Events Archive - Page 25 of 117 - Rancho La Puerta
Events Calendar
Filter Gallery:
Show results
Types of Events:
Spa Services

If you’re ready to book all of your services, click the button below

Complete Spa Booking

Looking for something?

Use the search bar below to browse

Archives: Events

Creating a Sustainable Food System for All

Why food? The power of good food to change everything
A host of books and films in recent years have documented the dangers of our broken food system—from chemical runoff to soaring rates of diet related illness to inhumane treatment of workers and animals. But advice on what to do about it largely begins and ends with the admonition to “eat local” or “buy organic.”

Oran Hesterman, author of The New York Times celebrated Fair Food provides an enlightening and inspiring vision that goes beyond our plates to the power of food to create positive social, economic, and environmental impact. Along the way, this national leader in sustainable agriculture and food systems will introduce you to people and organizations that are moving this work forward with serious benefits for eaters and growers—from bringing nutritious food to communities that need it most to fighting for farm workers’ rights.

He will also share the story of the national nonprofit he launched, Fair Food Network, with a mission to grow community health and wealth through food. Working with a diverse network of partners, Hesterman is taking on some of the toughest challenges in our food system and pioneering solutions that increase access to healthy food while creating new opportunities for farmers and stimulating economic activity. This dynamic session will help you understand the realities of our broken food system and what we can do to fix it.

From Farmer to the Farm Bill: My Journey in the Good Food Movement
How do you go from picking alfalfa sprouts to being a key proponent of a $250 million Farm Bill program that is improving the lives of thousands of low-income families and farmers? Or from sleeping in a teepee to financing start-ups that are preparing for our next economy?

Join the conversation of the decade as national leader in sustainable agriculture and food systems, Oran B. Hesterman shares his journey growing the good as an organic farmer and businessman, scientist and agronomy professor, philanthropist, author, and now CEO of national nonprofit Fair Food Network. (You may even coax the story out of him about how Bernie Madoff sent his life into an unexpected, new direction!)

Hesterman has been connected to many of the innovations at the heart of today’s food economy. And he’s still at it. The constant thread through this journey is the belief that nothing is as important to our future as food. Through Oran’s personal story, you will leave with not only a better understanding of the power of food, but also how you can be part of this change in your personal life and with your political voice.

Oran B. Hesterman, Ph.D. With more than 35 years of experience as a scientist, farmer, philanthropist, businessman, educator, and passionate advocate, Oran B. Hesterman is a national leader in sustainable agriculture and food systems and a respected partner for policymakers, philanthropic leaders, and advocates nationwide.

He currently serves as president and CEO of Fair Food Network, a national nonprofit working to grow health and wealth in our communities through food. Fair Food Network’s signature program, Double Up Food Bucks, has become a national model for healthy food incentives, and is now a featured program in the U.S. Farm Bill, signed by the President in December 2018.

Before launching Fair Food Network, Hesterman led the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Food and Farming programs, during which time he seeded the local food movement with more than $200 million in grants and investments. Prior to his work in philanthropy and nonprofits, Hesterman researched and taught forage and cropping systems management and sustainable agriculture at Michigan State University.

A former fellow in the Kellogg National Fellowship Program and the National Center for Food and Agriculture Policy in Washington, D.C., Hesterman has published more than 400 reports and articles on subjects ranging from crop rotation to the impact of philanthropy on food systems practice and policy and trends in the good food movement. He is also a certified Sage-ing Mentor and leads workshops with his wife Lucinda Kurtz, that help people discover their inner elder while gaining new perspectives on what it means to grow older in today’s culture.

Aerial Yoga for Teens

Stretch, relax, and unwind in silk hammocks suspended close to the ground. Experience a gentle, calming, and therapeutic decompression of the spine as you flow through a variety of aerial yoga poses and renewal. Please wear socks and sleeves.

Make Your Own Smoothie (Teens) with Sous Chef Vivian Mercado

Teens! Join Vivian at the juice bar to learn how to make healthy and delicious smoothies. Hearty and refreshing smoothies will immediately make you feel lighter, more energetic, and happy knowing that while you are enjoying a tasty beverage, you are also improving your cellular state.

 

Born and raised in Baja California, Sous Chef Vivian Mercado went to Culinary School in Ensenada at the University of Baja California (UABC).

Her experience started working at a healthy meal prep kitchen. She moved on to be a young manager for a new project that focused on wines, coffee and bread. After three years, she decided to return to Tecate to work at Rancho La Puerta. Vivian started at the Juice Bar making delicious and nutritious smoothies for our guests for over a year. The opportunity to be part of the kitchen staff came along, and now Vivian is our Sous Chef at the Rancho La Puerta kitchen. Vivian is delighted to teach the teens this week how to make their own smoothies!

Looking at the Wonders of the Winter Sky

Explore Rancho La Puerta’s Night Sky – Lecture

The dark skies at the Ranch provide a fabulous opportunity for seeing the wonders of Winter Sky such as the Andromeda Galaxy, the constellations of Orion (including its famous nebula), Gemini, Taurus, Jupiter and dazzling star clusters. Discover the link between astronomy and Dia de Los Reyes Magos. What was the star and how did our traditions arise? Participate in another magical part of the Ranch experience. You will never look at the night sky the same way again!

Before the lecture, join us in our January 6th Mexican tradition: Rosca de Reyes and hot chocolate served after dinner.

Star Gazing
Observe with the naked eye, binoculars and telescope. Please sign up in the Lounge.

Plus enjoy with Scott Marrone, too:
Musical Miniatures
Calm, soothing musical gems. Come and relax after a busy morning and before lunch to feed your mind and soul with the sounds of short masterpieces for piano.

Viva Vivaldi!
Hear “The Four Seasons” with a fresh perspective as Scott Marrone leads us through this most popular of musical works. You will never hear it the same way again! Discover the creativity and ingenuity found in Vivaldi’s delightful masterpiece.  While the immediate impression of this great work is a set of four violin concertos, closer examination reveals a wealth of symbolism and actual story lines within the musical themes and various movements. Join Scott Marrone as we listen to and explore the program contained in these beloved musical gems. Find a new way to hear and understand this classic work, making it more personal, concrete, and enjoyable!

 

John Scott Marrone has over 30 years of experience teaching in the New York area. In addition to Astronomy, Scott teaches Forensics, Environmental Studies, and Oceanography. He has been recognized by Ciba-Geigy Corporation for his work in promoting science literacy and received the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award in 2007 from Manhattan College. In 1998, Scott was invited by the Aruban Government to substitute for astronomer Jay Pasachoff to lead the observation of the total solar eclipse.  Most recently, Scott led the public observing session on Mauna Kea.  Scott has also led observing on cruises in the Galapagos and Tahiti.

