Keli Roberts has been recognized for many prestigious awards in the fitness industry. In 2003, she was named the IDEA International Fitness Instructor of the year. In 2005, Keli was awarded the Best Female Presenter and in 2008 she received the Lifetime Achievement OBOW award and in 2007 she was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame. Keli is an ACSM EP and holds certifications through FAI, and ACE as a GFI, HC, CPT and Senior Fitness Specialist. Moreover, Keli is an SCW Faculty Member, a Schwinn Senior Master Trainer and an Ambassador for Ryka.
Archives: Events
Cycle Strength with Keli Roberts
Keli Roberts has been recognized for many prestigious awards in the fitness industry. In 2003, she was named the IDEA International Fitness Instructor of the year. In 2005, Keli was awarded the Best Female Presenter and in 2008 she received the Lifetime Achievement OBOW award and in 2007 she was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame. Keli is an ACSM EP and holds certifications through FAI, and ACE as a GFI, HC, CPT and Senior Fitness Specialist. Moreover, Keli is an SCW Faculty Member, a Schwinn Senior Master Trainer and an Ambassador for Ryka.
Breath Work with Shanti Tilling
You can survive weeks without food, days without water, but only minutes without air!! Breath is absolutely vital for our survival and while every functional breath you take can enhance your health and vitality, dysfunctional breathing can lead to low energy levels, decreased focus and even illness.
Think you know how to breathe? Join Shanti for an educational and interactive exploratory breathing class and learn powerful practices to take control of your physical and emotional states!
Each performance breath class will combine ancient breathing practices with new age science for a unique experience that teaches participants how to consciously manage their energy and stress levels. You will learn specific and actionable breathing tools and techniques that both energize and promote deep relaxation.
Shanti Tilling is a leading personal trainer and fitness instructor, shaping the lives of clients around the globe. She has spent the last 26 years training both both indoors and outside, flying internationally with corporate clients, and 7 years as the onsite fitness instructor for 2 major film studios. As a holistic wellness coach specializing in true functional movement and corrective exercise, Shanti’s passion is inspiring people of all fitness abilities to be strong for what they love to do, and helping them create their own healthy, active lives.
Shanti is an outdoor fitness junkie and has cycled, ran, hiked, climbed, paddled, and surfed all over the world. Her love for adventurous travel combined with a passion for fitness led her to create Sweat Play Live fitness retreats in 2010. Shanti lives in Punta de Mita, Mexico and feels fortunate to spend time connecting with clients and retreat guests from around the world.
Breath Work with Shanti Tilling
You can survive weeks without food, days without water, but only minutes without air!! Breath is absolutely vital for our survival and while every functional breath you take can enhance your health and vitality, dysfunctional breathing can lead to low energy levels, decreased focus and even illness.
Think you know how to breathe? Join Shanti for an educational and interactive exploratory breathing class and learn powerful practices to take control of your physical and emotional states!
Each performance breath class will combine ancient breathing practices with new age science for a unique experience that teaches participants how to consciously manage their energy and stress levels. You will learn specific and actionable breathing tools and techniques that both energize and promote deep relaxation.
Shanti Tilling is a leading personal trainer and fitness instructor, shaping the lives of clients around the globe. She has spent the last 26 years training both both indoors and outside, flying internationally with corporate clients, and 7 years as the onsite fitness instructor for 2 major film studios. As a holistic wellness coach specializing in true functional movement and corrective exercise, Shanti’s passion is inspiring people of all fitness abilities to be strong for what they love to do, and helping them create their own healthy, active lives.
Shanti is an outdoor fitness junkie and has cycled, ran, hiked, climbed, paddled, and surfed all over the world. Her love for adventurous travel combined with a passion for fitness led her to create Sweat Play Live fitness retreats in 2010. Shanti lives in Punta de Mita, Mexico and feels fortunate to spend time connecting with clients and retreat guests from around the world.
Happy Hour for Hormones
Happy Hour for Hormones, With or Without Whine: B Y O H (Bring Your Own Hormones)
Join us for an open forum and lively discussion of hormonal issues for all ages. This is an informal “round table” discussion on a variety of hormonal issues that the guests would like to talk about. It will offer the opportunity for questions, answers and more!
Nancy Cetel, MD, is an engaging and passionate physician, author and professional speaker. Following her graduation from the New York University School of Medicine, she obtained her postgraduate training in Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of California, San Diego, and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Southern California. Her pioneering research in hormonal issues led to numerous publications and awards. Dr. Cetel is often referenced in books and journals, and is a frequently invited lecturer nationally and internationally. Live appearances and interviews have brought her acclaim as an accomplished communicator and advocate for an informed public. She is the author of Double Menopause: What to Do When Both You and Your Mate Go through Hormonal Changes Together. Her passions include her family, vegetarian cooking, dancing, and the joys of being a grandparent.
