Events Archive

TODAY MATTERS: Why Today Impacts Tomorrow’s Success

Join us for a transformative four-session journey as we unveil the art of crafting a fulfilling day and its profound impact on your tomorrow. In this exploration, we’ll challenge common misconceptions about success while navigating the realms of personal reflection, growth, and self-discovery.

During these sessions, you’ll be encouraged to take vital incremental steps that pave the way for daily success by delving into six key daily practices over four sessions.

Session 1: Introduction
Unveil the secrets of a fulfilling day and how today shapes your future in this inspiring introductory session.

Session 2: Attitude and Priorities
Discover how your attitude opens doors to endless possibilities and how setting priorities sharpens your focus on the path to success.

Session 3: Health and Family
Explore the vital role of health for enduring strength and the stabilizing influence of family in shaping your journey.

Session 4: Thinking and Growth
Harness the power of strategic thinking for a competitive edge and unlock your boundless potential through a focus on growth.

Remember, the most remarkable miracle is transforming who you are today into who you want to be tomorrow. Your canvas is today—start now to create a brand-new ending. Join us to embrace the significance of Today Matters!

Mark Wuttke | CEO Peer Advisory | Strategic Advisor | Leadership Coach | Speaker & Mentor

Mark brings over two decades of transformative leadership in the skincare and wellness industries, focusing on luxury wellness spas and eco-conscious markets. As a Vistage Chair, he coaches leadership groups in the world’s premier CEO Peer Advisory organization, cultivating enhanced leadership qualities that lead to better decisions and results among its 45,000+ global CEO membership.

As the founder of Wuttke Group LLC, Mark champions sustainable and ethical business practices, integrating these principles into innovative growth strategies. His leadership in C-level positions at companies like BABOR, AMALA Beauty, Primavera Life, Jurlique, and Cosmetic Solutions has spearheaded the launch of many successful product lines and impactful strategic initiatives that harmonize business success with environmental stewardship.

A certified executive coach with Maxwell Leadership, Mark’s talks, such as “Today Matters,” emphasize the profound impact of today’s choices on our future well-being and success. His commitment to sustainable wellness and authentic leadership makes him a respected voice at global forums, including the Global Wellness Summit and the Global Wellness Institute. He inspires audiences at prestigious academic institutions like Cornell University, FGCU, and FIU to embrace sustainable growth and fulfillment in every aspect of their personal and professional lives, aligning with holistic health and sustainable living.

Food as Medicine: Optimizing Your Health and Well-Being

Food Myths – What Should I Be Eating?
Am I getting enough protein? Should I limit carbs? What about fat? Do I need to eat organic? Is coffee good or bad for me? What about red wine? Which supplements should I take? Do I need to fast intermittently? Learn about the latest evidence for confusing nutrition topics. Leave with personalized goals to help you make healthier food choices.

Gut Health: Everything You Need to Know About the Microbiome
Review the latest evidence about optimizing your microbiome through dietary choices and other pillars of Lifestyle Medicine. You will leave this session with a personalized plan to improve your overall health by increasing the diversity of your microbiome.

Optimize Your Sleep
What are the best ways to improve your sleep? What is the role of nutrition, physical activity, mindfulness, and medication? We will review evidence-based strategies to getting a good night’s sleep. Leave with specific goals to help you sleep better.

Brain Health: Improve Your Mood and Reduce Your Risk for Dementia
Learn about how what you eat affects your brain including a discussion of the psychobiome and how nutrition and the other lifestyle medicine pillars (including physical activity, stress reduction, sleep) can help with depression, anxiety, ADHD and dementia.

Sarah-Anne Schumann, MD, MPH, is a physician who is board certified in both Family Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine. She graduated from Harvard College, Harvard Medical School, and Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. She previously served on the medical school faculty at the University of Chicago and University of Oklahoma-Tulsa. She completed her certificate in plant-based nutrition at eCornell and the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and is an advanced teacher of therapeutic yoga and a certified mindfulness meditation teacher.