 In addition, John Scott Marrone has been recognized as an outstanding conductor and director of many musical organizations. His experience covers the entire spectrum of orchestral and choral music from Renaissance to Contemporary, leading an impressive array of performing organizations both in the United States and Europe. In addition to his own Allegro Chamber Ensemble, Mr. Marrone has worked with the English Chamber Orchestra, Solisti di Roma, Orchestre de Paris, Oratorio Society of New York, Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut, Greenwich Choral Society, and many other organizations including concerts and tours. His choir performed for Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Basilica and at the papal audience before 250,000 people in Rome. With the Allegro Chamber Ensemble, Mr. Marrone performed a series of concerts at the Salzburg Music Festival, St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London, and at the Sainte Chapelle in 1994 for the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Paris. With his choirs he has conducted at St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Westminster Abbey in London, the Duomo in Florence and many other locations throughout Europe. Mr. Marrone holds a Professional Diploma in Piano from the Brooklyn Conservatory and a Master’s in Conducting from Columbia University.

Looking at the Wonders of the Winter Sky

Explore Rancho La Puerta’s Night Sky – Lecture

The dark skies at the Ranch provide a fabulous opportunity for seeing the wonders of Winter Sky such as the Andromeda Galaxy, the constellations of Orion (including its famous nebula), Gemini, Taurus, Jupiter and dazzling star clusters. Discover the link between astronomy and Dia de Los Reyes Magos. What was the star and how did our traditions arise? Participate in another magical part of the Ranch experience. You will never look at the night sky the same way again!

Before the lecture, join us in our January 6th Mexican tradition: Rosca de Reyes and hot chocolate served after dinner.

Star Gazing
Observe with the naked eye, binoculars and telescope. Please sign up in the Lounge.

Plus enjoy with Scott Marrone, too:
Musical Miniatures
Calm, soothing musical gems. Come and relax after a busy morning and before lunch to feed your mind and soul with the sounds of short masterpieces for piano.

Viva Vivaldi!
Hear “The Four Seasons” with a fresh perspective as Scott Marrone leads us through this most popular of musical works. You will never hear it the same way again! Discover the creativity and ingenuity found in Vivaldi’s delightful masterpiece.  While the immediate impression of this great work is a set of four violin concertos, closer examination reveals a wealth of symbolism and actual story lines within the musical themes and various movements. Join Scott Marrone as we listen to and explore the program contained in these beloved musical gems. Find a new way to hear and understand this classic work, making it more personal, concrete, and enjoyable!

 

John Scott Marrone has over 30 years of experience teaching in the New York area. In addition to Astronomy, Scott teaches Forensics, Environmental Studies, and Oceanography. He has been recognized by Ciba-Geigy Corporation for his work in promoting science literacy and received the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award in 2007 from Manhattan College. In 1998, Scott was invited by the Aruban Government to substitute for astronomer Jay Pasachoff to lead the observation of the total solar eclipse.  Most recently, Scott led the public observing session on Mauna Kea.  Scott has also led observing on cruises in the Galapagos and Tahiti.

 In addition, John Scott Marrone has been recognized as an outstanding conductor and director of many musical organizations. His experience covers the entire spectrum of orchestral and choral music from Renaissance to Contemporary, leading an impressive array of performing organizations both in the United States and Europe. In addition to his own Allegro Chamber Ensemble, Mr. Marrone has worked with the English Chamber Orchestra, Solisti di Roma, Orchestre de Paris, Oratorio Society of New York, Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut, Greenwich Choral Society, and many other organizations including concerts and tours. His choir performed for Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Basilica and at the papal audience before 250,000 people in Rome. With the Allegro Chamber Ensemble, Mr. Marrone performed a series of concerts at the Salzburg Music Festival, St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London, and at the Sainte Chapelle in 1994 for the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Paris. With his choirs he has conducted at St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Westminster Abbey in London, the Duomo in Florence and many other locations throughout Europe. Mr. Marrone holds a Professional Diploma in Piano from the Brooklyn Conservatory and a Master’s in Conducting from Columbia University.

Rapsodia Otoñal – Autumnal Rhapsody

Taiwanese violinist Pei-Chun Tsai received her Doctorate in Musical Arts from City University of New York with the publication of her dissertation on the violin writing of Richard Strauss. She also holds Bachelor and Masters Degrees in violin performance from The Juilliard School.

Founding director of the Campanile Music Festival at San Diego State University, Pei-Chun curates innovative residencies of visiting artists from across the country for her students. As a member of the San Diego Symphony since 2006 and violin lecturer at San Diego State University, Pei-Chun performs regularly with the SDSU chamber orchestra, and released an album of solo violin entitled Chaconnes in 2021 featuring the works by Tomaso Vitali, J.S. Bach, and fellow SDSU faculty composer Joseph Waters. Pei-Chun performs on a 2020 violin by Boston-based luthier Charline Dequincy.

Award winning harpist Julie Smith Phillips is one of the most prominent American harpists today. Principal Harpist with the San Diego Symphony since 2007, she is a two-time medalist in the USA International Harp Competition – Silver in 2004 and Bronze in 2001 – and her playing has been described as “precise” and “luminous” (American Record Guide) with “spectacular results” (San Diego Story). Active as a recitalist and chamber musician, Ms. Phillips is the founding member of The Myriad Trio and has been the opening recitalist and concerto soloist for multiple American Harp Society National Conferences, Lyon & Healy concert series and international harp festivals. In addition to her position in San Diego, she has participated in numerous music festivals, has held appointed principal positions with the Milwaukee Symphony and the New World Symphony, and has served as guest principal with the Dallas, Houston & St. Louis Symphony Orchestras. Ms. Phillips teaches privately and is the founder and director of the Nebraska Harp Workshop Retreat. Ms. Phillips has recorded two albums, The Rhapsodic Harp (solo harp) & The Eye of Night (with The Myriad Trio) both of which are available through online services.

String Quartet Concert

Cellist Alex Greenbaum enjoys a diverse and adventurous musical life. As a member of the Hausmann Quartet he is an Artist-in-Residence at San Diego State University.  As a long-time member of The Knights, he has performed throughout the U.S. and Europe and appeared at various festivals.  He has recorded for Ancalagon, Bridge, Canary Classics, Cantaloupe, In a Circle, Koch, Naxos, Warner Classics and Sony records.  His varied interests have led to collaborations with dance companies, recordings for film, television and commercials, studies of early music and performances throughout Mexico. Alex is a founding member of San Diego Baroque, a mainstay on the Art of Élan series, an affiliated artist with San Diego New Music and appears regularly with Bach Collegium San Diego.

