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The Altar in the Day of the Dead Celebration explained by José Guadalupe Flores, Ph.D.

The Altar in the Day of the Dead Celebration explained by José Guadalupe Flores, Ph.D.
Our traditional Day of the Dead altar in the Dining Hall is built by Professor Flores together with students from the University of Baja California, Tijuana. Professor Flores explains the significance of the Day of the Dead celebration and the altar in Mexican culture. You are welcome to bring a photo of a deceased loved one to place on the altar and to write a thought for the Tree of Remembrance. The dessert that evening will include the traditional Day of the Dead bread and hot chocolate enjoyed all over Mexico during these days.

 

Dr. José Guadalupe Flores was born in Tijuana and studied both in Mexico and the US, obtaining his BA, MA and PhD degrees at the University of San Diego and a Law Degree from the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico.  He taught for 42 years at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Tijuana.  He has represented the Mexican Academic Community in many educational events at UNESCO and other educational institutions.  He has done extensive research on Mexican and Cuban cultural affairs.  He has presented altars during the Day of the Dead celebrations in Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, Cuenca, and the Canary Islands, as well as in San Diego and at Rancho La Puerta during our yearly festivities.

The Altar in the Day of the Dead Celebration explained by José Guadalupe Flores, Ph.D.

The Altar in the Day of the Dead Celebration explained by José Guadalupe Flores, Ph.D.
Our traditional Day of the Dead altar in the Dining Hall is built by Professor Flores together with students from the University of Baja California, Tijuana. Professor Flores explains the significance of the Day of the Dead celebration and the altar in Mexican culture. You are welcome to bring a photo of a deceased loved one to place on the altar and to write a thought for the Tree of Remembrance. The dessert that evening will include the traditional Day of the Dead bread and hot chocolate enjoyed all over Mexico during these days.

 

Dr. José Guadalupe Flores was born in Tijuana and studied both in Mexico and the US, obtaining his BA, MA and PhD degrees at the University of San Diego and a Law Degree from the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico.  He taught for 42 years at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Tijuana.  He has represented the Mexican Academic Community in many educational events at UNESCO and other educational institutions.  He has done extensive research on Mexican and Cuban cultural affairs.  He has presented altars during the Day of the Dead celebrations in Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, Cuenca, and the Canary Islands, as well as in San Diego and at Rancho La Puerta during our yearly festivities.

Hands-On Cooking Classes with Robin Asbell

Robin 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, Wednesday, and Thursday at 4pm.

Hands On Cooking Classes and Chefs Dinner Sign Up

 

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

 

 

Robin Asbell is the author of 11 cookbooks, and developed the recipes for #Eat Meat Less, for the Jane Goodall Institute in 2021. Her most recent cookbook is Vegan Meal Prep;  A 5-Week Plan with 125 Ready-to-Go Recipes ( Robert Rose).  Asbell brought the veg to the Minnesota Star Tribune with her Meatless Meals column for several years. She has written for Experience Life Magazine, Fine Cooking, Better Homes and Gardens, Real Food Magazine, Clean Eating Magazine, VegNews, Vegetarian Times, Mother Earth News, and other print media, and online for strongertogether.coop, myfitnesspal.com and others. The Minneapolis Star Tribune named her one of their Taste 50, a list of the most influential women in food in 2015. Go to Robin Asbell Plant Based Chef YouTube channel, for cooking videos. Her blog The Real Food Journal (robinasbell.com/robinwrites) focuses on great plant based food, and her website robinasbell.com lists her classes, as well as an extensive recipe archive.

The Functionality of Your Eye Brain Connection

The Functionality of Your Eye Brain Connection Integrating Periphery and Affecting Balance and Movement
Vision is learned, and 75% of all sensory input is vision. Based on these two facts, learning how to use your eyes and brain together in a different conscious way will allow you to elevate and expand your learning potential and maintain your aging visual process. Come and experience hands on  how you can  expand the way you see, think and  move, all inspired by enhancing your new found  vision, and learn to  integrate your eye brain and conscious connection.

How to Expand Visual Memory for the Aging Brain:  A Hands on Experiential Class
As we become aware that vision is learned, our visual memory is what will support us during our aging years but only if we know what it is and how we can access it. We are surviving on rote learning which is not serving us.  Come and learn how you can truly expand your visual memory capabilities that will serve you outside the Ranch and show you that as you tap more into the awareness of vision, your memory can expand and can support you more than you realized. Don’t wait to train your eyes and brain to have an enhanced visual memory.