Food as Medicine: Optimizing Your Health and Well-Being

The New Matriarchy + Writing Workshop

The New Matriarchy
There’s a new generation of powerful older women who are becoming a major force in our society. You don’t need to be a mother to be a matriarch, with female entrepreneurs, teachers, and community leaders shaping not just families but the society and the culture. Who are the new matriarchs, how are they changing the world, and what does this mean for your own life? Pamela Redmond, bestselling author of the upcoming novel The Matriarch, talks about the social and personal power of the modern matriarch.

The Five-Minute Writer Workshop
The author of a novel that became a hit TV show talks about how she wrote her bestselling book and how you can use the same creative techniques to become the author of your own life. Using writing and other innovative creativity exercises, this acclaimed novelist will guide you to transforming your life into fiction as well as using fiction-writing skills to create the life you want.

Pamela Redmond is the author of the novel Younger, which became the hit television show by Sex & the City’s Darren Star, along with 20 other books of fiction and nonfiction. Her newest novel, The Matriarch, a feminist spin on Succession, was published by Zibby Books in August 2024.

Photo Credit – Mark Hanauer

Create Your Reality: Strategies for Powerful Everyday Living

Where to Start? You Choose!
You craft your life using consistent building blocks. You’ll learn what they are, and how to apply them to your real life to create satisfaction and success on your terms. Return on 45-minute Investment: Self-awareness and fulfillment.

What Do You Believe? Get the Biggest Bang for Your Buck!
Much of what you believe to be “true” is actually beliefs. When you replace your limiting beliefs with expansive ones, you will change your choices and outcomes, often with little effort. Return on 45-minute investment: Forward momentum and clarity.

What to Do with Emotions (Inconvenient or Otherwise)
Emotions are complicated and not always convenient or controllable. I will teach you a simple framework to understand your emotions so you can leverage them for greater clarity and purpose. Return on 45-minute investment: Energetic clarity and feeling alive.

Healthy Inner Dialogue: Taming the Inner Critic
Your inner critic says you can’t or aren’t enough. We’ll use a powerful structure to discern which inner voices to trust (and not trust) to bring clarity and certainty to your relationships and decisions. Return on 45-minute investment: Self-compassion and freedom.

5 Steps to Create What You Want
Consciously or not, you create your reality. I will teach you 5 steps to intentionally craft your life so you can watch the reality you want unfold in magical and exciting ways. Return on 45-minute investment: Forward momentum, trust, and magic.

Christina Boyd-Smith, PhD Christina Boyd-Smith, PhD teaches you to craft your life with powerful strategies, grounded in day-to-day life. Christina is an accredited professional coach by the International Coach Federation. In addition to being the Corporate Rebel Coach, she works with clients 1:1 and in groups and is a speaker and author. With her no-nonsense and spirited style, she has helped leaders and teams in business, non-profit, and educational organizations around the world. Christina is a Returned Peace Corps volunteer from Pakistan and Nepal, a Moth storyteller, mom to two young adults, and makes a delicious pumpkin muffin.

Create Your Reality: Strategies for Powerful Everyday Living

Hands-On Cooking Classes and Soulful Garden Delights Dinner with Tanya Holland

Tanya offers hands-on culinary experiences, 3.5 hours each, during which you will enjoy preparing your own meal along with fellow cooks. Classes take place at La Cocina Que Canta, our culinary center on Tuesday and Wednesday, at 4pm. In addition, Chef Tanya will collaborate with La Cocina Que Canta’s Executive Chef Reyna Venegas and her team to create a special feast (with wine pairing!) on Thursday at 4:45pm.

Hands On Cooking Classes and Chefs Dinner Sign Up

Tuesday Hands-On Cooking Class 4:00 PM
Each class $145 (tax included). Class subject to change, check your weekly planner and schedule for updates. The maximum number of guests per class is 14.

Wednesday Hands-On Cooking Class 4:00 PM
Each class $145 (tax included). Class subject to change, check your weekly planner and schedule for updates. The maximum number of guests per class is 14.