Violinist Kate Hatmaker is the founder and Executive/Artistic Director of Art of Élan, a San Diego-based chamber music organization committed to bringing innovative classical music to diverse audiences (www.artofelan.org), and has been a violinist with the San Diego Symphony since 2006. She has played with a wide variety of American orchestras, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the New World Symphony. She completed her Master of Music degree at Carnegie Mellon University and her undergraduate training at both the University of Iowa and the Sorbonne University in Paris, France.

 

San Diego Symphony Orchestra Associate Concertmaster Wesley Precourt has appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras around North America and is an avid recitalist, recording artist and new music collaborator. He made his debut with the San Diego Symphony in February 2016 and has been presented by Art of Élan, the Musical Merit Foundation, First United Methodist Churches of San Diego and Escondido and the La Jolla Athenaeum’s concert series. He is also a member of Renga, a chamber ensemble focused on avant-garde music, which recently received critical acclaim for their performance of Boulez’s Repons under the baton of Steven Schick. Wesley was featured at the dedication ceremony of the Heifetz Studio at The Colburn Conservatory where he also collaborated with Paul Neubauer, Ida Levin, Ronald Leonard, and Paul Coletti. He has also won awards at international competitions, including the Spotlight Awards of Los Angeles, the NFAA ARTS Awards and the Kingsville International Competitions, among others. Wesley is a graduate of the Thornton School of Music at USC and a recipient of the Artist Diploma at the Colburn Conservatory.

 

Hanah Stuart, hailed as a performing artist who “wields a violin with unmistakable panache” (Theater Mania), is a member of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, the Grant Park Orchestra, and was previously Assistant Principal Second Violinist of the Utah Symphony. Ms. Stuart has served as Concertmaster of The Juilliard Orchestra, The Juilliard Chamber Orchestra and The YouTube Symphony Orchestra. She has also served various principal roles in festival orchestras including the Music Academy of the West and the Aspen Music Festival and has been featured on HBO’s 2006 Academy Award nominated documentary, Rehearsing a Dream. Hanah, an avid chamber musician, has been presented by the Dame Myra Hess Series and the Rembrandt Chamber Players in Chicago; the San Diego Symphony Chamber series and the Art of Élan series in San Diego; NICOM ChamberFest of Dubuque; and the NOVA and Intermezzo Chamber series in Salt Lake City. Ms. Stuart holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from The Juilliard School where she studied with David Chan and Joel Smirnoff.

The Wonders of the Enneagram

What’s My Type?
The Enneagram is a map of human consciousness representing nine different personalities. Each personality has a unique world view. Learning your enneatype and the enneatype of those around you can be life changing. All nine personalities will be reviewed, and a simple test will be handed out to guide you in your exploration. This is a great tool to practice acceptance, love, and forgiveness.

It IS All About You
Take a deeper dive into the nine enneagram types and gain greater insights into yourself and others. A test will be handed out.

The Wizard of the Enneagram
The individual quests of the three characters in the Wizard of Oz—The Lion, Scarecrow, and Tinman—are universal. The Enneagram refers to these three centers of intelligence as the gut, the head, and the heart. Learn which center is your driver and discover in yourself what the Wizard knew all along. A test will be handed out.

The Enneagram and the Laws of One, Three, and Seven
The Enneagram symbol has its roots in antiquity. Learn about its history, meaning, and how the nine personalities are derived from essential laws of the universe.

Betsy Ingalls has made an art and a career of exploring and analyzing diverse ways to empower individuals to become their best selves. Prior to founding the Bingalls School of Somatic Happiness in Santa Barbara, she worked as a financial advisor in Minneapolis. She has now taught both the Enneagram and Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement for almost 20 years. She has also shared her expertise on TV and as a presenter at various wellness festivals and institutions, of which her favorite is RLP.

Pickleball with Alex Trakhman

Normally, I’ll start all my classes with a quick introduction and 5-minute warm-ups, and then I’ll focus on breaking down each point into small components and working separately on each of them, incorporating fun games. Since I am planning to have six 45-minute sessions with each level, I would like to do the following:

Serves and Returns
There are two types of legal serves in pickleball – volley serves and drop serves. We’re going to focus on the former though, since it’s the original serve and far more prevalent than the drop serve.

Groundstrokes,
Groundstrokes are the bread and butter of pickleball shots. Aside from being used all the time, they’re also the building blocks to many other shots. In this section, we’ll cover drills for both forehand and backhand groundstrokes.

Dinking
Soft. Soft. Soft. It’s so important for dinking, which is arguably the most important shot in the game of pickleball. So how do you go soft with your shots? You practice them. This strategy involves hitting a soft shot over the net that drops in front of your opponent, making it difficult for them to return the ball.

Third Shot Drops
The third shot drop is a game-changer shot – and if you ever want to advance in pickleball, you have to master this shot. This shot is played after the return of serve and aims to drop the ball softly over the net, putting your opponents on the defensive. Not to be confused with a third shot drive, this ball is meant to die on the bounce.

The goal of the shot is to get the ball to land in the kitchen, just over the net, and force your opponents to hit up, allowing you to move up to the net and take control of the point.

Volleys
Volley shot has a special zone where it’s prohibited. Whether it’s a soft block, hard block, lob volley, or punch volley, there’s a drill to help you build your volley prowess.

At its core, a volley simply means hitting a ball before it bounces, but this can come in many shapes and sizes. Regardless of what manner of volley is used, it’s a must-have skill in both singles and doubles, and if you can control your volley shot, you increase the likelihood of controlling a rally.

In doubles though, volleys become particularly valuable for running the net and deciding what time is controlling the rally. By volleying, you can intercept your opponent’s shots and hit winners that they cannot return.

1hr 45 min Coached Play mixing all levels

 

Alex Trakhman is a PPR-certified instructor and player passionate about helping others improve their game. Alex found pickleball in 2018 after a lifetime of competitive tennis and quickly fell in love with the game. In addition, he is a committed to helping players of all skill levels achieve their goals. Known for his dynamic style of play that includes a full arsenal of tactics, Alex is also able to create a relaxing and fun environment while improving his students game, develop new skills and reach their full potentials. Alex enjoys teaching private lessons, small groups, and larger clinics for players of all levels. Whether you’re a beginner or an intermediate player, Alex is committed to helping you advance your game and build a solid foundation in pickleball.