Computer Vision & the Effects of Blue Light and Sleep
Come and learn how to enhance the comfort of your eyes in the ever increasing world of computer exposure, the artificial light from screens, and the effects on our sleep. Enjoy an experiential lecture on learning how to increase comfort for your tired burning eyes, and how you can optimize good sleep during these times.

 

Dana Dean, OD, is a behavioral optometrist who specializes in holistic optometry and vision intelligence. Dr. Dean has had a private optometric practice in San Diego for the past 15 years. Originally from South Africa, she completed her studies in San Diego as well as attending the New England College of Optometry in Boston. She treats her patients holistically performing vision therapy on both children and adults. Her patients also include brain injuries, stroke victims and adults who want to achieve maximum success in life and reach their true potential.  Not only does she see patients performing eye-brain-body connection and building visual efficiency, she also lectures on the topics of vision and brain integration, vision and the aging eyes, vision and spirituality, vision with balance and coordination, as well as vision intelligence. Dr. Dana Dean is also a passionate advocate for educating teachers on the importance of vision and learning in a school setting.

 

LifeCycle Swim School

LifeCycle Swim School leaves no person behind, offering classes for all levels from non-swimmers to more experienced swimmers

SWIM READY – ADULT WATER ACCLIMATION FOR NON-SWIMMERS
Water acclimation for those who never learned to swim, and who may experience anxiety in and around water. We’ll leverage adult cognition and the science of swimming to help replace negative thoughts about water with feelings of relaxation and comfortability. We’ll compassionately guide you to experiment with breath control, floating and gliding, building your confidence one step at a time. No matter why one hasn’t learned to swim, it’s never too late.

AMP UP AQUATIC CONFIDENCE WITH SURVIVAL SWIMMING SKILLS
Feel more confident in and around water by learning and practicing survival swimming skills. Learn a variety of techniques for treading, floating and restful swimming, and understand which skills to use in different situations. Learn how to smoothly link one self-rescue skill to the next, without panic.

THE SCIENCE OF SWIMMING FUNDAMENTALS
Unravel the mystery of graceful swimming by learning to leverage science for increased ease and efficiency. In this stroke development and refinement class, you’ll practice being mindful of hydrodynamics. Experience added buoyancy, reduced drag, and increased propulsion with less effort. You’ll learn optimum body positions, arm movements, and rhythmic breathing that can be incorporated into every stroke. Be ready to challenge your muscle memory for an improved swimming experience. Skills will be progressive, with a focus on different strokes each day.

SwimFix® CLINICS
We’ll take a deep dive into the elements that create smooth and efficient freestyle and breaststroke. We’ll review core elements of each stroke, and work head-to-toe, breaking down all components. Learn and practice drills to help achieve effortless breathing, effective arm strokes and a kick that provides more propulsion and less drag.

CREATE A PERSONAL AQUATIC FITNESS PROGRAM
An aquatic workout should include warm-up, an aerobic set and/or a muscular development set, cool-down, and stretching. Learn safe and effective aquatic movements, techniques and drills for each phase of the work-out. Learn how to monitor your heart rate, and safely “overload” your system by controlling speed, types of strokes/movements.

 

 

Jennifer May is the founder/CEO of LifeCycle Swim School, a premium swim lesson provider in Montclair, NJ since 2015. Jennifer grew up competitive racing in Houston. In middle school she was ranked in Texas. By fourteen she quit, and swimming became something she “used to do.” Jen earned a B.A. in advertising from Boston University, and an M.A. from Simmons College. She forged a 30-year career in the footwear industry, leading product development teams – a creative job that took her around the world. Balancing career, family and happiness got complicated. Burnt out, she left, and to keep busy taught swimming at a YMCA. Jen soon realized the community was underserved in quantity and quality of swim lessons. Jen took Red Cross training, and developed proprietary curriculums for children and adults. LifeCycle Swim School emphasizes safety, confidence and form; and promotes an aquatic lifestyle for all ages and abilities so that more people can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of water.

LifeCycle Swim School

LifeCycle Swim School leaves no person behind, offering classes for all levels from non-swimmers to more experienced swimmers

SWIM READY – ADULT WATER ACCLIMATION FOR NON-SWIMMERS
Water acclimation for those who never learned to swim, and who may experience anxiety in and around water. We’ll leverage adult cognition and the science of swimming to help replace negative thoughts about water with feelings of relaxation and comfortability. We’ll compassionately guide you to experiment with breath control, floating and gliding, building your confidence one step at a time. No matter why one hasn’t learned to swim, it’s never too late.