Thursday Soulful Garden Delights 4:45 PM
Celebrate the abundance of our organic farm and the connection to community with a Farm-to-Table dining experience – a perfect blend of health, tradition, flavor, and fun! Cost is $150 per person, tax and wine pairing included. The maximum number of guests is 30. Sign Up at the Appointments Desk or through the link above.

Tanya Holland is the founder of the famed Brown Sugar Kitchen restaurant and author of Tanya Holland’s California Soul, Brown Sugar Kitchen and New Soul Cooking cookbooks. She is the Chef/Chair of The James Beard Foundation Awards. Her Oakland based restaurant received multiple Michelin Bib Gourmand awards. She is an in-demand public speaker who frequently leads the conversation on inclusion and equity in the hospitality industry. Holland holds a Bachelor of Arts in Russian Language and Literature from the University of Virginia, and a Grande Diplôme from La Varenne École de Cuisine in Burgundy, France. Holland competed on the 15th season of Top Chef on Bravo; was the host/soul food expert on Food Network’s Melting Pot and has made numerous television appearances including The Today Show, The Talk, CBS This Morning, Iron Chef, Master Chef and Selena + Chef. Holland a member of the prestigious Les Dames d’Escoffier Bay Area chapter, and was honored by the City of Oakland when June 5, 2012, was declared “Tanya Holland Day.” A year later she was awarded the Key to The City. Internationally, she served as a Culinary Diplomat for the US State Department in Kazakhstan and Mexico and taught classes in France for gastronomic travelers.

Hands-On Cooking Classes and Soulful Garden Delights Dinner with Tanya Holland

Hands On Cooking Classes and Chefs Dinner Sign Up

Tuesday Hands-On Cooking Class 4:00 PM
Each class $145 (tax included). Class subject to change, check your weekly planner and schedule for updates. The maximum number of guests per class is 14.

Concert: Eleonor Bindman and Lorenzo Marasso

GRAND TOUR – Mariacarla Cantamessa (flute) & Lorenzo Marasso (piano)
Program:

Johann Sebastian Bach: Sonata in G-minor BWV 1020
Paul Hindemith: Flute sonata
Francis Poulenc: Flute sonata FP 164
George Enescu: Cantabile and presto

VARIATIONS & FANTASIAS – Mariacarla Cantamessa (flute) & Lorenzo Marasso (piano)

Program:
Chopin: Variations on a Theme by Rossini
W.A. Mozart: Fantasia in C-minor (for piano solo)
Fauré: Fantaisie, Op.79
Borne: Fantaisie brillante sur ‘Carmen’

Mariacarla Cantamessa is a distinguished musician and educator with a rich background in transverse flute, music education, and instrumental teaching. She holds advanced degrees in these fields and has further honed her expertise through the prestigious Advanced Research Course for Music Education, organized by the Philharmonic Academy of Bologna in collaboration with the Italian Society for Music Education. As the co-artistic director of Cherasco Classical and Contemporary and the chamber music festival in collaboration with the Zephyr International Chamber Music Festival, Mariacarla has been instrumental in curating and promoting high-caliber musical events that bridge classical and contemporary genres. Her visionary leadership has brought together talented musicians and captivated audiences with innovative programming. Mariacarla’s passion for music education extends beyond performance. She has dedicated several years to educational research, contributing valuable insights to the field. Her expertise has been recognized on the international stage, where she has presented at conferences in Bremen, Dublin, Beijing, Cyprus, Samos, and Helsinki. Her scholarly work has been widely published, reflecting her commitment to advancing music education globally. With a blend of artistic excellence and academic rigor, Mariacarla continues to inspire and influence the world of music through her multifaceted career.