Embracing a Sensational Life
Embracing a Sensational Life
The traditional five physical senses of smell, taste, touch, vision, hearing are how humans interact with the world around them. They are incredibly complex and sensitive, yet they provide more limited information than what we believe, and are supported by over a dozen additional senses that you will be introduced to. The equally fascinating and uplifting cognitive senses of compassion, wonder, gratitude, and humor will be revealed and explored. The program offers you the opportunity to truly appreciate and embrace all of your vibrant and exhilarating senses. Embracing a Sensational Life Handout 2023
The Quest for Immortality
Quest for Immortality is an informative and entertaining program on the rapidly advancing field of age management with precision and preventive medicine. It offers a clear understanding of the advances and breakthroughs that are redefining our expectations of longevity and vitality. In addition to valuable and practical information, the program encourages and motivates the embrace of a healthy living and wellness philosophy.
Gut Feelings: Brain, Gut, Diet, Microbiome Connection
Prepare to be astounded by the revolutionary advances in the life sciences. New scientific discoveries have brought what had been considered science fiction to today’s reality. Our brain, gut, microbiome (the microbes that live in and on our body), diet, and genes are all intimately intertwined. They influence each other with profound effects on mood, energy, mental health, and overall wellness. The gut is a ‘second brain’ and has a vital role in our physical and mental health. This program will open your eyes to the dawning of a new era in medicine and health. Gut Instincts Brain, Gut, Microbiome, Diet Genome Connection Rancho La Puerta Handout 2023
Joseph B. Weiss, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF, is Clinical Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology) at the University of California, San Diego. He graduated from the Wayne State University School of Medicine, completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the University of California at Irvine, and did his clinical and research fellowship in Gastroenterology at the University of California, San Diego. He is Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. Under the auspices of the World Health Organization and others, he has pursued interests in Tropical and International Medicine and Public Health with stays in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. Dr. Weiss is also an accomplished humorist, professional speaker and the author of many acclaimed books on the topics of health, wellness, digestion and nutrition (To Air is Human; Got Guts: A Guide to Prevent and Beat Colon Cancer; Artsy Fartsy; A Digest on Digestion; The Scoop on Poop; and more at www.smartaskbooks.com). He has presented at international conferences, universities, medical centers, Fortune 500 companies, YPO/WPO, Bohemian Grove, Esalen, Aspen Brain Forum and international spas and resorts. He has co-hosted a popular health radio talk show, “Health News and Views” and truly enjoys educating and entertaining his audiences!
Healthy Knees & Bicycle Adventure
The 3 Secrets to Healthy Knees for Life – Presentation
Learn the 3 secrets to soothe, stabilize, and strengthen your knees so you do the things you love.
Workshop: We will practice movements from the 4 Building Blocks to Strengthen Your Knees and cover the essentials for using a bicycle to soothe your knees.
Strengthen & Stabilize will include:
- Movement Foundations
- Balance
- Muscle Development
- Stretching
Soothing & Strengthening will include
- Bicycle set up
- Bicycle comfort tips
- How fast, how long, how hard to pedal
Workshop 1 Handouts:
- Handout: 4 Building Blocks for Strong & Stable Knees Handout – 4 Building Blocks for Strong & Stable Knees
- Handout: Bike Fit & Comfort Checklist Handout – Bike Fit & Comfort Checklist Settings
Bicycle Touring: Our Coast-to-Coast Ride Across America – Presentation
See the beauty and challenges on our self-supported bicycle journey from Bellingham, Washington to Yorktown, Virginia.
Workshop: What it takes to plan your own bicycle adventure Workshop- Bicycle Adventure Checklist
- Choose Your Ride Type
- Full Support
- Some Support
- Self-Supported
- Choose Your Ride Intensity
- Casual and Flat
- Mix of Hills & Flats
- Rigorous Hills
How Far & How Hard? Daily Miles & Sightseeing
- 15-30 miles
- 30-45 miles
- 50+ miles
- Bike Gear – beyond the bike
- Saddle
- Bags & Clothes
- Tools & Repairs
- Safety Tips for riding in a group
- How to look over your shoulder and not swerve
- Drafting and distance
- Responsibilities of riders in the group
- Training for your Adventure
- How to create your bicycle training plan
- Strength training to support
- Hydration – getting enough
Robin Robertson, international best-selling author of three Healthy Knees books and founder of HealthyKneesCoach.com, will share the secrets of staying active even with knee issues. Robin is the owner and General Manager of the Bellingham Training & Tennis Club, USA Cycling Coach, ACE Personal Trainer, and creator of Healthy Knees programs. She’s an accomplished cyclist having logged over 50,000 miles on her bike through training, touring, and racing. Robin was born with a congenital defect which led to 12 knee surgeries (including replacements) and a passion to help others to find strength and stability in their knees and live an active life.