AMP UP AQUATIC CONFIDENCE WITH SURVIVAL SWIMMING SKILLS
Feel more confident in and around water by learning and practicing survival swimming skills. Learn a variety of techniques for treading, floating and restful swimming, and understand which skills to use in different situations. Learn how to smoothly link one self-rescue skill to the next, without panic.

THE SCIENCE OF SWIMMING FUNDAMENTALS
Unravel the mystery of graceful swimming by learning to leverage science for increased ease and efficiency. In this stroke development and refinement class, you’ll practice being mindful of hydrodynamics. Experience added buoyancy, reduced drag, and increased propulsion with less effort. You’ll learn optimum body positions, arm movements, and rhythmic breathing that can be incorporated into every stroke. Be ready to challenge your muscle memory for an improved swimming experience. Skills will be progressive, with a focus on different strokes each day.

SwimFix® CLINICS
We’ll take a deep dive into the elements that create smooth and efficient freestyle and breaststroke. We’ll review core elements of each stroke, and work head-to-toe, breaking down all components. Learn and practice drills to help achieve effortless breathing, effective arm strokes and a kick that provides more propulsion and less drag.

CREATE A PERSONAL AQUATIC FITNESS PROGRAM
An aquatic workout should include warm-up, an aerobic set and/or a muscular development set, cool-down, and stretching. Learn safe and effective aquatic movements, techniques and drills for each phase of the work-out. Learn how to monitor your heart rate, and safely “overload” your system by controlling speed, types of strokes/movements.

 

 

Jennifer May is the founder/CEO of LifeCycle Swim School, a premium swim lesson provider in Montclair, NJ since 2015. Jennifer grew up competitive racing in Houston. In middle school she was ranked in Texas. By fourteen she quit, and swimming became something she “used to do.” Jen earned a B.A. in advertising from Boston University, and an M.A. from Simmons College. She forged a 30-year career in the footwear industry, leading product development teams – a creative job that took her around the world. Balancing career, family and happiness got complicated. Burnt out, she left, and to keep busy taught swimming at a YMCA. Jen soon realized the community was underserved in quantity and quality of swim lessons. Jen took Red Cross training, and developed proprietary curriculums for children and adults. LifeCycle Swim School emphasizes safety, confidence and form; and promotes an aquatic lifestyle for all ages and abilities so that more people can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of water.

Pilates with Kira Lamb

Pilates Mat: Fundamentals (Progressive)
Sunday – Friday, 9 AM
Am introductory progressive class is for those who have never experienced the benefits of this core strengthening, posture aligning methodology. Clear, concise and simplified for those who are a novice or need a brush up of the fundamental basics.

Pilates Mat: Level 2.
Sunday – Friday 10:00am (not progressive)
A moderately quicker-paced Pilates mat class for those individuals who regularly practice Pilates mat at home. Many classic exercises with a twist, occasional use of props, and moving at a slightly faster pace – this Pilates class will leave you invigorated, stretched, and strengthened!

 

Kira Lamb has been customizing Pilates & Massage Therapy programs for people in NYC, LA, & Turks & Caicos for 18yrs. Her passion for the healing arts was cultivated during her career in the performing arts. Kira’s 20yrs as a professional dancer & aerial artist – with it’s inevitable injuries – left her in awe of her body’s resilience. Her Pilates practice enabled her to perform at an extremely high level into her early 40s despite herniated discs, SI joint dysfunction, labral tears, knee surgery, & other overuse injuries.

At almost 50 & no longer performing, Kira refuses to surrender to a sedentary life of chronic pain & discomfort. As Joseph Pilates said “Be in control of your body and not at it’s mercy.” So she’s committed to using his Authentic Method to help others feel & function optimally; knowing that, how you move & feel in your body, is indicative of how you move & feel in life.

Pilates with Odile Zelenak

Pilates Mat: Fundamentals Level 1 (Progressive)
Sunday – Friday, 9 AM
Am introductory progressive class is for those who have never experienced the benefits of this core strengthening, posture aligning methodology. Clear, concise and simplified for those who are a novice or need a brush-up of the fundamental basics.