Lorenzo Marasso is an impassioned and sympathetic concert pianist, chamber musician, conductor, and recording artist. Dubbed the “king of repertoire”, his creative programming spans centuries and continents, often revealing lesser-known masterpieces. Lorenzo’s performances have been broadcast in numerous media outlets, including Radio Vaticana in Italy and Seattle’s 98.1 Classical King FM Northwest Focus LIVE, a radio show showcasing the Pacific Northwest’s diverse music scene. Equally inspired by contemporary music, performances have included the world premiere of, among others, “Partizan“, a staged melologue for pianist and actor, that Lorenzo commissioned LA-based composer Anne LeBaron, and the European premiere of Keith Jarrett’s Sonata for Violin and Piano. Further, in July 2020 he completed the Invention Project, a commission of 15 new pieces for piano inspired by J.S. Bach’s Inventions and Sinfonias. In 2017 Lorenzo founded Bauhaus Records, a recording label devoted to restoring a more healthy and direct relationship between musicians and the recorded product. The current catalogue includes the complete Inventions and Sinfonias by J.S. Bach, performed by Lorenzo, and Haydn’s The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross. In 2019 Lorenzo released his fourth album, Abenteuer, which captures enchanting performances of works by JS Bach and his son CPE Bach, Alban Berg, Joseph Haydn and Franz Liszt. Born in Torino, Italy, Lorenzo earned degrees in music performance from the Conservatorio di Milano in Italy and the Royal Academy of Music in the UK. Lorenzo lives in Seattle, Washington, where he performs regularly and enjoys collaborations with the Music Faculty at the University of Washington and Seattle University.

Gyrokinesis with Diane Daniel

Gyrokinesis is a complete movement system, for all levels and ages, and can be applied to a variety of situations, as one needs very little equipment. It incorporates many key principles from yoga, dance, gymnastics and Tai Chi. The class begins with the practitioner seated on a low stool, utilizing self-massage and simple breathing patterns to awaken the body. He or she mobilizes the spine through a series of arching, curling and spiraling movements. The corresponding breathing patterns in every movement help to stimulate the nervous system and open up energy pathways.

Diane Daniel trained as a classical dancer at the Hammond School in the UK. She spent over fifteen years as a professional dancer in Israel (The Israel Ballet) and Germany (Ballet Krefeld-Mönchengladbach, Tanztheater Heidelberg, Tanztheater Munster, and Tanztheater Freiburg). She is a certified Pilates, Gyrotonic & Grokinesis instructor.

Diane has worked with Alan Herdman at one of London’s most reputable Pilates studios. She also studied with Juliu Horvath in Germany for her Gyrotonic certification. She is a Pre-trainer in the Gyrotonic system and continues her education in Seattle with master trainer Karen Mullen.

Diane had her own private studio in Vancouver for over 20 years and now spends her time between Merida in Mexico and Vancouver.

Harvesting Your Stories

Each one of us lives a life overflowing with stories. Our challenge is to find the time and place to harvest those stories and share them with others.

Well, this week is the time and Rancho La Puerta is the place.

We’ll be gathering in Oaktree – the perfect spot for stories – where you will find yourself telling stories you never knew you knew. Through a series of fun and low-key exercises, Joel will lead you on a journey to discover tales from your life – of the amazing people you have known, places you have been, and gifts you’ve been given, all swirling around moments of grace, laughter, and awe.

As you craft and share your stories you will be honing your story skills learning tips and techniques that allow you to turn the treasures you find into tales you can recount to others. Note that our focus is not on performing – no stress or stage fright here – but sharing, in a way that is both joyous and healing. This is, after all, Rancho LaPuerta.

Why Tell Your Stories?
The more stories you find, the more opportunities you will find to share them. Over the many years Joel has been teaching at Rancho La Puerta, here are some of the ways participants have put their stories to use:

Connecting to other Ranch guests in lively mealtime conversations
Returning home to share them with children and grandchildren
Harnessing them in whatever work they do in the world
Strengthening whatever work they do in the world, formal or informal, paid or volunteer
Healing through finding the throughlines – and meaning – in their lives

It was over four decades ago that Joel ben Izzy set off to travel the world, gathering and telling stories. Since then, he has performed and led workshops at hundreds of locations throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. In addition to recording and producing six award-winning recordings of his stories, Joel is the author of The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness (Algonquin, 2003). Now translated into 18 languages, this memoir recounts his remarkable and unexpected journey into the world of silence, woven together with tales from his travels.