www.BeTrainingTennis.com
Robin@BeTrainingTennis.com
Author & Founder
www.HealthyKneesCoach.com
Robin@HealthyKneesCoach.com
Healthy Knees & Bicycle Adventure
The 3 Secrets to Healthy Knees for Life – Presentation
Learn the 3 secrets to soothe, stabilize, and strengthen your knees so you do the things you love.
Workshop: We will practice movements from the 4 Building Blocks to Strengthen Your Knees and cover the essentials for using a bicycle to soothe your knees.
Strengthen & Stabilize will include:
- Movement Foundations
- Balance
- Muscle Development
- Stretching
Soothing & Strengthening will include
- Bicycle set up
- Bicycle comfort tips
- How fast, how long, how hard to pedal
Workshop 1 Handouts:
- Handout: 4 Building Blocks for Strong & Stable Knees Handout – 4 Building Blocks for Strong & Stable Knees
- Handout: Bike Fit & Comfort Checklist Handout – Bike Fit & Comfort Checklist Settings
Bicycle Touring: Our Coast-to-Coast Ride Across America – Presentation
See the beauty and challenges on our self-supported bicycle journey from Bellingham, Washington to Yorktown, Virginia.
Workshop: What it takes to plan your own bicycle adventure Workshop- Bicycle Adventure Checklist
- Choose Your Ride Type
- Full Support
- Some Support
- Self-Supported
- Choose Your Ride Intensity
- Casual and Flat
- Mix of Hills & Flats
- Rigorous Hills
How Far & How Hard? Daily Miles & Sightseeing
- 15-30 miles
- 30-45 miles
- 50+ miles
- Bike Gear – beyond the bike
- Saddle
- Bags & Clothes
- Tools & Repairs
- Safety Tips for riding in a group
- How to look over your shoulder and not swerve
- Drafting and distance
- Responsibilities of riders in the group
- Training for your Adventure
- How to create your bicycle training plan
- Strength training to support
- Hydration – getting enough
Robin Robertson, international best-selling author of three Healthy Knees books and founder of HealthyKneesCoach.com, will share the secrets of staying active even with knee issues. Robin is the owner and General Manager of the Bellingham Training & Tennis Club, USA Cycling Coach, ACE Personal Trainer, and creator of Healthy Knees programs. She’s an accomplished cyclist having logged over 50,000 miles on her bike through training, touring, and racing. Robin was born with a congenital defect which led to 12 knee surgeries (including replacements) and a passion to help others to find strength and stability in their knees and live an active life.
www.BeTrainingTennis.com
Robin@BeTrainingTennis.com
Author & Founder
www.HealthyKneesCoach.com
Robin@HealthyKneesCoach.com
Juice and Plant Based Recipes for Health and Healing
The Healing Power of Juicing
This presentation will show guests how to make juicing fun and easy. It offers an explanation of why we should juice and includes multiple studies on what juicing does for the body.
The 30-day Comprehensive Detox
This powerful presentation covers:
- Intestinal Cleanse
- Liver Gallbladder Detox
- Parasite Cleanse
- Kidney Cleanse
- Lung Cleanse
- Lymphatic Cleanse
- Lung Cleanse
How We Heal; The Anti-inflammatory Diet
This presentation will clarify how the anti-inflammatory diet is extremely important in healing and maintaining good health. It will offer suggestions of how to shop, prepare food, and eat out for achieving and maintaining vibrant health.
Cherie Calbom, M.S. is a leading authority on juicing for health and detoxification. Known as The Juice Lady and America’s Most Trusted Nutritionist, TV chef and celebrity nutritionist, she has helped in pioneering the fresh juice movement around the world. Cherie is the author of 35 books including her bestseller Juicing for Life with over 2 million books sold. She holds a Master of Science degree in whole foods nutrition from Bastyr University where she sat on the Board of Regents for five years. Cherie has received two Lifetime Achievement Awards and was also awarded Juicing Expert of the Year 2019 by Global Health & PharmaMagazine. She was George Foreman’s nutritionist and the other spokesperson for the George Foreman Grills. Cherie has lectured worldwide on juicing, detoxing and fasting including consulting for the Royal Family of the UAE. She and her husband offer juice and raw foods retreats throughout the year.