“Changing lives – one game at the time”

Creating a Purpose-Driven + Liberated Life

Every one of us craves meaning, joy, connection and freedom. More than ever. So how can we feel liberated and stay focused when our day to day is full of uncertainty?

We step fully into our power and confidence. We let go of limiting beliefs and behaviors that limit us from realizing joy and ease. We claim our authenticity and own our superpowers. We get crystal clear on our life purpose. We learn to have honest conversations and connect deeply with others.

If you are ready for more clarity, confidence and joy, join me to create a purpose-driven + freedom-filled life! In just five days at the Ranch, you’ll feel more empowered and inspired to live your life on your terms.

Lesson #1 – The Art of Tricky Conversations
Perhaps you consider yourself a good communicator but when it comes to sharing difficult information, you’d rather run and hide. In Lesson #1, we’ll discuss the art of intentional communication and a proven framework for tricky conversations. You’ll get to try out what you learn and receive a mini-coaching session!

Lesson #2 – Power + Confidence
We are all born with power, yet many of us are conflicted with it. In Lesson #2, you will learn ways we give our power away and strategies to get it back. You’ll also learn how to bust out of limiting beliefs so you can fully embrace your own innate power and brilliance.

Lesson #3 – Mental Traps that Hijack Joy + Ease
Many high performers are hard on themselves. In Lesson #3, we will discuss impostor syndrome, perfectionism, and procrastination and ways to overcome these traps so you feel more joy and ease in your day to day. Who doesn’t want that?

Lesson #4 – Creating Your Authentic Brand
This will be a fun dive into who you are and what sets you apart from others. In Lesson #4, you will connect with your natural strengths, skills, values, and passions You’ll also claim your superpowers! At the end of the process, you will feel comfortable in your own skin and on fire!

Lesson #5 – Finding Your Purpose
Purpose is a hot topic these days. In Lesson #5, I’ll take you through a simple process to uncover yours. We are all born with a purpose, think of it as your raison d’etre, a deeper desire to serve or contribute. Since we all have one, it’s our job to recognize it, own it, and claim it!

 

Amy Matthews is an executive coach, leadership consultant and career advisor. Her expertise lies in empowering high performing individuals, leaders and teams to reach their highest potential of success. Amy offers career transition workshops and two signature leadership programs including Leadership Skills for Rising Stars and Authenticity, Purpose + Impact. She has an uncanny ability to cut through the noise and guides people to find their authentic style of leadership, communicate with confidence and conviction and stay focused in the new normal.

To learn more about Amy or to read her practical and inspirational blogs, go to: https://url.avanan.click/v2/___www.womanunruled.com___.YXAzOnJhbmNob2xhcHVlcnRhOmE6bzo2NGE5MjliZjIwYTM1NTg0ZjM1YTgzMjllNTU0ODhjYzo2OmFjOTM6ZTNkOTJlMmNmN2ZlZGQ2ZjU4NWQ2MzkxZGM4MGU2NGUzM2QwNjYxNDBhYzk1ZjQ0ZDZjNTRiZDcxZDM5OTU3Njp0OlQ.

 

Learn The Be Body Positive Model to Find Peace with Your Body

Three sessions that will introduce you to powerful resources to inhabit your body with kindness, confidence and beauty.

Self-Compassion and Beauty: Powerful Qualities of the Heart That Correct for Self-Criticism and Perfectionism
In this brief introduction to The Be Body Positive model you will learn skills to make peace with your body and inhabit your life with joy and freedom. Learn how to cultivate a fierce quality of self-love that protects you from aggression from others as well as from the fearful and orphaned parts of yourself. Escape the failure of imagination represented in American beauty ideals and explore more imaginative ways of seeing your own and other’s beauty.

Transforming our Internal Orphans into Champions, Through Self-Love (two hours)
Cultivate Self-Love and turn towards your critical voice with kindness and curiosity to discover the power that comes from nourishing the fearful, orphaned parts of your psyche. Use the beautiful art room at the Ranch to create an effigy of your orphan and transform it through kindness and dialog. Embody this transformation to build internal confidence, stability and joy.

Embracing the Beauty of our Ancestors (One and a half hours)
Learn the powerful Be Body Positive competency of “Declare Your Own Beauty” as a resource for transforming your body image and finding more beauty in yourself and everyone around you. Free yourself from damaging and dissociated ways of relating to your body. Using discussion, writing and self-expression, we will gather resources to develop more creative and joyful ways of inhabiting your beauty.

 

Elizabeth Scott LCSW, CEDS-S, is an educator and psychotherapist whose work focuses on the intersection of embodiment, social justice and mindfulness. As Co-Founder and Director of Training for The Body Positive, Elizabeth has taught educators and students to use the Be Body Positive model to prevent eating disorders and promote joyful embodiment and excellent self-care since 1997. In her private practice, she trains treatment providers in her Big-Hearted Embodiment psychotherapy model. Elizabeth studies yoga, Tibetan, Pure Land and Insight Meditation practices to nourish non-violence and compassion in our precious world.

Health and Beauty

How to Use Essential Oils in Self-Care Rituals for Beauty, Balance and Well-Being
Learn the therapeutic properties of key essential oils, whose plants are grown on the Ranch, and the best self-care rituals you can use at home for stress relief, deep sleep, restoring energy, balance and well-being.

How to Maintain Your Skin’s Radiance and Vibrancy at Any Age
What herbs and essential oils can be used to heal, nourish and restore the skin? Learn simple yet effective regimens for your own skin care needs and overall vital well-being.

 

Tara Grodjesk, winner of American Spa magazine’s Women in Wellness Visionary Award, president of Tara Spa Therapy, Inc., and emeritus founder of Green Spa Network, has devoted over 35 years of experience in Holistic Health and Wellness to bring therapeutic efficacy to spa treatments and products. Tara has been a consultant to world-class spas and is a master developer of high quality, holistic personal-care products. She is the expert behind the Rancho La Puerta Core Essentials line.  Ms. Grodjesk has a degree in Psychology with Honors from the Univ. of Michigan. She is a Certified Massage Therapist, Holistic Health Educator, Ayurvedic Practitioner and Aroma Therapist.  Her vision is to harness nature’s inspiration to create environments and experiences that support healing and which nourish the Divine within.

Health and Beauty

How to Use Essential Oils in Self-Care Rituals for Beauty, Balance and Well-Being
Learn the therapeutic properties of key essential oils, whose plants are grown on the Ranch, and the best self-care rituals you can use at home for stress relief, deep sleep, restoring energy, balance and well-being.

