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Clinical Fitness Assessment

Cardiorespiratory Fitness (CRF) sheds light on how well you can perform in a variety of physical activities and how well you are able to burn the calories you consume. CRF is related to weight management, functional capacity, human performance, and metabolic efficiency, and is the strongest predictor of all-cause and disease-specific mortality.

The RLP Clinical Fitness Assessment, with Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Jody Miller, includes two 30-minute sessions during your week at the Ranch, and one 30 minute session virtually as a follow up to your Ranch visit.

During session one, Body Composition and Aerobic Capacity are assessed.

Body Composition is assessed using the skinfold caliper method with measures taken at several sites on the body (thigh, triceps, subscapular, supra-iliac and abdomen).

Aerobic Capacity (METS) is assessed using a sub-maximal cycling protocol. Guests ride a Schwinn AirDyne to a predetermined target heart rate. Heart rate and blood pressure are monitored.

During session two, a summary of your results and personalized nutrition and exercise recommendations will be provided.

During session three, coaching and support follow up is offered.

Appointment availability and Sign-ups for your Clinical Fitness Assessment can be found in the Main Lounge… or contact Concierge to connect with Jody Miller directly.

Clinical Fitness Assessment package – $397.00 *plus tax

 

Jody Miller, Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist will provide both the Assessment and Coaching Follow up. Jody works with women and men of all ages to help them achieve weight loss and fitness goals, ultimately reducing the risk of chronic disease. Jody’s specialty is behavior change and sustainable life-long, non-diet approaches addressing an array of health concerns including but not limited to Hypertension, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Chronic Pain, Pregnancy, Infertility, Menopause, Multiple Sclerosis, Arthritis and Osteoporosis.

Jody is a member of and received the Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist credential from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). She is a member of the Clinical Exercise Physiology Association (CEPA), IDEA Health and Fitness Association, and has received the Exercise is Medicine EIMä designation.

Living Your Best Life: Practical Strategies for Emotional Wellness

Learn effective, practical strategies for coping with challenging thoughts and feelings so you can live your best and healthiest life!

Living Your Best Life: Practical Strategies for Emotional Wellness
It is normal to struggle with sadness, anxiety, procrastination, and stress from time to time. Unfortunately, many people get “stuck” in these experiences and find their quality of life significantly diminished as a result. In recent decades, clinical psychologists have developed and tested effective strategies for attaining and maintaining emotional wellness. This presentation provides an overview of practical strategies designed to help people maintain a positive outlook, overcome procrastination and avoidance, face their fears, and focus their energy on the things that are truly important to them. Follow-up workshops will delve deeper into specific strategies.

Harnessing Happiness
One of my mentors once said, “Our minds are like Teflon for the good stuff and Velcro for the bad stuff.” This analogy reflects a hard truth – the human brain is hard-wired to focus on the negative. Our brain does this to look out for threat and keep us safe, but the result is that many of us find it challenging to focus on the good things in life. Thankfully, effective strategies have been developed to help us train our minds to focus on the positive and their use often results in improved mood and more fulfilling lives.

Maintaining Motivation
We all put off things we need to do, things we should do, and, sometimes, even things we want to do. In fact, many people name procrastination as one of their biggest barriers to a happier and more fulfilling life. Nearly a century of research on motivation and reinforcement have led to the development of effective strategies to help us overcome procrastination so that we can get things done and move forward in life, even when we just don’t feel like and our minds are telling us it’s just too hard.

Facing Your Fears
Nearly 1/3 of Americans report significantly distressing and impairing anxiety at some point in their life. Many millions more have significant fears and phobias (some rational, some irrational) that hold them back. What if instead of avoiding the things we are afraid of, we leaned into them instead? Western research on how the human brain learns and Eastern traditions rooted in mindfulness have been integrated in recent years to develop effective strategies for facing your fears. Learn how to overcome fear and anxiety once and for all so that you can live your best life.

 

Dr. Richard LeBeau is a licensed clinical psychologist whose career has been dedicated to improving mental health treatment. After graduating from Colgate University, he completed over 10 years of training in clinical psychology at University of California, Los Angeles, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Harvard Medical School. He has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, primarily focused on treating depression and anxiety, and maintains a private practice in Beverly Hills. He currently works at Lyra Health, where he helps the company further its mission to expand access to high-quality mental health care across the globe.