Instagram: @juiceladycherie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejuicelady
Twitter: https://twitter.com/juiceladycherie
Bring Nature into Your New Year!
Get your Nature Groove on! Be Dazzled by signs of Wildlife up Close and Personal.
Examine a variety of nature items and explore some of nature’s mysteries and experiences right here at the Ranch. Be awed by this nature exploration presentation as Judie Lincer shares fascinating wildlife tales and tidbits.
Whose Scat is That? And Other Signs of Wildlife
Learn about what wildlife lives at Rancho La Puerta, what they are dining on and what is dining on them. You will put on your Naturalist Investigator’s hat and examine animal tracks, scat (poop), and other animal signs in order to understand the ecological relationship between wildlife and their surroundings.
Ethnobotany-How Native Americans Used Plants for Food, Shelter, Medicine, and more. Nature Field Experience
Ethnobotany is the study of a region’s plants and their practical uses through traditional knowledge of culture and people. Join me as we explore areas of the ranch and learn about what native plants were used for millennia for a variety of everyday uses around the surrounding environs. Touch, smell and even taste some plants!
Birding & Nature Walk. Nature Field Experience
Enjoy birding with binoculars and examine ecosystems and adaptations of both plants and wildlife seen at the Ranch.
Judie Lincer, M.S. Ed. is a Naturalist Educator with San Diego Audubon, who has over 30 years of teaching experience and guides hikes educating people about ecosystems, adaptations, ethnobotany (the study of a region’s plants and their uses through the traditional knowledge of a local culture). She is an enthusiastic speaker who inspires others to develop an appreciation of the environment. Judie is a Workshop and Tour Director for the California Native Plant Society-San Diego.
Concert with Theo Bleckmann
Theo Bleckmann is a two-time Grammy®-nominated jazz singer and new music composer whose diverse recorded work includes albums of avant-garde jazz, Las Vegas show tunes, Weimar art songs, a capella vocal acrobatics, newly-arranged songs by Charles Ives (with jazz/rock collective Kneebody); and his highly acclaimed Hello Earth! – The Music of Kate Bush, leading his work to be described as “from another planet” (New York Times), “transcendent” (Village Voice) and “brilliant” (New York Magazine). He is currently performing the solo role in Pulitzer Prize winning composer David Lang’s opera (commissioned by the Japan Society) “Note to a Friend”.
Bleckmann, who has been residing in New York City since 1989, has appeared as a special guest on recordings by Ambrose Akinmusire (Blue Note) and Julia Hülsmann’s trio for ECM. In 2017 ECM released Theo’s recording with his Elegy Quintet, produced by Manfred Eicher. Bleckmann has a long-standing collaboration with guitar iconoclast Ben Monder and also collaborated with celebrated bass quartet The Westerlies on the album “This Land” (2021).
Theo Bleckmann has performed with musicians, dancers, visual artists, actors and composers, including Laurie Anderson, Uri Caine, Merce Cunningham, Philip Glass, Ann Hamilton, John Hollenbeck, Sheila Jordan, Phil Kline, Frances MacDormand, Mark Morris, David Lang, Ben Monder, Ulysses Owens, Kenny Wheeler, John Zorn, the Bang on a Can All-Stars, the WDR Jazz Bigband and hr radio big band Frankfurt and, most prominently, Meredith Monk, with whom Bleckmann has collaborated with for over 20 years. Bleckmann was interviewed by Terry Gross on NPR’s Fresh Air, appeared on the David Letterman show with Laurie Anderson and performed as a soloist with the St. Louis Symphonie at Carnegie Hall in Ms. Monk’s “Weave”. In 2015, he premiered his own commission for the American Composers Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. Bleckmann has been a regular presence in “Best of..” polls, from DownBeat, Jazz Times, Rhapsody, and WQXR. In 2010, Bleckmann received the prestigious JAZZ ECHO award in his native Germany. Bleckmann recently returned from Finland, where he performed his music, bringing together the Oulu Symphony with the UMO Jazz Orchestra on stage for the first time ever.
Photo credit to Lynne Harty
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.
Hands-On Cooking Classes and Chef’s Table Dinner with Leslie McGuirk
Leslie McGuirk & Chef Reyna Venegas offer hands-on culinary experiences aligned with the stars, 3.5 hours each, during which you will enjoy preparing your own meal along with fellow cooks and you will learn more about your natal chart and your connection with the universe through food. Classes take place at La Cocina Que Canta, our culinary center on Tuesday and Wednesday, at 4pm. In addition, Astrologer, Leslie McGuirk, 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
Sparkling New Beginnings: A Journey to the Stars!