How to Maintain Your Skin’s Radiance and Vibrancy at Any Age
What herbs and essential oils can be used to heal, nourish and restore the skin? Learn simple yet effective regimens for your own skin care needs and overall vital well-being.

 

Tara Grodjesk, winner of American Spa magazine’s Women in Wellness Visionary Award, president of Tara Spa Therapy, Inc., and emeritus founder of Green Spa Network, has devoted over 35 years of experience in Holistic Health and Wellness to bring therapeutic efficacy to spa treatments and products. Tara has been a consultant to world-class spas and is a master developer of high quality, holistic personal-care products. She is the expert behind the Rancho La Puerta Core Essentials line. Ms. Grodjesk has a degree in Psychology with Honors from the Univ. of Michigan. She is a Certified Massage Therapist, Holistic Health Educator, Ayurvedic Practitioner and Aroma Therapist. Her vision is to harness nature’s inspiration to create environments and experiences that support healing and which nourish the Divine within.

 

Live Music

Musical Miniatures
Calm, soothing musical gems. Come and relax after a busy morning and before lunch to feed your mind and soul with the sounds of short masterpieces for piano.

Viva Vivaldi!
Hear “The Four Seasons” with a fresh perspective as Scott Marrone leads us through this most popular of musical works. You will never hear it the same way again! Discover the creativity and ingenuity found in Vivaldi’s delightful masterpiece “The Four Seasons.” While the immediate impression of this great work is a set of four violin concertos, closer examination reveals a wealth of symbolism and actual story lines within the musical themes and various movements. Join Scott Marrone as we listen to and explore the program contained in these beloved musical gems. Find a new way to hear and understand this classic work, making it more personal, concrete, and enjoyable!

John Scott Marrone has been recognized as an outstanding conductor and director of many musical organizations. His experience covers the entire spectrum of orchestral and choral music from Renaissance to Contemporary, leading an impressive array of performing organizations both in the United States and Europe. In addition to his own Allegro Chamber Ensemble, Mr. Marrone has worked with the English Chamber Orchestra, Solisti di Roma, Orchestre de Paris, Oratorio Society of New York, Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut, Greenwich Choral Society, and many other organizations including concerts and tours. His choir performed for Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Basilica and at the papal audience before 250,000 people in Rome. With the Allegro Chamber Ensemble, Mr. Marrone performed a series of concerts at the Salzburg Music Festival, St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London, and at the Sainte Chapelle in 1994 for the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Paris. With his choirs he has conducted at St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Westminster Abbey in London, the Duomo in Florence and many other locations throughout Europe. Mr. Marrone holds a Professional Diploma in Piano from the Brooklyn Conservatory and a Master’s in Conducting from Columbia University.

Explore Rancho La Puerta’s Night Sky

Explore Rancho La Puerta’s Night Sky – Lecture
The dark skies at the Ranch provide a fabulous opportunity for seeing the wonders of Winter Sky such as the Andromeda Galaxy, the constellations of Orion (including its famous nebula), Gemini, Taurus, and dazzling star clusters. Participate in another magical part of the Ranch experience. You will never look at the night sky the same way again!

Star Gazing
Observe with the naked eye, binoculars and telescope. Please sign up in the Lounge.

 

John Scott Marrone has over 30 years of experience teaching in the New York area. In addition to Astronomy, Scott teaches Forensics, Environmental Studies, and Oceanography. He has been recognized by Ciba-Geigy Corporation for his work in promoting science literacy and received the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award in 2007 from Manhattan College. In February 1998, Scott was invited by the Aruban Government to substitute for astronomer Jay Pasachoff to lead the observation of the total solar eclipse.  Most recently, Scott led the public observing session on Mauna Kea and in 2017 traveled to Wyoming with a group to view the total solar eclipse.

Hand-Stitching and Intuitive Quilting

Throughout time, we have made quilts to warm our beds on cold winter nights, to preserve memories of loved ones, and as a way to share knowledge and good company in a communal setting.

Join us for some slow-stitching through the eyes of renowned painter Erin Lee Gafill and artist Emily Birmingham. Bring your own textiles (heirloom, personal and family fabric, scraps, old clothes) or dip into our communal scrap bag. Together, we will review basic methods and stitch our own individual mini-quilts.

Inspired by the “Outside-In Method” of design used in traditional Afro-Indian quilting (kawandi), Erin will guide you through an exploration of intuitive design and the pleasures of hand-stitching.

No experience or skill is required. As long as you can thread a needle or make one stitch, you know enough!

Why do we gather?
Erin’s mantra has long been “Start where you are, Use what you have!” No experience or skill is required. As long as you can thread a needle or make one stitch, you know enough. To find ways to actively rest, to create and communicate, to console and comfort. The very act of sitting down and threading a needle, or stitching into fabric, can bring a sense of comfort and joy. Those simplest of acts coupled with exploring color and pattern can evoke deep pleasure in the maker, cultivating a stronger understanding of one’s intuitive design abilities and sense of “voice”.

What will we be doing?
We will be working on small scale quilts, hand-stitching scraps of fabric to a batting and backing, with an outcome of a completely unique lap quilt only YOU could have made.

By giving each person guidance and support around juxtaposing fabrics that delight them, Erin invites each participant to explore the joyful world of color and pattern in textile making. This is a low to no technique class. Using a simple basting stitch or long stitch, we slow-stitch our way into mindfulness. There is no pattern to follow, no ironing or measuring, no right way. As we release expectations of outcomes centered on the work of others, we find our own personal and precious voice. Needle, thread and heart are the focus. A time for you to work quietly and contemplatively with an award-winning artist who delights in helping you discover your own inner artist. The ultimate “process over product” workshop.

Five sessions.
First day we work together on a communal project.  Free!
The rest of the week we work on our own projects.
All necessary materials provided for a $20 materials fee. 
Sign Up: Max 12 
Location: Art Studio, Library Lounge, or Lounge

 

An award-winning painter and author, Erin Gafill has inspired people around the world with her inspirational art, heartfelt stories, and uniquely engaging teaching methods.  Her work bridges art, craft, and community, weaving observation, intuition, and imagination into her painting, writing, teaching, and public speaking. A fifth-generation California artist, she was born in Big Sur, California in 1963, the daughter of a beatnik and a hippie and the great-great-granddaughter of Carmel’s first artist-in-residence. Growing up at her grandparents’ legendary restaurant, Nepenthe, a mecca for poets, bohemians and dreamers, she drew inspiration from its ever-changing cast of characters as well as the stunning and mystical beauty of the coast. Erin is the founder of the nonprofit Big Sur Arts Initiative, and founding member of the Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters Association. In 2001 Erin was honored to serve as the first American Artist-in-Residence at the Hamada International Children’s Museum, Hamada, Japan. In 2009, she and her husband Tom Birmingham were named Champions of the Arts by the Arts Council of Monterey County and were honored by the United States Congress for their service to the community through the arts.  Her exhibit Color Duets was the featured Spring/Summer show for the Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey, California, in 2022, and her solo exhibit California Atmsophere was featured this summer at the Morris Graves Museum of Art, Eureka, California. She is the author of a coffee table art book, Color Duets, with Kaffe Fassett, and a memoir about life/work balance, Drinking from a Cold Spring, a Little Book of Hope. Both books are available at www.colorduets.com.