Pilates Mat: Level 2 (Intermediate)
Sunday – Friday 10:00am
A moderately quicker-paced Pilates mat class for those individuals who regularly practice Pilates mat at home. Many classic exercises with a twist, occasional use of props, and moving at a slightly faster pace – this Pilates class will leave you invigorated, stretched, and strengthened!

 

Odile Zelenak is a mastery movement specialist with certifications in Pilates, GYROTONIC®, Hendrickson Method®Orthopedic Massage, and Vinyasa Yoga. Her over 20 years of movement and massage practice are rooted in a deep passion and continuous study of anatomy, with a strong emphasis on biomechanical and energetic alignment principles.

Odile is best known for her ability to help clients find, feel and develop their core strengths with simple and practical exercises which leave clients feeling stronger, more flexible, and more in control of their bodies. Because of her interdisciplinary background in Pilates, Gyrotonic, orthopedic massage, and yoga, Odile brings skillful touch, articulate cueing, and a rich understanding of the interconnectedness of the body to each client and class.

She has a thriving Pilates, Gyrotonic,  and orthopedic massage practice called Odile Movement and Bodywork in Solana Beach, CA where she lives with her wife and kids. https://odilemovement.com/

Feldenkrais with Louise Chegwidden

Each of us has a unique way of going about learning, as babies, toddlers, adolescents, and adults. We engage with our world through our senses, prompting patterns of movement and thinking which may become habitual; challenging or limiting our intentions.

Louise guides you through a wide variety of gentle movement sequences, which allow you to attend to the senses, observe how you move, notice unnecessary effort and tension, and invoke new patterns with improved overall coordination and ease.

Louise invites laughter, curiosity, and compassion in her classes, promoting learning that lasts. Don’t be surprised if you feel lighter, or more grounded, breathe easier, and move more joyfully.

 

Louise Chegwidden, PT, GCFP, is a lifelong movement learner and educator. An avid swimmer, rower, dancer, actor, gardener, and bee guardian, she inspires students to engage their embodied intelligence to reduce pain, and enhance graceful movement in all aspects of their lives. She practices the Feldenkrais Method in Oakland, CA, with individuals and in a weekly Awareness Through Movement class.

Louise wrote ‘Granny Gets a New Knee and a whole lot more,’ for anyone preparing for Knee Replacement surgery, or wanting to learn how to improve and maintain flexibility and mobility. With beautiful illustrations by Mokhtar Paki, this is a hands-on manual and practical guide.

Louise is currently a Teaching Assistant in the UNtraining, supporting fellow white identified people in developing the required skills to be in solidarity with targeted communities working for our collective liberation from all forms of oppression.
LouiseChegwidden.com
UNtraining.org

Pilates and More with Conni Ramsey

Join Conni for an inspiring and transformative week of Pilates, designed to elevate your practice both on and off the mat! Dive deep into the powerful connection between Pilates fundamentals, walking, and posture in dynamic Level 1 and Level 2 classes.

Each day, you’ll experience a unique blend of gait-specific and posture-enhancing exercises, all woven seamlessly into Conni’s expert format. Discover how balance, control, precision, and breath work together to optimize your movement and posture. Through fun, engaging sessions, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how your body moves in space and leave feeling empowered, aligned, and revitalized!

With a career spanning several decades, Conni Ramsey has dedicated her life to helping others achieve wellness through movement. Her journey began in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where she managed a gym and taught aerobics, discovering a deep passion for guiding people to move well. This passion led her to earn certifications with ACE (now IDEA) and ACSM, marking the start of a lifelong commitment to fitness education.

In the late ’80s,Conni’s career took a transformative turn at Rancho La Puerta, where she was introduced to Pilates. She became a key figure in the development of the Pilates program, captivated by the profound impact it had on her own body and the lives of her students. Inspired by the wisdom of Teachers she encountered, she pursued formal training with Marie Jose Blom and became a certified Pilates teacher and Movement Specialist in 1995.

Recognizing that true wellness extends beyond physical fitness,Conni expanded her expertise to become a Health Coach. Her holistic approach empowers clients to find sustainable, balanced ways of living.

Now at 63, Conni continues her personal journey with a focus on moving well and aging with dignity. As an avid walker and walking coach, she brings her wealth of experience and passion to her clients, helping them achieve their wellness goals through mindful movement and holistic health practices.

Writing Workshop for Poets, Songwriters or Prose Writers + Concert

Evening Concert at Oaktree Pavilion
Laura Veirs will be performing a solo concert of original songs from her 25-year catalog. Laura will play nylon-string guitar and will sing. She recently produced her 14th album and will head off on tour in the US and France this spring.