Joel is also one of the nation’s leading story coaches, with a client list that includes The Federal Reserve Bank, Stanford University, and Pixar Animation Studios. He travels to Rancho La Puerta from his home in Berkeley, California. For more on Joel – and videos – see www.storypage.com.

Pilates with Sarah Bertucelli

With a passion for holistic wellness and a deep understanding of the body-mind connection, Sarah Bertucelli is dedicated to transforming lives through the art of movement. As a proud member of the Rancho La Puerta family since 1996, Sarah brings a unique blend of expertise, enthusiasm, and creativity to the world of fitness and well-being. After receiving her BASI Pilates® accreditation under Rael Isacowitz’s direction (1999), Sarah subsequently joined BASI Pilates faculty(2003) helping to shape the future of Pilates education.Sarah’s dedication to spreading the benefits of Pilates reaches a global audience as she has been a part of the Pilates Anytime family since 2010. Her classes on this platform continue to inspire and empower individuals worldwide, making Pilates accessible to all.

When she’s not sharing her expertise around the world, Sarah calls Santa Barbara home. Here, she has cultivated her sanctuary – Del Sol Pilates – where she furthers the legacy of Joseph Pilates, nurturing the minds and bodies of her students. She brings her passion and knowledge from the world of dance and fitness to every class she leads. Her vast experience and artistry in these fields have enabled her to craft a unique approach to Pilates, blending elements of grace and strength, finesse, and fluidity.

As a Specialty Pilates presenter at Rancho La Puerta, Sarah Bertucelli brings a wealth of experience and a profound understanding of movement, wellness, and personal transformation. Her teaching is an invitation to embark on a journey of self-discovery, one that combines the core principles of Pilates with the elegance of dance and the vitality of fitness. Join her in this transformative experience and discover the power of movement in a way that only Sarah can deliver.

Matters That Matter® Standing At The Threshold: An Invitation to Transformation

Transformation is what happens when we allow ourselves to learn from and be changed by our experience. As we step into a new year we stand at a threshold, that space between what has been and what could be. Every threshold is an invitation to new awareness, growth, and transformation.

Join Molly Davis & Kristine Patterson for an inspiring and engaging week of reflection, exploration, and imagination. A time to take stock of where we’ve been, where we are, and where life might be calling us.

The Ranch offers that kind of rare spaciousness that makes room for slow wanderings and quiet wonderings, leaving guests refreshed, renewed, and ready to step out with more clarity, courage, and grace. Every Matters That Matter® session is designed to serve and enhance that renewal process.

Evening Program

Threshold Moments
There are such things as “threshold moments”. Those times when we are invited to step over fear and uncertainty and venture out into the unknown. Such moments invite us to be curious, and they call upon our courage. When we accept the invitation, we find our way to an even more authentic and full-hearted life. Come listen, reflect, and consider your own threshold moments…past, present, and future.

Workshop #1: Standing At The Threshold
If transformation is what happens when we are changed by our experience, then taking the next right step begins with a right understanding of where we’ve been and where we are now. Our lives don’t happen by accident. We participate in creating them every day and one step at a time. Join Molly & Kristine as they create a safe space for you to engage in some courageous thinking and thoughtful action planning.

Workshop #2: Discernment: The Practice of Choosing Wisely
Regardless of life chapter or circumstance, we can all be inundated with decisions, responsibilities, challenges, opportunities, and possibilities. Where to invest our time, energy, money, skills, and gifts? Where, how, and to whom do we offer what we have to give? This workshop introduces you to a practical discernment framework that will help you choose wisely.

Workshop #3: The 3×5 Card
Transformation often invites us to speak up in new ways. We can find ourselves in situations that test our ability to hold onto ourselves, say what we mean and mean what we say. Come discover how a small 3×5 card can become a mighty tool to help you communicate in a way that better reflects who you are and what matters to you.

Molly L Davis

Connector + Writer + Speaker.