 

Emily Birmingham is an artist living in her hometown of Big Sur, California. She works in a range of mediums, from fabric manipulation and assemblage to observational sketch and acrylic painting. Currently she is exploring group quilting and gathering together through this traditional practice. Born into a family of artists, she sees the world through a creative lens and is quick to incorporate and adapt new disciplines.  Her aim is to  share her expressions, through work that feels like play and interactive installation with a focus on connecting people through their creativity.

Adventure with Sounds, with ArcoStrum

Musical World Tour
Strauss Shi – violin, erhu, dizi
TY Zhang – classical guitar, electric guitar
ArcoStrum invites you on a movie-like adventure with sounds from ancient Chinese instruments to the modern electric guitar. You’ll hear a Bach Partita, Hai-huai’s Horse Racing, De Falla’s La Vida Breve, and other virtuosic works on this program that combines mixed-genre, multi-cultural, and cross-era chamber music that celebrates music from all corners of the world.

The Four Seasons
Strauss Shi – violin, erhu, dizi
TY Zhang – classical guitar, electric guitar
Witness the exciting evolution of the violin-guitar duo in action as ArcoStrum proudly presents their new violin-guitar arrangements of beloved Latin American works by Assad, Gnattali, and Piazzolla along with a unique version of Vivaldi’s iconic Four Seasons. The finale features a wildly unique pairing of the Chinese erhu and dizi, together with the classical and electric guitar for an unforgettable experience of Chinese music and American instrumental rock!

 

Awarded as the recent Winner and Audience Prize of the 2023 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition in New York, the ArcoStrum consists of three-times international First Prize-winning violinist Strauss Shi, and the Grand Prize winner of Guitar Foundation of America – International Concert Artist Competition (GFA-ICAC), TY Zhang.

Highlights of their 2022-2023 Season include major debuts at the Omni Foundation for the Performing Arts, Festival Cultural Zacatecas (Mexico), National Sawdust, Austin Chamber Music Festival, and Caramoor.

ArcoStrum captures the hearts of audiences through their charisma, virtuosity, and dazzling on-stage chemistry. The duo champions unique concert programming through their original transcriptions of beloved classical repertoire, traditional Chinese instrumental music infused with modern instrumentations, as well as virtuosic non-classical instrumental progressive rock.

Initially encountered at The Juilliard School, the two soon discovered unspoken chemistry not only in life but in music making. ArcoStrum is pushing boundaries and redefining the 21st century violin-guitar art form, presenting a new chamber music that is mixed-genre, multi-culture, and cross-era. More at arcostrum.com/home

 

The Magic, Myths, and Magnetism of Art in Mexico

Giants of 20th Century Mexican Mural Art
Mexico has long been a magnet for an international community of avant-garde intellectuals, writers, poets, and artists, but it is Rivera, Orozco, and Siqueiros who would shape an artistic revolution and an imaginative new vision, bringing both fame and notoriety as they went on to influence generations of Mexican artists, while also profoundly impacting American art at mid-century. Join Diane Arkin to explore, discover, and discuss this extraordinary cultural and artistic legacy of Mexico.

Vincent Van Gogh: Dispelling the Myths
One of the most popular, prolific, and universally recognized artists of all time, Van Gogh leaves a legacy of intensely subjective paintings that track his trajectory from outer perception to inner sensation. His emotional honesty, distortion of appearances for expressive purposes, energetic brushwork, and use of vibrant color would herald the emergence of Expressionism and have a huge impact on the artists who came after him. Join Diane Arkin as we discover the many ways in which this master of modern painting expands our thinking about what art can be.

Spanish and Mexican Surrealism: The Magic of Miro, Dilemma of Dali, and Fantasies of Frida
The dream imagery, personal sign languages, auras of fantasy, and subconscious feelings that surrealist artists explored are all evidenced in the paintings of Miro and Dali, two of the best-known 20th-century Spanish surrealist painters. But we also find these elements in the extraordinary art of Frida Kahlo, a truly iconic Mexican surrealist painter who forged a unique and original type of art filled with personal symbolism. These artists took separate paths to express their shared interests, with Miro creating child-like, carefree, abstract, and poetic images, with flamboyant Dali pursuing painting with hallucinatory impact and power to shock, and with Kahlo virtually re-inventing self-portraiture as autobiography. Join Diane Arkin as we unravel the mysteries in the surrealist art of these three giants of modernism.

Enjoying Modern Art
Modern art can baffle, challenge, irritate, and delight us. By throwing away past traditions, artists like Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne, Picasso, Miro, Rauschenberg, Warhol, Wiley, and Kim experimented with new ideas and materials to revolutionize the art experience. With an emphasis on 19th, 20th, and 21st century art we will track the hand of the artist, the growing emphasis on the psychological, and the movement toward abstraction.  Join Diane Arkin for a session of careful looking and lively discussion aimed at discovering, exploring, and enjoying modern art.

Diane ArkinFor VIP’s, dignitaries, superstars, and celebrities, Diane Arkin, retired Senior Lecturer at the National Gallery of Art, was the scholar routinely called on to provide engaging, entertaining, and thought-provoking presentations on subjects spanning treasures from the medieval period through the most challenging art of today. She also lectured nationally on museum education, trends in theory and practice, active learning strategies, and museums as unique learning environments. Prior to coming to the National Gallery of Art, Diane served as Curator of Education at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art and Design in Washington, DC, and as Director of Education at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. Diane’s work as a Program Coordinator in both the Resident Associate Program and the International Study Tours Division of the Smithsonian Institution included years of lecturing both domestically and internationally on a broad range of art historical subjects.

JOY: Here and Now!

The Ranch is the perfect place to drop into the present moment and discover what brings you alive with joy!