Campfire Song at Bazar del Sol

Writing Workshop for Poets, Songwriters or Prose Writers
Laura Veirs’ writing workshops are aimed at songwriters, poets and prose writers. She has taught these for years on her own and through Stanford University’s Continuing Education Series. She will use a deck of her Kaleidoscope Creativity Cards which is a prompt-based system for unlocking people’s creativity. People should bring paper, pencil, recording device (phone fine) and an instrument if they are planning on writing a song.

Singer-songwriter Laura Veirs has produced 14 albums over 25 years, has toured internationally and has collaborated with luminaries such as kd lang, Neko Case, Sufjan Stevens, Jim James, The Decemberists, Bill Frisell and many more. Her music blends the poetic sensibilities of contemporary folk with the melodic frameworks of indie rock. Her work has been praised in the New York Times, The Guardian, The Independent, The Washington Post and many other publications. She also is a published author, podcaster, teacher and is a single mom to two boys.

Classic and Latin Rhythms with Yam Beat

Enjoy a lively concert with the rhythms of Yam Beat!

From Mexico:
Yamel Anaíd Kuri Guridi, Voice and Guitar
Erich Alexis Otero Martínez, Guitar, Keyboard, Percussion, Handpan

From Cuba:
Samira Aguilera Rodríguez, Cello
David San Juan Díaz, Violin and Percussion
Carlos Manuel Fernández Castro, Piano and Percussion

 

Acoustic Folk Concerts with Amber Rubarth

Acoustic Folk Concert

Acoustic Folk Concert + Q & A
Join internationally-acclaimed folk songwriter Amber Rubarth for an intimate concert of songs delving into the deeper meanings of life.

Workshop: Accessing Your Deeper Creativity
Join Amber Rubarth in this stimulating workshop using songwriting and improv techniques to access your creative being!

 

AMBER RUBARTH (Songstress, producer, actor, RLP Folk Festival co-producer) In her unassuming yet beguiling way, Amber Rubarth weaves you into a poetic tapestry where space and time come screeching to a halt with “songs so strong they sound like classics from another era” (Acoustic Guitar). She has toured extensively from South Africa to Japan and all throughout Europe and North America, including appearances at Carnegie Hall and Glastonbury Festival, and opening for legendary artists including Emmylou Harris, Richie Havens, and Dr. Ralph Stanley. Rubarth made her acting debut starring alongside Joe Purdy in the feature film American Folk (now on Amazon), winning various festivals and awards, with a soundtrack featuring John Prine, Jerry Garcia, and David Grisman. Grand Prize winner of the prestigious NPR Mountain Stage New Song award for songwriting, she has also composed for numerous films including Sundance Festival winner Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work and co-produced a double album of 24 artists for the documentary Fantastic Fungi. Her latest album Cover Crop is a meditation on sustainability.

 

Feldenkrais

Ilana Nachoum is a pioneering and internationally recognized Feldenkrais teacher and Somatic physical therapist, in practice for more than 40 years. Ilana has been helping people to heal by looking at their physical /emotional /spiritual challenges differently.  Through her expertise as a Feldenkrais teacher and training as a somatic trauma therapist, Ilana uses intuition and compassion to guide her students to see their body/mind/spirit systems in a new light and find ease even with complex short and long-term challenges.  Join Ilana as you explore your “inner landscape”, and find the path of least resistance.

 

Transformation on the Camino and in Prison with Lydia B. Smith

Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago – Screening and Q&A
American’s fascination with the Camino is exploding; eight times more Americans walked it in 2019 than the previous decade. Walking the Camino journeys into the hearts and minds of six modern-day pilgrims, ages 3 to 73, as they each face and triumph over their doubts and fears while they attempt to cross an entire country on foot.

Camino 101
Why are a half a million people walking the Camino de Santiago each year? Lydia will give you a brief history and overview of the Camino giving you a better sense if it’s something you are called to do for your own personal transformation.   After walking more than 2000 miles on Camino trails, Lydia has plenty of tips and techniques for a successful and fulfilling pilgrimage as well.