“CONNECTING is my way of moving through the world, always on the lookout for ways to create deeper connections. With ourselves, one another, the Sacred, and the world around us. Connecting who we are with how we live is how it is meant to be.”

Molly is the author of the award winning BLUSH: Women & Wine, a book in which she explores why she often used wine as a classy looking way to cope with stress, dull pain, and avoid discomfort, and why others might do the same. And yes, she still loves good wine. The founder of Trailhead Coaching &Consulting, she helps people courageously step more fully into their own lives.

Kristine Patterson

Potter + Maker + Storyteller

“I HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND that the beauty of pottery lies in its imperfections. The subtle variations and ridges in the glaze, the unique shapes born from a spontaneous touch of the hand – these are the elements that give my work character and authenticity. Each day as I step into my studio a sense of reverence washes over me.”

A few years ago, Kristine launched beanpole pottery in a quiet studio in her backyard. What started out as a hobby and way to process life, became a full-time business. She now ships her gorgeous, custom work all over the world. Each piece has a soul that, like ours, is perfect in its imperfection.

Kristine and Molly are the founders of Matters That Matter®, a partnership dedicated to inspiring people to live according to what matters most. Their powerful message has been heard at national conventions, annual fundraisers, and spirituality and wellness retreats. They co-authored the book Letters to Our Daughters. A collection of 44 letters from women around the world to their daughters, it illustrates the common threads that connect us in spite of our differences. Translated into three languages, this beautiful book was featured on the Oprah Show.

They’ve been best friends for almost 50 years.

Concert with Nicholas McGegan, Martha Aarons, Lev Polyakin, and Joanna Morrison

Chamber Music Concert with Nicholas McGegan, piano, Martha Aarons, flute, Lev Polyakin, violin, Joanna Morris, cello

Nicholas McGegan, British born conductor and performer, is now in his sixth decade on the podium. For 34 years he was Music Director of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra in the Bay Area, as well as Principal Guest Conductor of the Pasadena Symphony, Artistic Director of the Göttingen International Handel Festival (1991-2011), Music Director of the Irish Chamber Orchestra, and in the 1990’s, Principal Guest conductor of Scottish Opera and the Drottningholm Court Theatre in Sweden. He has recorded over a hundred CDs specializing in music of the Baroque and Classical periods. He has directed orchestras all over the world and at such opera houses as Covent Garden. In addition to performing, he lectures regularly at the Juilliard School of Music and Yale. He has been a visiting scholar at Harvard. In 2010 he was made an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) for ‘services to music abroad’

Martha Aarons’professional career began with her appointment as principal flute of the North Carolina Symphony. Subsequently she played with the Cleveland Orchestra for 25 years. After becoming a freelancer, she performed often with the Philadelphia Orchestra. During this time, she appeared as guest principal flute with the Metropolitan Opera, Minnesota Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, and Mostly Mozart Festival. Ms. Aarons served as Artist Faculty with the Aspen Music Festival for 19 years. Her teaching credits include the Cleveland Institute of Music, Duke University, University of North Carolina/Chapel Hill, Oberlin College, Skidmore College, Shanghai Conservatory and Eastman School of Music. She has been soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, Ohio Chamber Orchestra, and with the Aspen Festival Chamber and Festival orchestras. Her first solo CD, The History of the Tango, is recorded on the Azica label and additionally features pianist Frances Renzi and Grammy-winning guitarist Jason Vieaux. Her newest release is the CD Last Silence with violinist Lev Polyakin and pianist Frances Renzi. Martha is also an avid runner and has qualified for her fifth consecutive Boston Marathon in April 2025.