Pickleball Tournament

After participating in workshops in the beginning of the week (classes Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, and open play on Wednesday), teams of two comprised of YOU, our Ranch guests, will compete against each other in this fun two-day event. There will be an advanced beginning and intermediate bracket; all levels are welcome! Guests do not need to attend any of the classes to participate in the tournament.

Matches will be held on Thursday and Friday. A bracket of the teams and their standings will be posted in the Main Lounge. First, second, and third place prizes will be awarded. All participants will receive a 25% off coupon to purchase Rancho La Puerta pickleball paddles in the Mercado. Cheering on your fellow Ranch guests is FREE and encouraged.

Sign up at the Main Lounge before Wednesday at 12pm to participate.

Chamber Music Concert

Janet Guggenheim is the pianist in the video, “Perlman Live in Russia.”  For 30 years she collaborated with violinist Itzhak Perlman, including concerts in Mexico City, Hong Kong, Taipei, Istanbul, and Moscow. She appeared numerous times on the Johnny Carson “Tonight” Show with Perlman and Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, as well as with Yo Yo Ma.  She was pianist for the Pablo Casals Master Classes in Berkeley, televised on PBS. She has given recitals throughout Europe. With Michael Grebanier, she recorded the complete cello works of Rachmaninoff. She made her orchestral debut at the age of 16 with the San Francisco Symphony. A graduate of U.C. Berkeley, she received a master’s degree from the Juilliard School, received the Joseph Lhevinne scholarship, and won the Juilliard Concerto competition. She has been on the faculties of U.C., Dominican and Portland State University.

Martha Aarons’ professional career began with her appointment as principal flute of the North Carolina Symphony. Subsequently she played with the Cleveland Orchestra for 25 years.  After becoming a freelancer, she performed often with the Philadelphia Orchestra. During this time, she appeared as guest principal flute with the Metropolitan Opera, Minnesota Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, and Mostly Mozart Festival. Ms. Aarons served as Artist Faculty with the Aspen Music Festival for 19 years. Her teaching credits include the Cleveland Institute of Music, Duke University, University of North Carolina/Chapel Hill, Oberlin College, Skidmore College, Shanghai Conservatory and Eastman School of Music. She has been soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, Ohio Chamber Orchestra, and with the Aspen Festival Chamber and Festival orchestras. Her first solo CD, The History of the Tango, is recorded on the Azica label and additionally features pianist Frances Renzi and Grammy-winning guitarist Jason Vieaux.  Her newest release is the CD Last Silence with violinist Lev Polyakin and pianist Frances Renzi.  Martha is also an avid runner and has qualified for her fourth consecutive Boston Marathon in April 2024!

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

Wild Women of Song

Concert #1:   Great Women of the American Songbook – Swing, Jazz and Motown

Concert #2 – Great Women of The Blues – (Alberta Hunter, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Nina Simone and more!)

And Outdoor Concert at Bazar del Sol

 

Pamela Rose is that rare breed of entertainer who connects solidly with her audience by always delivering a personal and unforgettable musical experience. Her rich, bold, warm voice and easy rapport with musicians thrills audiences of all ages.
“Outstanding vocals…Pamela Rose hits that jazz and soul sweet spot”.  Frank John Hadley, DownBeat 

Rose is also best known for her touring concerts celebrating remarkable women in blues and jazz.  Her Wild Women of Song and Blues is a Woman shows resulted in a book and concert series which has toured nationally.

 

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

 

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

 

Oakland resident Ruth Davies has lent her fluid, expressive upright bass stylings to many internationally touring artists. Jazz and blues stars such as Charles Brown, Bonnie Raitt, Clark Terry, Elvin Bishop, and Van Morrison are among her long list of tour and recording credentials. Her impressive discography includes many platinum and Grammy-winning recordings.  Ruth has toured with Pamela Rose for many years, with her Blues is a Woman and Wild Women of Song shows.