Cellblocks to Mountaintops
I have been presenting at the Ranch for quite a few years – showing my film Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago, doing a Camino 101 talk, video workshops, and presenting on Cellblocks to Mountaintops while it was still in production. It is now finally complete!  The show is also about transformation, like the Camino (and the Ranch!)  but instead of taking place in the beautiful Spanish countryside with lots of supportive people around you (or in the exquisite landscapes of Rancho La Puerta with it’s delicious food and amazing instructors)  – it takes place in the most harsh, cold environment imaginable where violence is around every corner.

It has been almost eight years since the idea was born and almost five years since our first day of filming in 2020. The project has evolved over the years – from a documentary film to a podcast to a podcast with 14 mini-documentary companion videos. It has been a crazy, twisty, challenging road but we have finally made it! Cellblocks to Mountaintops. examines how America addresses violence, defines justice, and seeks accountability through one man’s journey. Years after committing a horrific crime, Sterling Cunio continues to confront the ripple effects of the harm he caused. Through the power of artistic expression and human connections and inspired by restorative justice principles, he forges a remarkable personal transformation while serving decades in prison.  This story is a poignant reminder that hope, healing, and redemption are never beyond reach, even in the darkest of places.

You may think this issue doesn’t really apply to you or affect you or your loved ones directly, but it does!  The US has the highest incarceration rate in the world and spends over 83 billion a year doing it.  High rates of incarceration have no demonstrable effect on violent crime nor do they help victims heal or offenders rehabilitate; 7 out of 10 people released from prison come right back within five years.   That’s a lot of your taxpayer money going to waste!!  Instead, we could divert a lot of that money to stopping the cycle of crime/violence by supporting victims, addressing poverty, and helping neglected and abused children.

Come join me as I discuss the making of the project and show several of the mini-documentary videos.

 

Lydia B. Smith – Director/Producer of Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago and Cellblocks to Mountaintops.  Lydia began her filmmaking career over 30 years ago and has worked on all kinds of projects in a variety of departments and her true love is the documentary genre.

She directed, produced, and wrote They’re Just Kids, a 26-minute educational documentary showing how children with disabilities can positively affect our lives: A Legacy Revealed, a
40-minute historical documentary, and a 20-minute biography Bill Lansing: A Tribute. Additionally, she was the senior producer on CNN’s Soldiers of Peace: A Children’s Crusade; co-producer and 2nd unit DP on the CNN documentary The Mystery of the Arctic Rose; 2nd unit DP on the PBS show, Stand Up; American producer for Chilean TV’s The Route of the Beringia; DP for Anthony Hopkins Teaches and more. In addition to her producing and directing career, Lydia has worked as a camera assistant and operator commercials, top music videos, and on major motion pictures including Ed Wood with Johnny Depp, Dangerous Minds with Michelle Pheiffer and Matilda with Danny DeVito to name just a few.

Lydia felt like she was guided to make Walking the Camino as so much of her life aligned perfectly with the project.  She lived in Barcelona for over six years and speaks flawless Spanish, in addition to Italian and Catalan. She is an avid outdoorswoman and a lover of hiking and nature, as well as a licensed spiritual practitioner, studying with Rev. Michael Beckwith from the Agape International Spiritual Center.  Depending on how you count it, Lydia has walked between 9-11 Caminos.

Walking the Camino has been both a box-office hit as well as highly acclaimed by film critics. It was the #12 documentary in theaters in the US and Canada in 2014 and #5 in Australia and New Zealand in 2015.  It aired nationally in nine different countries and had over 1.2 million viewers on PBS in 2018 and garnered a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Lydia’s latest project, Cellblocks to Mountaintops. is an 8-episode podcast with 14 mini-documentary companion videos. It was released in the spring of 2024 and has touched thousands of people.  It has a 4.9/5 rating on Apple Podcasts – some excerpts include:

“Stunning Storytelling.  This podcast is gripping, enlightening and interesting” “Truly Inspiring:  A rare and exceptional find.” “Spellbinding: Perfect for a road trip because you will want to binge listen.”

Two of the short videos are featured in the traveling film festival: Inthrive and Cellblocks to Mountaintops has been selected as a finalist in the Signal Awards, a leader in the podcast awards space

 

Functional Yoga for Vitality & Longevity of Movement with Dana Rae Paré

This week, learn the tools you need for optimum health and vitality. You’ll reset, re-energize and make a positive connection with yourself. Join longtime guest presenter, Dana Rae Paré for a synthesis of traditional yoga, the science of fitness and her 30+years experience teaching and training worldwide. Dana’s system delivers a series of techniques that bring you proven results. You’ll learn how to fine-tune your alignment, improve balance and stability and build core strength. Deeply rooted in Yoga, Dana will inspire and motivate you on a journey of self-discovery that leads to longevity and empowerment through movement. All Levels everyone welcome.