Lev Polyakin was appointed co-concertmaster of the Moscow Chamber Orchestra at age 21. In that position he was regularly featured as soloist. In the U.S. he served as assistant concertmaster of the Cleveland Orchestra, as well as concertmaster of the American Academy of Conducting in Aspen Music Festival. Lev has won several prizes in international violin competitions, including the Beethoven Prize in Carl Flesch in London, and Gold Medal and Special Prize in Brescia, Italy. In addition to solo performances with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, he has appeared as soloist with the London Mozart Players, Royal Philharmonic, and Cleveland Orchestra. Recording credits include Melodia, BBC, National Public Radio, and Decca. He is prominently featured on an album entitled Cafe Music comprising chamber music by Paul Schoenfield, which was nominated for a Grammy. Lev has a special interest in jazz and has recorded three CDs, entitled Russian Blue, The Other Side of the Road, and Christmas Kaleidoscope. He is also featured in the recent release by Azica Records entitled Last Silence, with flutist Martha Aarons and pianist Frances Renzi.

Cellist Joanna Morrisoncompleted her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Degrees at Boston University. In 2007 Ms. Morrison won a position in the Honolulu Symphony and served as principal cello of the Hawaii Symphony from 2012 to 2015. Concert tours have taken Ms. Morrison to Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea as well as much of Europe and the United States performing under conductors including Zubin Mehta, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Leonard Slatkin, David Zinman and Manfred Honeck. Joanna was an acting member of the San Diego Symphony from 2016-2020. An avid chamber player, Ms. Morrison has collaborated with various artists and has studied under members of the Guarneri and Juilliard Quartets. She has received fellowships to summer festivals around the world including Verbier Festival where she served as principal cellist for the world tour with Charles Dutoit and Martha Argerich.

Refresh and Renew with Sound

What is sound healing?
Each sound healing is created to help clear energetic blockages, neutralize tension and increase the vitality of the human body. Each session embraces sound as a technology to help activate and direct the natural energy that resides in everyone. When your true inner vibrations are spinning in harmony with the outer cosmic energy then your whole being comes into balance.

‘DJ’ will be bringing a collection of instruments including planetary gongs, singing bowls, flutes, chimes, drums and more. He will be facilitating daily gong sound healing experiences that will include many sound healing techniques used to reduce stress in the body and revitalize the body to feel refreshed and balanced.

Gary ‘Dhyanjot’ Grenus aka ‘DJ’ is a Gong Master Sound Healer, E-RYT500 Certified Lead Trainer at the Integrated School of Yoga and Sound Healing in San Diego, and author of the “11 Day Evolution Cleanse and Detox” Program. DJ is a graduate from TCU, School of Healing Arts, and five different yoga teacher training programs. He has been practicing and teaching various yoga styles and techniques since 1999. DJ has a private practice in San Diego where he facilitates yoga teacher/sound healing trainings, gong Immersions/sound healings, ‘Mastering Self’ life coaching, and a quarterly yoga cleanse and detox program. Each of his programs helps people manage stress, fatigue, hypertension, trauma, addiction, depression, anxiety, inflexibility, indigestion, and weight.

Yoga with Larry Payne

Larry Payne, Ph.D.,C-IAYT, E-RYT500,YTRX-1000, is an internationally respected Yoga teacher, author, and a founding father of Yoga therapy in America. Dr. Payne cofounded the International Association of Yoga Therapists, now in 50 countries, and the Yoga curriculum at the UCLA School of Medicine. He is also co-founder of the Yoga Therapy Rx and Prime of Life Yoga programs at Loyola Marymount University, the corporate Yoga program at the J. Paul Getty Museum, and the original “Back Program” at Rancho La Puerta. In 2000, he was the first Yoga teacher to be invited to The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and in 1996, he performed the first documented headstand at the North Pole! He founded Samata International Yoga and Health Center in Los Angeles 1980, where he continues to teach groups and individuals. Dr. Payne is coauthor of the international bestseller Yoga for Dummies (Wiley), Yoga Basics (Wiley), Yoga Rx (Random House), The Business of Teaching Yoga (Samata International), and Yoga Therapy and Integrative Medicine (Turner). He is featured in the Prime of Life Yoga and Yoga Therapy Rx DVD series and globally online at Yoga International. Most recently, he is author of AARP’s Yoga after 50 for Dummies (Wiley). His website is Samata.com.