Join us for a celestial celebration under the winter sky in Tecate. A five-course delectable dinner with wine pairings, curated by Executive Chef Reyna Venegas, using fruits and vegetables from our biodynamic garden – which was designed to be in sync with the rhythm of the planetary movements. With Astrologer, Leslie McGuirk, you will each learn about your Natal chart ( based on your birthdate, time and place of birth) which is similar to an owner’s manual. It describes your wiring system, and which foods are best to keep you in balance for the upcoming new Year!
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.
Sparkling New Beginnings: A Journey to the Stars!”
Thursday Farm-to-Table Dining Experience 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.
Leslie McGuirk’s children’s books include the Tucker Series, If Rocks Could Sing, and Wiggens Learns His Manners at the Four Seasons, which Martha Stewart calls “a charming introduction to the fine art of good behavior.” She has sold over 2 million books worldwide, but started as an untrained artist selling her T-Shirt designs out of the back of her car. She became a marketing phenomenon in Japan during the 1990’s. Takashimaya, the high-end Japanese department store produced over 800 products with her designs. She was also chosen as the designer for the restoration of the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel. Her “Quest for Inspiration” workshops began at Rancho La Puerta and have since been taught in many places including AARP, The Jim Henson Company, Wachovia Bank, Wilmington Trust, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and many others. Leslie’s well received TED talk in Hollywood CA on THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING WRONG can be found on the Web: lesliemcguirk.com
Executive Chef Reyna Venegas prepares fresh and delicious food that energizes, inspires, and nourishes guests. She fuses the culinary and cultural heritages of her own Northern Baja roots with the nutritious “spa cuisine” pioneered 80 years ago by Rancho La Puerta co-founder Deborah Szekely. At La Cocina Que Canta, “The Kitchen That Sings,” Chef Reyna teaches healthy eating as a celebration of life in farm-to-table cooking classes. As a lifelong learner, Chef Reyna attends the University of California, San Diego’s Integrative Nutrition program, which focuses on how food promotes wellness. She is also a graduate of the Culinary Art School in Tijuana, and holds a Pastry Degree from the Lycée Technique et Hôtelier de Monte-Carlo and Fondation Turquois. She and her husband Chef Marcelo Hisaki own Restaurante Amores, a hidden culinary jewel in the heart of Baja. Their cuisine is influenced by Mexican, Japanese and French cultures, using local produce with respect, love, and creativity. They have been selected by the Michelin Guide Mexico in 2024 and received the Exceptional Service Award.
Chef Reyna, as the manager of Team Mexico for the Bocuse d’Or since 2022, has been instrumental in guiding the team to compete in this prestigious culinary event. In 2023, Team Mexico was recognized with the Social Commitment Award for their impactful initiatives addressing food insecurity among migrants in Baja California. Now, they are poised to proudly represent Mexico once more at the Bocuse d’Or Finale 2025 in Lyon, France, after winning the Bocuse d’Or Americas Bronze this summer in New Orleans.
Hands-On Cooking Classes and Chef’s Table Dinner with Jean Courtney
Jean 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, Jean 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.
A Brain-Boosting Mexican Thanksgiving Feast
Thursday Farm-to-Table Dining Experience 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.
Jean Courtney is a researcher, writer, entrepreneur, and perpetual learner on a mission to make everyday wellness easy and efficient. A decade ago, after retiring as a legal investigator, Jean shifted her focus to learning everything possible to try and avoid the dementia that found her mom. She has put together easy, efficient and delicious ways to cook using neuroprotective ingredients, with an emphasis on minimizing inflammation and maximizing brain function. She has done extensive research and will help you understand the why behind making healthy choices for your brain and body. Jean recently completed a Soil to Table certification program living at Tres Estrellas organic farm and learning and practicing regenerative farming and food preservation techniques. She is a firm believer that your DNA is not always your destiny – your dinner plate can be your destiny.
Hands-On Cooking Classes and Chef’s Table Dinner with Odiseo Castrejon and Jean Courtney
Jean 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, Jean 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, Jean Courtney, 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, Edgar Castrejon, 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.
A Brain-Boosting Mexican Thanksgiving Feast with Odiseo Castrejon and Jean Courtney
Thursday Farm-to-Table Dining Experience 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.
Odiseo Castrejon is a proud first generation Mexican American, is a plant-based chef, art director, food content creator, and recently published cookbook author. Edgar has a B.S. in Horticulture and Plant Science. Growing up in Oakland, working on farms, Edgar has a deep appreciation for the land and the community of people working them. You can find Edgar sharing his work supporting these farms, hosting dinner events, and talking about nutrition. He tells stories and features a healthy combination of recipes and compelling food photography.