Fresh Air Fitness
Get outside for a special par course around the Ranch. Focus on bodyweight strength and stability while getting fresh air and learning how to stay fit anywhere.

Reset & Restore
Therapeutic stretches, mind-calming breathing techniques and restorative Yoga. Learn the benefits of rest and recovery for better physical results and mental wellness.

Dana Rae Paré began training in dance, theater and voice at an early age and performed professionally throughout the world for a decade. When not on the road, she taught popular dance-cardio/fitness classes in Los Angeles, Japan and Germany. She retired from the nightlife of performing and made a natural transition into Yoga. Studying Iyengar, Ashtanga Vinyasa, Forrest and Yoga Therapy. Dana traveled to India multiple times to deepen her knowledge and became certified at the highest level in Yoga, E-RYT-500. She soon found herself teaching specialty yoga weeks at exclusive resorts known for their celebrity clientele.Dana’s desire to make yoga accessible to all led her to create Infinite Yoga in San Diego, California. Infinite Yoga offered dynamic vinyasa classes, worldwide yoga retreats and was known for Dana’s innovative workshops and certified teacher trainings.

In 2016, Dana opened her second studio CycleOM. Blending her love for heart-thumping indoor cycling with flowing Vinyasa Yoga creating her own niche in San Diego’s trendy downtown Little Italy neighborhood. Along with classes and workshops, CycleOM gained popularity through its monthly community events, local collabs and the rockstar “OM Team” Dana built. In response to the pandemic, Dana designed an online program for CycleOM members to provide a positive daily connection during a time of crisis.

Former students living elsewhere in the world found an online sanctuary through the new virtual connection, “it felt like going home.”

With proven results and the vision of a healthy and positive worldwide community Dana launched her first online business OM Body. The OM Body Method  provides motivation and inspiration for optimum health and vitality at-home offering live and on-demand classes and workshops. For more information visit https://ombody.com/

Dana currently lives in the idyllic Pisgah Forest just outside Asheville, North Carolina with her husband and their dog Louis.

 

Hands-On Cooking Classes and Chef’s Table Dinner with Chef Joey Altman

Joey 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 Joey 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. Class subject to change, check your weekly planner and schedule for updates. The maximum number of guests per class is 12.

Wednesday Hands-On Cooking Class 4:00 PM
Each class $145+tax. Class subject to change, check your weekly planner and schedule for updates. The maximum number of guests per class is 12.

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.

 

Joey Altman is a San Francisco based Chef who wears many hats: Television Host, Cookbook Author, Restaurant Consultant, Food & Wine Educator, and Public Speaker.

Chef Altman’s culinary skills developed early – as a young boy he cooked at family parties and celebrations. Chef Altman attended the Hotel and Restaurant Management Program at Sullivan County Community College, and after graduation he left for France to train under some of France’s finest chefs, including Lyon’s Bernard Constantin and Jean Brouilly. Upon returning to the states, Altman worked at Harvest restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and later worked at Stars and other trend-setting San Francisco restaurants. In 1998 Altman launched Bay Café, a food-magazine television show that provides food and wine enthusiasts with an insider’s look at the Bay Area’s rich and diverse culinary scene. Bay Café has been recognized by the prestigious James Beard Foundation with the food-world’s equivalent to The Oscar’s, The James Beard Award for Best Local Cooking Series in 2000, 2001 and 2006. In addition to his Bay Café on KRON-TV, Altman appears at many benefits and food-related events in the Bay Area and nationwide.

Get Ready To Look 5 Years Younger

Day 1, Sunday 11:30 am and 1:00 pm – Sign up for 15 max per session, Arroyo Gym

  • Jump-Start Your Skin Rejuvenation at the Ranch and Look Younger Today!
  • Why You Need a Facial
  • Organic Skincare Products at the Ranch – Effective Products can be Clean & Safe!
  • Botox & Fillers – Look Lovely, Not Overdone!

 

Day 2, Monday 11:30 am and 1:00 pm– Sign up for 15 max per session, Arroyo Gym

  • Teitsa’s Favorite Techniques for Smoother, Younger Skin
  • Exfoliate Like You Mean It!
  • Acids & Retinols – Potent Anti-Aging Products for Great Results
  • Organic Sun Protection Is a Must – Don’t Leave Home Without It!