 

Daria “Shani” Johnson is a San Francisco based drummer, singer and multi-instrumentalist with a smooth, sensual style and dynamic spirit on stage. She has become one of the most sought-after drummers in the Bay Area.  After graduating from the Berklee College of Music, Daria toured with her band London Street in the US and Europe, opening for major acts India Airie, Erykah Bada, Brandi Carlisle, and John Legend.  Daria also debuted and starred in the Blues is a Woman show, bringing the audience to their feet night after night.

Wild Women of Song

Concert #1:   Great Women Hitmakers – Swing, Jazz, Blues & R & B

Concert #2:   Great Women Hitmakers – the 60’s and 70’s!

And Sing-Along at Lounge

 

Pamela Rose – Vocals  
Pamela Rose is that rare breed of entertainer who connects solidly with her audience by always delivering a personal and unforgettable musical experience. Her rich, bold, warm voice and easy rapport with musicians thrills audiences of all ages.
“Outstanding vocals…Pamela Rose hits that jazz and soul sweet spot”.  Frank John Hadley, DownBeat 

Rose is also best known for her touring concerts celebrating remarkable women in blues and jazz.  Her Wild Women of Song and Blues is a Woman shows resulted in a book and concert series which has toured nationally.

 

John R. Burr – Pianist
John R. Burr is a musician of wide ranging and diverse style. Although firmly rooted in Blues and Jazz, he is heavily influenced by his love of vocal music ranging from the Beatles to the Great American Songbook, to Contemporary Pop Music. He is a sought-after Accompanist and Arranger on the Bay Area music scene, regularly appearing with Jackie Ryan, Kenny Washington,Tony Lindsay, Nicolas Bearde and Kitty Margolis.

 

Ruth Davies – Bass
Oakland resident Ruth Davies has lent her fluid, expressive upright bass stylings to many internationally touring artists. Jazz and blues stars such as Charles Brown, Bonnie Raitt, Clark Terry, Elvin Bishop, and Van Morrison are among her long list of tour and recording credentials. Her impressive discography includes many platinum and Grammy-winning recordings.  Ruth has toured with Pamela Rose for many years, with her Blues is a Woman and Wild Women of Song shows.

 

Daria Johnson – Drums/Vocals
Daria “Shani” Johnson is a San Francisco based drummer, singer and multi-instrumentalist with a smooth, sensual style and dynamic spirit on stage. She has become one of the most sought-after drummers in the Bay Area.  After graduating from the Berklee College of Music, Daria toured with her band London Street in the US and Europe, opening for major acts India Airie, Erykah Bada, Brandi Carlisle, and John Legend.  Daria also debuted and starred in the Blues is a Woman show, bringing the audience to their feet night after night.

Concert with Elena Durán, Edgar Ibarra, and Ana Ceci Anzaldua

Broadway to Hollywood
Music by George Gershwin, Henry Mancini,
Leonard Bernstein, Andrew Lloyd We

Elena Durán, flute
Ana Ceci Anzaldúa, voice
Edgar Ibarra, piano

 

Elena Durán grew up in Oakland, California and has enjoyed an international career, appearing as soloist with more than 50 orchestras all over the world, playing on a number of occasions for the Queen of England, HM King Charles as well as the President of Mexico. She has recorded a hit single with Paul McCartney and has made two albums with jazz great Stephane Grappelli. At various stages of her career, she has taught at University and Conservatory level including at Stanford University, the London College of Music, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the Hartt School of Music. She has given masterclasses and courses all over the world and was the director of the Stratford International Flute Festival for twenty years and the Mexican Flute Festival at UNAM for five years in the nineties. She was named Mexico City’s Ambassador of Culture and Tourism, and with her personal outreach program FLAUTA SIN FRONTERAS, she has taken music to those who can’t attend concerts, especially those in prison and those who live along the US/Mexico Border. Elena is a passionate supporter of the Ranch’s Fundación La Puerta bringing her programs to the local community.