Jean Courtney is a researcher, writer, entrepreneur, and perpetual learner on a mission to make everyday wellness easy and efficient. A decade ago, after retiring as a legal investigator, Jean shifted her focus to learning everything possible to try and avoid the dementia that found her mom. She has put together easy, efficient and delicious ways to cook using neuroprotective ingredients, with an emphasis on minimizing inflammation and maximizing brain function. She has done extensive research and will help you understand the why behind making healthy choices for your brain and body. Jean recently completed a Soil to Table certification program living at Tres Estrellas organic farm and learning and practicing regenerative farming and food preservation techniques. She is a firm believer that your DNA is not always your destiny – your dinner plate can be your destiny.
Hands-On Cooking Classes and Chef’s Table Dinner with Debbie Kornberg
Debbie 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 Debbie 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 Farm-to-Table Dining Experience 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.
Chef Debbie Kornberg is a master teacher with more than 25 years of teaching experience. Since 2017, Debbie has been a monthly contributor on Fox 5 San Diego Morning News and has collaborated with Fortune 500 Companies, and non-profit organizations alike across the United States. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook, your time at Rancho La Puerta with Debbie will help you spice things up in the kitchen with flavors from around the world, prepare delicious food, and create community together. Explore the amazing art of cooking with spices and how they can be a serious game-changer for enhancing the flavor of your food. Ready to spice up your life? Let’s get cooking!
Hands-On Cooking Classes and Chef’s Table Dinner with Debbie Kornberg
Debbie 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 Debbie 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 Farm-to-Table Dining Experience 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.
Chef Debbie Kornberg is a master teacher with more than 25 years of teaching experience. Since 2017, Debbie has been a monthly contributor on Fox 5 San Diego Morning News and has collaborated with Fortune 500 Companies, and non-profit organizations alike across the United States. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook, your time at Rancho La Puerta with Debbie will help you spice things up in the kitchen with flavors from around the world, prepare delicious food, and create community together. Explore the amazing art of cooking with spices and how they can be a serious game-changer for enhancing the flavor of your food. Ready to spice up your life? Let’s get cooking!
Hands-On Cooking Classes with Chef AJ
AJ 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 AJ 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.
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 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.
Chef AJ has been devoted to a plant-based diet for almost 40 years. She is the host of the television series Healthy Living with CHEF AJ which airs on Foody TV. With her comedy background, she has made appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman and more. A chef, culinary instructor and professional speaker, she is author of the popular book Unprocessed: How to Achieve Vibrant Health and Your Ideal Weight, which chronicles her journey from a junk-food vegan faced with a diagnosis of pre-cancerous polyps, to learning how to create foods that nourish and heal the body Based in Los Angeles, Chef AJ teaches a monthly sold-out seminar featuring cooking instruction, nutritional science and song parodies, all delivered with comedic panache. Never content to leave her audience with mere “just do it” advice, she teaches how to create meals to transform their health, how to deal with cravings and food addiction and addresses the emotional side of eating. She is the creator of the Ultimate Weight Loss Program, which has helped hundreds of people achieve the health and the body that they deserve. Chef AJ was the Executive Pastry Chef at Sante Restaurant in Los Angeles where she was famous for her sugar, oil, salt and gluten free desserts which use the fruit, the whole fruit and nothing but the whole fruit. Chef AJ is also creator of Healthy Taste of LA and the YouTube cooking show The Chef and the Dietitian, and is proud to say that her IQ is higher than her cholesterol. Chef AJ holds a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from eCornell University and is a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.
Hands-On Cooking Classes and Cooking with Care Dinner with Catherine McConkie
Catherine 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 Catherine 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.
Tuesday Hands-On Cooking Class 4:00 PM Sign Up
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 Sign Up
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 Cooking with Care Dinner 4:45 PM Sign Up
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.
Catherine McConkie, NC is executive chef for Washington DC’s Center for Mind Body Medicine’s Food as Medicine professional nutrition training program and was chef faculty for CMBM’s comprehensive training program in partnership with Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis.
She is founder of The Caregivers Table; an educational cooking program designed to nourish the well being of clinical caregivers, and creator of Come to Your Senses; a sensory awareness-based food and movement series. Catherine served as core faculty for AIHM’s Integrative Medicine Fellowship program; is lead chef instructor at San Francisco General Hospital’s Wellness Center; and has worked over 15 years in the classroom teaching culinary and nutrition curriculums. She has spoken at several national conferences, folding the course content into cooking demos and hotel kitchen menus so participants can taste and experience healthy and delicious food firsthand.