 

Day 3, Tuesday 11:30 am and 1:00 pm– Sign up for 15 max per session, Arroyo Gym

  • Teitsa’s Skin Cocktail Recipe for Radiant Skin – Everyday!”
  • Try Teitsa’s Eye Cocktail Recipe to Rejuvenate Your Eye Skin
  • Tinted Sun Protection – Set your SPF to Last for Hours
  • Try Soft Bronzing Powders for Blush:  You Never Looked So Fresh!

 

Teitsa Mann’s passion for skincare products and treatments developed early, when she realized how easily her own skin scarred. Certain that she could never have surgery, she proceeded to become an Aesthetician, mainly to ensure that her own skin would age well.  She was licensed in California over 40 years ago, and she performed Facial Treatments in her salon in San Francisco. Later, she worked for Chanel Beauty, La Prairie, Erno Laszlo, and Lancôme, to name a few. Teitsa loves sharing her product and treatment favorites with women all over the country, and her all-day, skincare masterclass, Get Ready to Look 5 Years Younger, has benefited charities and private groups. This year, Teitsa released the 6th edition of her book of the same name, and it features all her best skincare product, facial treatment, and makeup recommendations.

Yoga Specialty with Amy Caldwell

5 Steps to Empower your Yoga Practice…and your Life!
Each day we will explore a different theme with tools to refine your yoga practice on and beyond the mat.  Sessions will be a blend of active asana (postures – mixed levels), mindfulness and short discussion.  The series is progressive; however, you are welcome to attend as it fits your schedule.

 

Amy (and her husband Michael) Caldwell co-founded San Diego’s award-winning Yoga One in 2002. Her dynamic and inspiring classes and workshops aim to enhance students’ overall wellbeing though uniting body, mind, and loving presence. Amy discovered the joys and benefits of yoga / mindfulness in 1997 on a three-year around the world backpacking trip.  She was featured twice on the cover of Yoga Journal, and collaborated with 3D4Medical in creating the best-selling health and fitness app iYoga Premium. She leads Yoga One’s Teacher Trainings, Corporate Wellness Programs, and loves teaching at Rancho La Puerta! Please contact info@yogaonesandiego.com to set up a private session, class, wellness workshop or retreat with Amy.

Healing the Heart

Healing the Heart. Reversing Heart Disease with Lifestyle Changes.
Join Ben Brown MD, Medical Director for Ornish Lifestyle Medicine, as he shares the scientific background and more than 40 years of research on the Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease.

The Power of Plant-Based Living. The Nutritional Guidelines of the Ornish Program.
Learn the nutrition guidelines and your spectrum of choices for preventing and reversing the most common chronic diseases.

Mastering Change – Making Long-term Lifestyle Changes Stick.
Lifestyle change can be relatively simple when you have the right ingredients and an effective system. Join us to learn and apply some simple strategies to make long term changes in your lifestyle.

 

Ben BrownBen Brown, MD, is Medical Director, for Ornish Lifestyle Medicine and an Associate Clinical Professor at University of California San Francisco. Ben has worked on lifestyle retreats with Dean Ornish, MD, since 1994. He has seen so many medical miracles with this powerful lifestyle medicine program that he was thrilled to become the Medical Director in 2014. The lifestyle program includes a plant based diet, relaxation, exercise and group support and has been scientifically proven to reverse coronary artery disease. Ben has more than 20 years in clinical medicine and has delivered more than 1000 babies. He has been a founding member for five non-profits and has spearheaded multiple community wide change projects. While in medical school he founded and directed an international non-profit (Community Partners International) to help serve the refugees along the Thai-Burma border and has done approximately 20 medical missions to the area and many missions to other areas (Bolivia, Haiti, Nicaragua). He worked as a rural family doctor in Point Reyes, California, and as Chief Medical Officer for Santa Rosa Community Health Centers. He teaches residents at the Santa Rosa Family Practice Residency where he developed an Integrative Medicine for the Underserved (IM4Us) Fellowship and started the IM4Us international movement (IM4Us.org). Ben is double boarded in Family Medicine and in Integrative Medicine, and has written and lectured extensively on reversing heart disease, physician wellbeing, facilitating life-style change and transformation. He is an award winning photographer, writer and humanitarian and is the author of 50 Simple Things to Save Your Life during Residency and is working on his next book, Know Yourself, Share Your Gifts, Master Change.