Yoga with Larry Payne

Larry Payne, Ph.D.,C-IAYT, E-RYT500,YTRX-1000, is an internationally respected Yoga teacher, author, and a founding father of Yoga therapy in America. Dr. Payne cofounded the International Association of Yoga Therapists, now in 50 countries, and the Yoga curriculum at the UCLA School of Medicine. He is also co-founder of the Yoga Therapy Rx and Prime of Life Yoga programs at Loyola Marymount University, the corporate Yoga program at the J. Paul Getty Museum, and the original “Back Program” at Rancho La Puerta. In 2000, he was the first Yoga teacher to be invited to The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and in 1996, he performed the first documented headstand at the North Pole! He founded Samata International Yoga and Health Center in Los Angeles 1980, where he continues to teach groups and individuals. Dr. Payne is coauthor of the international bestseller Yoga for Dummies (Wiley), Yoga Basics (Wiley), Yoga Rx (Random House), The Business of Teaching Yoga (Samata International), and Yoga Therapy and Integrative Medicine (Turner). He is featured in the Prime of Life Yoga and Yoga Therapy Rx DVD series and globally online at Yoga International. Most recently, he is author of AARP’s Yoga after 50 for Dummies (Wiley). His website is Samata.com.

Dance with Anna Matuszewski

Join us for a dance class that’s not just about movement but also about self-discovery, confidence, and building lasting friendships. Step into our vibrant and welcoming space, where we celebrate dance in all its forms. Are you ready to make unforgettable memories on the dance floor? Come dance with us!

Join Our Inclusive Dance Class: Embrace Movement, Unleash Your Creativity!

Are you ready to groove, express yourself, and have a blast on the dance floor? Look no further! Our dance class is a safe haven for dancers of all ages and abilities, where the focus is on nurturing a supportive and encouraging learning environment.

What to Expect:
Diverse Styles: Explore the world of dance through a variety of styles, from hip hop to funk, allowing you to discover your own unique dance persona.

Foundational Techniques: Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced dancer, we’ll build strong foundations that will take your skills to new heights.

Choreography and Movement: Unleash your creativity as we delve into the art of choreography and free movement. This class is all about discovering and expressing your true dance spirit.

Stretch and Flexibility: Enhance your dance abilities with a focus on stretching and flexibility. We believe that every body is capable of growth and progress.

Footwork and Turns: Learn intricate footwork and master those dazzling turns that will leave you spinning with joy.

Small Combinations: Delve into the excitement of combining dance steps to create beautiful and captivating sequences. Challenge yourself and grow as a dancer.

Why Choose Our Class:
All Ages and Abilities Welcome: No matter your age or dance experience, we welcome everyone with open arms. Our class is a melting pot of diverse talents, and we celebrate the uniqueness each dancer brings.

Learn Something New Each Class: Get ready for an adventure! In each session, we’ll introduce fresh and exciting material, ensuring that you’re continuously growing and expanding your dance repertoire.

Non-Competitive Environment: This class is about self-expression and personal growth, not competition. Embrace your journey as a dancer without the pressure to compare yourself to others.

Have Fun, Feel the Rhythm: Dance is an expression of joy, and that’s exactly what we aim to provide! Expect smiles, laughter, and a supportive community to dance alongside you.

No prior dance experience required—just an open heart and a passion for movement.

Meet Anna Matuszewski, a trailblazing force in the world of dance and choreography. For an impressive 14 years, Anna has graced the stage as the resident choreographer and lead dancer for the renowned Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Her artistic genius has shone brightly, shaping breathtaking performances for world tours, national and international TV appearances, music videos, and commercials.

For Anna, it’s not just about the movements, but the profound connection that dance fosters. Her choreography acts as a vessel for self-expression, self-acceptance, and a heightened awareness of the body and its limitless capabilities. Through the universal language of movement and music, she weaves together a tapestry of unity and empowerment.

In the realm of dance, Anna Matuszewski is a luminous guiding star—a beacon of creativity, love, and artistic expression that continues to ignite hearts around the globe.

“At the Ranch, worries fade like distant echoes and the universe reveals its secrets, guiding you towards a radiant inner glow.” -Anna