What is Joy?
The sunflower is not striving for joy—it IS joy! Similarly, within each person is the essence of joy. We all fall into the trap of chasing shiny objects, perfecting ourselves/circumstances or attaching ourselves to feel-good pleasure to feel that temporary “high.” Yet we want the simple joy we experienced as a child. Joy is related to the eyes that see the extraordinary in the ordinariness of daily life. We’ll learn to cultivate and practice PERSPECTIVE with aliveness and vitality:

  • Stop reactivity; be the witness watching the play
  • Drop into present moment time from thoughts/feelings to sensation.
  • Turn attention toward aliveness and appreciate the precious moment

Joy: Create Conditions and Reduce Resistance
Our brains crave the repetition and efficiency, of doing things on automatic—even if these default habits aren’t in our best interest. From the witness perspective, we can recognize the outdated beliefs of the “loyal soldier” that are obstacles to joy and why they were developed in the first place. New space for greater joy opens up in our lives when we learn to:

  • Identify internal and external messages that keep joy away
  • Get acquainted with the “Kill-Joy” part of us and notice it’s fear
  • Offer honor and compassion for the fear

Joy Practices: Exploring possibilities
We’re always practicing something.  While we can’t create joy-on-demand, the more we are conscious of WHAT we’re practicing, the more choice we have to wake up out of our habitual trance and strengthen our capacity for joy. Joy comes when the body, mind, and heart are all aligned in a coherent flow. Identifying and activating “joy resonators” remind us what is possible.  What kind of focus invites peacefulness and steadiness? What rhythm of music activates joy? What pace of walking allows you to smell the flowers?  What kind of challenges makes your soul joyful? What kind of touch opens you? What poetry or prayer makes you glad to be alive?

We’ll experiment with higher qualities and practices to learn your joy resonators:

  • Joy of the mind: equanimity, stillness, curiosity
  • Joy of the heart: forgiveness, gratitude, compassion
  • Joy of the body: awake with sensation, movement, vitality,

Partnering with Joy: Your Joy Blueprint
Going back to your familiar environment compels those fledgling new neuropathways of joy to fall back into outdated habits. Holding your own joy ground requires intentionality and commitment to daily practice. Knowing which practice to apply to a particular situation is key to keeping yourself available for joy. By creating a simple motivational tool and reminder to take home with you, you will learn to stay on track:

  • Identify barriers and supports in your back-home environment.
  • Prioritize your needs and “joy resonators”
  • Develop a vision and plan to concretize your intentions

Barbara Arney, MA, brings uncommon wisdom and presence from decades of experience as a facilitator of transformation for individuals and organizations across the country. Barb works at the intersections of Leadership Development, Executive Coaching and Personal Development. In 2009 she created Luna, a decade-long national Wisdom community for women, emphasizing personal and spiritual awakening. In 2018 she founded a group for retired CEOs called The Men-neagram. Her powerful workshops provide a safe space for those seeking insight, meaning-making, and warm connections.

Holiday Concerts

Sunday, December 24, 8PM
“The Night Before Christmas”
Cardenes/Mead Family and Geeta Novotny
Celebrate the magic of Christmas Eve with a family of musicians sharing the timeless Bethlehem story through the lens of music, song, and lore from around the world.

Monday, December 25, 6-7PM
Piano Jazz in Dining Hall
Tino Cardenes plays soft holiday piano jazz in the Dining Hall during dinner.

Tuesday, December 26, 8PM
“Winter Wonderland”
Cardenes/Mead Family
From Vivaldi’s virtuosic “Winter” to Tchaikovsky’s beloved “Nutcracker”, the Cardenes/Mead family presents music inspired by snowflakes, ice, and the coziness of a warm fire in good company.

 

The Cardenes/Mead Family Ensemble consists of Andres Cardenes and Monique Mead, violins with their children Isabel Cardenes, harp, and Tino Cardenes, piano.

Grammy-nominated Andrés Cárdenes parlays his myriad talents into a versatile career as a world-class violin soloist, concertmaster, conductor, violist, chamber musician, recording artist, and educator.  Since capturing Second Prize in the 1982 Tchaikovsky International Violin Competition, Mr. Cárdenes has appeared as a soloist with over 100 orchestras on five continents. For 25 years, he served as concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra under Lorin Maazel, Mariss Jansons, and Manfred Honeck.  His conducting career has taken him throughout the United States and Latin America while maintaining an influential teaching studio for over 44 years, with current positions as Distinguished Professor of Violin at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and Distinguished Professor at Lynn University in Florida. A prolific recording artist, Cárdenes has recorded over three dozen recordings on the Ocean, Naxos, Sony, Delos, Artek, and Melodya labels.  Cárdenes is the co-founder and Music Director of the Josef Gingold Chamber Music Festival of Miami, a program geared toward educating musicians in the teachings, legacy, and humanity of his legendary teacher. since 1989. More at andrescardenes.com.

Monique Mead’s rich and varied career is a testament to her enduring belief that music has the power to connect, heal, and uplift humanity. Whether performing violin on stage, in nature, or in the community, Monique strives to create transformative musical experiences that connect people more deeply with themselves and others. Mentored by Leonard Bernstein at a young age, Monique chose a path that would open the world of classical music to new audiences of all ages. Since 1998 her youth and family programs with major orchestras and festivals in the United States and Europe have drawn international acclaim for their popular appeal and innovative approach. Her recordings with the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, Berlin Radio Orchestra, and West German Radio Orchestra have reached millions via radio and television broadcasts. In addition to performing as a soloist and chamber musician, Monique currently serves as Director of Music Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University, where she helps rising musicians find new pathways for music in the 21st century.  More at moniquemead.com

Trained as a classical and jazz pianist, Tino Cardenes is currently in his first year of studying Music & Technology at Carnegie Mellon University. Whether on stage or behind a camera, he strives to make the musical experience equitable and  accessible to all. With the project Music for Good, he provides music education to children who would otherwise not have the opportunity to learn an instrument, and hopes that this project will continue to foster their love of music for years to come. In 2020, he launched a porch concert series with his family to build community during the pandemic, support local musicians, and contribute to city music programs. Tino performed with violinist Monique Mead for Beethoven in the Face of Adversity – a project which brought concerts to people facing adversity who could otherwise not experience live music. This project spanned 50 performances and 3 countries over the course of 250 days, culminating in a performance at Carnegie Music Hall. Tino made his concerto debut in Germany at age 7, won first place in the Cleveland Institute of Music Piano Four Hands competition, attended Interlochen Arts Camp, and holds the Louis Armstrong Jazz award. More at tinocardenes.com