In addition to recipe development and testing for 2 cookbook authors, Catherine wrote The Slow Cooker and the Instant Pot: Recipes, Tips, and Tricks to Get More Time with Less Pressure, and has two more books simmering; The Caregivers Table, and Silk Purse From a Sow’s Ear: How Still Edible Food Becomes Delicious Nutrition.
Catherine graduated from the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts in 2001 and Bauman College’s Nutrition Consultant Training program in 1999.
Hands-On Cooking Classes and Borderless Farm-to-Table Feast with Nina Garay
Nina 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 Nina 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 Borderless Farm-to-Table Feast 4:45 PM
Join us in creating cherished memories with our loved ones while relishing the authentic flavors of Mexican cuisine. This culinary event is 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.
Chef Janina Garay acquired her passion for cooking at a very young age learning from her grandmother over long leisurely preparations of family meals. Chef Janina received her degree in Culinary Arts, Administration and Service from Tijuana’s Culinary Art School in 2011. Shortly thereafter, she headed to Cantabria, Spain, joining 2 Michelin Star Cenador de Amos under Chef Jesus Sanchez, where she honed her skills. Upon her return, Chef Janina joined 1 Michelin Star Topolobampo with chef Rick Bayless, here she more fully developed her passion for Mexican gourmet pastry-making, which pulled her back to her origins at the US-Mexico border. Chef Janina was profoundly shaped and inspired during her time as Pastry Chef of Addison Del Mar, where, under Chef William Bradley, the restaurant was recognized as 5 Star Forbes Travel Guide, AAA 5 Diamond Restaurant, and, most recently, as Southern California’s only 3 Michelin star restaurant.
Chef Janina came home to Tijuana to experiment with the vast array of binational flavors, the culture and culinary shock which transpires in Tijuana with the arrival and addition of new cultures – Korean, Haitian, Ethiopian and more! Chef Nina is currently Culinary Director of the Be Saha Restaurant Group in Southern California and Baja California Norte, heading over 8 projects including The Guild Hotel and Wormwood in San Diego, Tahona in Valle de Guadalupe and San Diego and is dedicated to expanding the multicultural Calibaja culinary art scene.
Culinary Director, Be Saha Restaurant GroupSan Diego and Baja
Hands-On Cooking Classes and Borderless Farm-to-Table Feast with Nina Garay
Nina 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 Nina 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.
Tuesday Hands-On Cooking Class 4:00 PM Sign Up
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 Sign Up
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 Borderless Farm-to-Table Feast 4:45 PM Sign Up
Join us in creating cherished memories with our loved ones while relishing the authentic flavors of Mexican cuisine. This culinary event is 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.
Chef Janina Garay acquired her passion for cooking at a very young age learning from her grandmother over long leisurely preparations of family meals. Chef Janina received her degree in Culinary Arts, Administration and Service from Tijuana’s Culinary Art School in 2011. Shortly thereafter, she headed to Cantabria, Spain, joining 2 Michelin Star Cenador de Amos under Chef Jesus Sanchez, where she honed her skills. Upon her return, Chef Janina joined 1 Michelin Star Topolobampo with chef Rick Bayless, here she more fully developed her passion for Mexican gourmet pastry-making, which pulled her back to her origins at the US-Mexico border. Chef Janina was profoundly shaped and inspired during her time as Pastry Chef of Addison Del Mar, where, under Chef William Bradley, the restaurant was recognized as 5 Star Forbes Travel Guide, AAA 5 Diamond Restaurant, and, most recently, as Southern California’s only 3 Michelin star restaurant.
Chef Janina came home to Tijuana to experiment with the vast array of binational flavors, the culture and culinary shock which transpires in Tijuana with the arrival and addition of new cultures – Korean, Haitian, Ethiopian and more! Chef Nina is currently Culinary Director of the Be Saha Restaurant Group in Southern California and Baja California Norte, heading over 8 projects including The Guild Hotel and Wormwood in San Diego, Tahona in Valle de Guadalupe and San Diego and is dedicated to expanding the multicultural Calibaja culinary art scene.
Culinary Director, Be Saha Restaurant GroupSan Diego and Baja
Nutrition and Your Health
Understanding Macronutrients: Your Key to Healthy Eating
What are macronutrients? How much of each macronutrient do you need? What’s the latest science say about what you should eat? Does each meal have to be balanced for optimal health? What foods does your body need to function efficiently? Join me for an unbiased, science-based course on the basics of nutrition and your health.
