Greatest Ally for Optimal Health
It is becoming common knowledge that gut bacteria are connected to aspects of health, including inflammation, body weight, cancer, immunity, brain function, and so much more. Norma will discuss the benefits of gut bacteria and its impact on our health when out of balance, including how it prepares us for novel viruses that continue to evolve in our world today.

The Top 10 Ways to Heal Your Gut & Maximize Your Microbiota
Considering the amazing benefits of our gut bacteria and its implications on our health, how can we be sure we are eating to maximize our microbiota? Our gut bacteria are influenced by our diet, environment, age, activity, hygiene and stress level. Norma will discuss better foods, lifestyle choices, and updates on supplements that heal and support a healthier gut.

Epigenetics: Your DNA is NOT Your Destiny!
Our DNA was originally thought to be pre-programmed and could not be changed. We were stuck with what we got! That has all changed with the new understanding of Epigenetics, which is the ability of nutrition and other environmental factors to turn human genes on or off. In other words, our food intake and lifestyle behaviors have an effect on how our genes are expressed!  How about those “bad” genes that run in your family? There is new hope!  Learn how your family history, current symptoms, and/or genetic testing can point out deficiencies that can be supported with nutrition, supplements and changes in your environment.

BONE DEEP: Everything that Matters for Better Bone Health!
Did you know that the prevalence of osteoporosis increased for women from 2007-2008 to 2017-2018?  Is it true that calcium supplementation can be harmful?  Are there other nutrients that are more important for bone health?  What other factors matter for bone health?  Join Norma to learn a comprehensive approach to improve bone health.  It’s important for everyone, considering low bone density is prevalent in over 50% of women and over 30% of men aged 50 and over. We have a lot to talk about!

 

Norma Flood, MS, RDN, delves deeper to treat problems where they start.  Motivated by her own health challenges and those of her clients, she applies functional nutrition therapy to effectively treat or support digestive health, mental health, and eating disorders.  Life coaching is also central in her practice. With a background in Pharmacology & Toxicology, Norma’s journey started in research at Viagene-Center for Gene Therapy.  Personal health issues then moved her to get a master’s degree in nutrition and then complete her clinical training in a highly competitive dietetic internship at the UCSD Medical Center.   Norma was awarded the Outstanding Graduate Student for her major, and the Outstanding Dietetic Intern for the state of California.  Her 20+ years of experience as a dietitian include UCSD Cancer Center, UCSD Medical Center, Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, SDSU Student Health Services and Athletics, and finally Private Practice as an Integrative and Functional Nutritionist. Norma also has a passion for reaching out to youth, which inspired her to start a school garden program at Painted Rock Elementary School, as well as establish Poway Unplugged, which included a tween/teen day camp to teach positive coping tools and balanced health to young girls. Norma is a mother to a 17-year-old daughter and a 15-year-old son in Poway, California.  During her free time, she loves hiking, yoga, gardening and time with family and friends.

The Great Microbiome and Other Topics

The Great Microbiome: Our Greatest Ally for Optimal Health
It is becoming common knowledge that gut bacteria are connected to aspects of health, including inflammation, body weight, cancer, immunity, brain function, and so much more. Norma will discuss the benefits of gut bacteria and its impact on our health when out of balance, including how it prepares us for novel viruses that continue to evolve in our world today.

The Top 10 Ways to Heal Your Gut & Maximize Your Microbiota
Considering the amazing benefits of our gut bacteria and its implications on our health, how can we be sure we are eating to maximize our microbiota? Our gut bacteria are influenced by our diet, environment, age, activity, hygiene and stress level. Norma will discuss better foods, lifestyle choices, and updates on supplements that heal and support a healthier gut.

Epigenetics: Your DNA is NOT Your Destiny!
Our DNA was originally thought to be pre-programmed and could not be changed. We were stuck with what we got! That has all changed with the new understanding of Epigenetics, which is the ability of nutrition and other environmental factors to turn human genes on or off. In other words, our food intake and lifestyle behaviors have an effect on how our genes are expressed!  How about those “bad” genes that run in your family? There is new hope!  Learn how your family history, current symptoms, and/or genetic testing can point out deficiencies that can be supported with nutrition, supplements and changes in your environment.

BONE DEEP: Everything that Matters for Better Bone Health!
Did you know that the prevalence of osteoporosis increased for women from 2007-2008 to 2017-2018?  Is it true that calcium supplementation can be harmful?  Are there other nutrients that are more important for bone health?  What other factors matter for bone health?  Join Norma to learn a comprehensive approach to improve bone health.  It’s important for everyone, considering low bone density is prevalent in over 50% of women and over 30% of men aged 50 and over. We have a lot to talk about!

 

Norma Flood, MS, RDN, delves deeper to treat problems where they start.  Motivated by her own health challenges and those of her clients, she applies functional nutrition therapy to effectively treat or support digestive health, mental health, and eating disorders.  Life coaching is also central in her practice. With a background in Pharmacology & Toxicology, Norma’s journey started in research at Viagene-Center for Gene Therapy.  Personal health issues then moved her to get a master’s degree in nutrition and then complete her clinical training in a highly competitive dietetic internship at the UCSD Medical Center.   Norma was awarded the Outstanding Graduate Student for her major, and the Outstanding Dietetic Intern for the state of California.  Her 20+ years of experience as a dietitian include UCSD Cancer Center, UCSD Medical Center, Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, SDSU Student Health Services and Athletics, and finally Private Practice as an Integrative and Functional Nutritionist. Norma also has a passion for reaching out to youth, which inspired her to start a school garden program at Painted Rock Elementary School, as well as establish Poway Unplugged, which included a tween/teen day camp to teach positive coping tools and balanced health to young girls. Norma is a mother to a 17-year-old daughter and a 15-year-old son in Poway, California.  During her free time, she loves hiking, yoga, gardening and time with family and friends.

Mah Jongg

Mah Jongg  • The Beauty and Soul of Mah Jongg
Come hear Toby Salk’s lively lecture about the history of how Mah Jongg became so popular in the United States, how Mah Jongg has seeped into popular culture, and so much more. Toby’s mother and aunts played Mah Jongg before she was born. So, you might say she first heard the clicking and clacking of Mah Jongg tiles in the womb! Don’t miss this wonderful and wacky Toby Salk talk! You do not need to be a player to attend!

Beginners Mah Jongg–American Style (60 mins) – 4 sessions
This class will teach you the basics of playing American Mah Jongg according to the National Mah Jongg League Guidelines. The focus will be on tile recognition, rules, strategy and lots of fun! This is also a great class to take if you are rusty and want to go back to the basics. You must be present for the first class if you really want to learn.

After the end of a long-term corporate job, Toby Salk knew it was time for reinvention. She tried on all of the hats she’d worn throughout her life, seeing if one might fit again. One night, she was sitting at a dinner party with a successful bakery owner. She looked at her squarely in the eye and said, “You should be teaching Mah Jongg.” Before Toby could protest, she offered her bakery in the evenings for her first class. Experimenting on friends first, she then organized her first class at Sweet Adeline Bakery and had to turn people away. It was a huge success. Now she is teaching all over the Bay Area, including two exclusive women’s clubs on Union Square, Berkeley Adult School, Orinda Park and Rec, and private homes.