Harpist, Isabel Cardenes is known for her sensitive musicianship and unique self-expression. She is passionate about using music for healing and social change, and frequently performs as a citizen artist in non-traditional settings. Having played her piano debut at age nine with the Neue Philharmonie Westfalen in Germany, Isabel began her journey with the harp at age eleven as a student of Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Harpist Gretchen Van Hoesen. She is currently an undergraduate student at Manhattan School of Music studying with Metropolitan Opera Harpist Mariko Anraku on a Presidential Scholarship. In 2019, Isabel won First Prize in Pittsburgh’s Lois Streator/Smith Competition as well as Third Prize at the American Harp Society National Competition in North Carolina. In her first year at Manhattan School of Music she performed as a substitute harpist for the Harrisburg Symphony and New Jersey Festival Orchestra. In the summer of 2022 Isabel played her debut with the Metropolitan Opera orchestra in Carnegie Hall. More at isabelcardenes.com

Meditation and Human Flourishing

Meditation is Your Natural State
Overcoming the Overactive Mind
The End of Stress, Distress, & Suffering
Human Flourishing: Enduring Happiness, Serenity, & Freedom

Meditation is not what you think it is. It’s much more. Perhaps you’ve tried meditation, but you just couldn’t do it. Perhaps you couldn’t fit it into a hectic schedule, or you were overcome by a restless monkey-mind. You gave up more than once in frustration or boredom. In the news, media, and from friends you hear about the benefits of this practice, but you never experienced these for yourself. Dr. Elliott Dacher will share his unique perspective as a trained physician and lifelong meditator. He will demonstrate, with clear scientific evidence, personal experience, and precise instructions what wise women and men have long understood – effective meditation has the power to heal the body at gross and subtle levels, awaken your mind, and ignite your spirit. It offers that illusive “more to Life.” This experiential four-session progressive program will provide you with the understandings and skills that will enable you to develop a successful meditation practice, experience its full benefits, and effectively integrate it into your daily life.

 

Elliott S. Dacher, M.D., practiced internal medicine for 20 years before pursuing an extensive education in Eastern psychology and practices amongst the wise healers of Asia. His last book –Aware, Awake, Alive – is the course text. He is a past fellow at the Institute of Noetic Sciences and a past advisory board member of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. A frequent presenter and seminar leader, his previous books include: Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing (Basic Books, 2006), Whole Healing (Dutton/Plume, 1996), and Intentional Healing (Marlowe, 1996). Currently he teaches and counsels individuals seeking a larger health and life.

 

Personal and Earth Healing

Healing Modalities from First Nation’s Teachings
How to use timeless ancestral teachings and tools to balance your mind, meet your life goals and live a harmonious life

Mountain and Earth Healing: Talking Circle with Song and Earth Offering
A talking circle style sitting with healing smoke and sharing of mountain songs and prayer to heal the area and bring it back to harmony

 

Rosa Yaotonalcuahtl, Rarámuri-Mēxihcah|
Medicine woman and Moon Dance chief
Keeper of knowledge for Mēxihcah tradition
Council of Knowledge Keepers, Red Road Journey

 

 

Julio Enrique Reyes-Alvarado, Taino member
Puerto Rico
CEO of Awakening Wholeness
Honored Advisor, Red Road Journey

 

 

Tony Skrelunas, Dine Nation
Traditional Values/Knowledge Keeper
Founder, Red Road Journey

For more information, please visit:
https://www.redroadjourney.org/

Blood, Biotechnology and Well-Being – Overviews of Genetics, Cellular Therapies and Aging

Discover the provoking and revolutionary technologies that will not only treat each of us more precisely but will drive longevity and healthier communities.

Blood, Biotechnology and Well-Being – Overviews of Genetics, Cellular Therapies and Aging.
Over the past 20 years, biological discoveries and healthcare technologies have evolved at breakneck speed.  It is now possible to read your entire genetic blueprint in a few hours, reprogram your immune cells to kill cancer, and mine amounts of data never before imagined, all to more effectively treat us more precisely as individuals.  Individuals and communities will live longer and healthier lives, and it all starts with our blood!

Blood, Biotechnology and Well-Being – DNA and Genetics.
The discovery of the molecular structure of DNA by Watson and Crick in 1952 has cracked wide open the understanding of our genetic blueprint, how single molecular changes in our DNA can cause disease, how our DNA directs how we respond to therapies, and how we can now edit our DNA to eradicate disease, with technologies such as CRISPR.  DNA sequencing and editing technologies applied to agriculture and microorganisms, bacteria and viruses, will enable us to realize both precision medicine and more importantly precision health.

Blood, Biotechnology and Well-Being – Cellular Therapies.
Pharmaceutical development is at an amazing inflection point, using cells to replace damaged and diseased tissues.  Cellular therapies are just now being applied clinically, after the earlier waves of chemical drugs, such as aspirin, and biologics, such as antibodies (i.e., Humira).  The treatment of cancer has followed drug development and now it is possible to leverage and even reprogram your own immune system to fight cancer.

Blood, Biotechnology and Well-Being – Aging.
While cancer involves the aberrant growth of cells, cell senescence, or aging, occurs through similar genetic changes.  Scientists now believe our bodies were designed to live longer than we actually do, and it’s the inhibition of disease that will enhance longevity.  Will genetically manipulating individual cells allow us to live both disease-free and longer?  In this program we will also briefly review the biology of skincare and wound repair.

David Wellis,  Ph.D., is a nationally known cell biologist, innovator and entrepreneur with over 30 years of engagement in the life science industry.  David currently serves as the CEO of Excellos, a company focused on supplying cellular products and services, together with process development and manufacturing expertise to scientists and clinicians working with cell and gene therapies.  Prior to Excellos, he served as the CEO of the San Diego Blood Bank (SDBB) for nearly 9 years.  At SDBB, David’s vision was to connect altruistic blood donors with basic research and clinical study opportunities, furthering SDBB’s mission of ensuring the health of the community.  David joined SDBB following his tenure at a variety of companies that developed antibody therapeutics and tools for biomedical research, diagnostic and applied markets. David received his B.S. from UC Irvine, an M.S. and Ph.D. from Emory University, postdoctoral training at Tufts University and UC Berkeley, and business training at Santa Clara University and UC Berkeley.  David serves on the Executive Committee of the Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute at UC San Diego, and has held board and committee roles in several national blood bank organizations, the National Institutes of Health and biotechnology companies.  He has presented to local and national audiences, Young Presidents Organization and has been invited to the White House twice.  For the past two years, he was named to the SD500 list of Most Influential People in San Diego.