Danielle Hazard is a San Diego based nutrition professional with 20 years in the field. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Food Science & Nutrition. Her expertise includes: nutrition education, healthy meal planning and prep, nutrient and food analysis, food research, recipe development, testing, and writing. She currently works with SkinnyTaste where she writes weekly healthy meal plans and just finished working with the author on her 7th cookbook. In her free time, Danielle enjoys yoga, traveling, learning new things, walks with her very energetic Boston Terrier, and spending time with family and friends
Children and Tweens Cooking with Reyna Venegas and Marcelo Hisaki
Hands-on Cooking Classes for Children (7 to 9) at La Cocina que Canta:
Tuesday 9 am – 12:30 pm Sign Up
Complimentary – 14 per class
Hands-on Cooking Classes for Tweens (10 to 12) at La Cocina que Canta:
Wednesday 9 am – 12:30 pm Sign Up
Complimentary – 14 per class
Chef Reyna Venegas prepares fresh and delicious food that energizes, inspires, and nourishes guests. She fuses the culinary and cultural heritages of her own Northern Baja roots with the nutritious “spa cuisine” pioneered 80 years ago by Rancho La Puerta co-founder Deborah Szekely. At La Cocina Que Canta, “The Kitchen That Sings,” Chef Reyna teaches healthy eating as a celebration of life in farm-to-table cooking classes.
As a lifelong learner, Chef Reyna graduated from the University of California, San Diego’s Integrative Nutrition program, which focuses on how food promotes wellness. She is also a graduate of the Culinary Art School in Tijuana, and holds a Pastry Degree from the Lycée Technique et Hôtelier de Monte-Carlo and Fondation Turquois.
Chef Marcelo Hisaki, born in Mexico City to Japanese parents, Chef Marcelo Hisaki grew up surrounded by a diversity of flavor, texture, color, and tradition that combined both Japanese and Mexican culinary heritage.
At an early age, his talent and discipline led him to earn a scholarship from Fondation Turquois Monaco to study French cuisine at the Lycée Hotelier de Monte Carlo and train in Michelin-starred restaurants Yoshi and Joël Robuchon, in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
In 2013, Chef Marcelo and his wife Chef Reyna Venegas opened Restaurante Amores in Tecate, Baja California. Their culinary concept is influenced by Mexican, Japanese and French cultures, using local produce with respect, love, and creativity. They have been selected by the Michelin Guide Mexico in 2024 and received the Exceptional Service Award.
Marcelo recently represented Mexico in the Bocuse d’Or Finale 2023, a prestigious culinary contest in Lyon, France, receiving the social commitment award as a recognition to his team’s involvement in support of migrants’ food insecurity in Baja California.
He currently represents Mexico in the Bocuse d’Or Americas 2024, where he will once again have the honor to share his culinary talent and earn his pass to the Bocuse d’Or Finale 2025.
@restauranteamores, @marcehisaki, @reynaa.venegas
Teen Cooking Classes with Sabrina Falquier
Hands-on Cooking Classes for Teens (13 to 17) at La Cocina que Canta
Tuesday 4 to 7:30 pm Sign Up
Complimentary – 14 per class
Optional: Family can join for dinner: Fee for adults, no charge for children. 5:30 pm departure from Ranch. Space is limited to 6 people. Sign up with reservations.
Wednesday 4 to 7:30 pm Sign Up
Complimentary – 14 per class
Optional: Family can join for dinner: Fee for adults, no charge for children. 5:30 pm departure from Ranch. Space is limited to 6 people. Sign up with reservations.
Sabrina A. Falquier (Fall-Key-Ay), MD, CCMS, DipABLM loves delicious food. One of her areas of special focus and interest is teen culinary literacy, having co-created an 8-week program for teens for an entire school district in San Diego. This program showed positive changes in both food choices and cooking knowledge and the program outcomes were presented at three national conferences. Dr. Falquier is a board-certified Internal Medicine, Culinary Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine physician. She is bilingual (Spanish and English) and multicultural, born and raised in Mexico City to Swiss and American parents. Dr. Falquier worked as a primary care doctor for over 15 years and in 2020 founded Sensations Salud, which focuses on empowering through nutritional knowledge and culinary literacy by way of Culinary Medicine education and consulting. Dr. Falquier promotes Culinary Medicine throughout San Diego and internationally for incredibly varied audiences. She is the proud host of the Culinary Medicine Recipe podcast, which includes educational video episodes in both English and Spanish. She serves on the board of two non-profits and is a clinical professor at three universities. Her work can be seen through the powerful documentary: The Kitchenistas. Additionally, she has won numerous awards and has been interviewed regarding food and health by multiple media outlets. Follow along @SensationsSalud on social media.