 

Born in Mexico, Edgar Ibarra studied with the distinguished teacher Arnoldo Paredes Cuesta. In addition to classical music, he has a special interest in Jazz and in 2009 won the Fine Arts Award – Jazz Piano from the Interlochen Center for the Arts, in Michigan.  In 2007 he started the group Jazz Subtilior with whom he has performed on different stages in Mexico.  With his Edgar Ibarra Jazz Trio he has performed in several halls in Mexico as well.  With renowned flutist Elena Durán, Edgar has performed many recitals, both Classical and Jazz.  During 2016 and 2017 he was a beneficiary of the Bellas Artes Opera Studio, Fonca-INBA, where he was selected to participate in the Festival of the Egean, in Syros, Greece, conducting Mozart’s Don Giovanni and performing in several recitals. In the musical theatre scene in Mexico, he performed in the play Master Class and served as musical director of Mentiras, Man of La Mancha, Hello, Dolly! and Grease, for which he also wrote the arrangements.  He was also musical director of Songs for a New World, produced by Playhouse Entertainment, and vocal director of Daddy Long Legs, produced by Oak Live.

 

Ana Cecilia Anzaldúa studied at the Centro Cultural Virginia Fábregas, class of 2001, and at CEA of Televisa in 2003. Her first musical was Fiddler on the Roof, in 2004, where she played Java, and later joined the ensemble of The Producers.

Her first leading role was in Beauty and the Beast, where her performance as Belle earned her critical acclaim, winning the APT and ACPT for Best Actress in 2008.

Her many other stage credits include Sound of Music (Liesl), ¡Qué Plantón! (Hiedra Venenosa), A Chorus Line (Maggie), Mentiras (performing all 4 lead characters), Ghost (Molly), and in 2014 she starred as Elphaba in the hit musical Wicked.

Most recently, she was part of the ensemble of Mamma Mia!, understudying the roles of Donna and Tanya.

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.

 

Amazing Oceans of Life

Amazing Oceans of Life
Explore the beautiful and bizarre creatures that inhabit our seas, from tropical coral reefs to the deep abyss, with a leading expert. Dr. Mark Hixon uses stunning photographs, vivid video clips, and entertaining dialog to bring the undersea world indoors.

Coral Reefs: Rainforests and Canaries of the Seas
Explore the greatest concentration of life on the Earth including the life of corals, the amazing biodiversity of reefs, how coral reefs benefit humans, and how humans are threatening the very existence of reefs.

Abyss: Bizarre Creatures of the Deep Sea
Explore the dark recesses of the oceans, inhabited by creatures that look like characters from science fiction movies. Much of this presentation will be accompanied by video taken from deep sea submersibles.

Mother Ocean and Humanity: A Fragile Bond
The seas have provided people with numerous goods and services over millennia, yet Mother Ocean is now suffering. Dr. Mark Hixon will discuss how the invisibility of what lies below the sea surface and the myth of ocean inexhaustibility have led to environmental challenges that require each of us to become better ocean stewards.

 

Mark Hixon, Ph.D., is an endowed professor of marine biology at the University of Hawai‘i. For the past 40 years, he has studied sea life underwater using SCUBA and small research submarines, exploring kelp forests off California, the deep sea off Oregon, and coral reefs from the Caribbean to the Great Barrier Reef. An internationally recognized expert in coral reef ecology and conservation, Mark serves as an associate editor of multiple scientific journals, and is past chair of both the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee (for the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), and the Ocean Sciences Advisory Committee (for the National Science Foundation). His on-line TED talks and TV appearances about sea life are both informative and entertaining.

Concerts with Karl Anthony: Music, Color & Light

Karl Anthony in Concert – Music, Color & Light
Experience a mesmerizing evening with singer/songwriter Karl Anthony in concert. As you enter, stunning laser visuals and colorful starlight will fill the room.

Karl Anthony is a word-man with hundreds of poetically and passionately inspired songs. He draws his inspiration from a career of philanthropic international touring in Asia, being on staff as a Healing Arts Artist at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, and being a long-time guest musician at Rancho La Puerta for over thirty years. In addition to playing guitar, he will also perform on the hypnotic and soothing Handpan Singing Drum. This unique instrument was originally invented in Switzerland and blends rhythm and harmonics to create a universal sound sculpture that balances the heart and calms the mind.

But this evening is more than just a performance. Karl’s concert creates a vibration of community and will leave you feeling nurtured and engaged. This is a potent, heart-felt evening of music, color, and light.

Drumming with Karl Anthony
Unleash your beats and inner rhythm at Drumming with Karl Anthony! This epic class is not only a ton of fun, it’s also an awesome way to boost your creativity, focus, and overall health. You’ll experience the amazing world of drumming, where music and science combine to create something truly unique and engaging.

With drumming, you’ll get to express yourself through rhythm and sound, which can reduce stress, lift your mood, enhance cognitive function, and even boost your immune system! And don’t worry if you’ve never drummed before – no prior experience is needed. You can jump right in and soon will be in the groove.

Plus, drumming can improve your coordination, leading to better movement and balance. So, join us for a class that will have you feeling pumped and energized!

 

Karl Anthony is an award-winning singer/songwriter and a proud member of NOAH (National Organization of Arts in Health), dedicated to advocating for the healing power of music in healthcare. For nearly twenty years, he has served as a healing arts professional at the San Diego Rady Children’s Hospital, infusing his work and music with a message of hope for children and families.

Leading drum circles in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services (CAPS) at the hospital as a REMO Certified Health Rhythms Facilitator, Anthony promotes the scientifically researched benefits of community drumming as a tool for equalizing and building communities.

Each year, Karl and his wife Noi lead travel service trips to Thailand, where they have a home and reside part of the year. These trips support musical instruments for local schools and orphanages.

Karl has forged his own unique path in the music industry, earning multiple Gandhi/King Season for Non-Violence Peace Hero awards for his innovative art-focused wellness programs, music performances, and humanitarian efforts. Through his music, Karl Anthony opens doors to connect with people and shares his passion for the healing potential of music.

To learn more about Karl Anthony and his work, please visit his website at karlanthony.com

Power Walking

This two-session program will begin by explaining what is racewalking, power walking, and the organizations that govern them. You will also learn the benefits and techniques of race walking, stretching, best ways to train, and how it benefits your health.

A racewalker for thirty-eight years, Alan Poisner has been named number one in the world in his age division. While taking gold medals at three different international races, he also has been named U.S. National Racewalker of the Year in his age division multiple times, setting records at the biannual National Senior Games. He later led the nationally recognized Heartland Racewalkers club as president and chief mentor for twenty years.

Learning to Love Midlife

12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better With Age

 

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

Body Intelligence: Listen to Your Innate Wisdom for Longevity

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

Writing Workshop: Writing Prompt

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

Writing Workshop : Writing Prompt

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

 

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

Instagram: @karinaewrites

Art as a Way of Life: An Unconventional Approach

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

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

  

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

Latin American Music with Juan Pablo Andrade & Friends

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

Piano Concerts with Juan Pablo Andrade

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

Music as a Vehicle to Inner Freedom

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

www.dominickleslie.com
www.phoebehuntmusic.com

Sleep: Brain, Body, and Behavior

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

Sleep Disorders: What Could Go Wrong?
You know you need to sleep – but sometimes good sleep is hard to get. From sleep apnea to sleep walking, delve into the ways sleep can go wrong, how to recognize it, and what you can do about it. Discover the many ways to treat sleep apnea (spoiler alert – there’s more than CPAP!). Start to find balance in your sleep and wakefulness.

Chasing Sleep: A Do-it-Yourself Guide to Overcoming Insomnia
Trouble sleeping can interfere with life, both night and day, and is almost always treatable – without medication. Learn how to decode sleep struggles, identify your own opportunities for better sleep, and craft a plan to make your sleep work for you.

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

 

Sarah Zallek, MD, is a sleep neurologist who has been practicing sleep medicine with a mindfulness approach – and teaching sleep with relevance and humor to a wide range of audiences – for more than two decades. She is a professor of neurology at University of Illinois College of Medicine, Medical Director of OSF HealthCare Sleep, and has published numerous papers and book chapters. She has developed and led conferences that integrate mindfulness, art, and science to foster individual wellness and reduce burnout. In addition, she has led the development of a compassion-based communication course that connects individuals to work together toward shared goals. She is a frequent keynote speaker and has given many national and international presentations. Dr. Zallek is a sought-after adviser and presenter for media organizations, including National Public Radio, government agencies, professional societies, educational institutions, and a broad range of businesses.

Walking As A Way Of Life

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mothers & Daughters Unfiltered

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Connect at www.mothersanddaughtersunfiltered.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tai Ji

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

 

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

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

Oral History as a Reflective Practice

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

Jazz Magic Duo

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

 

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

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