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Blood, Biotechnology and Well-Being

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, PhD, 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 nine 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.

 

Illuminate Your Life

The Interior Journey: Listening to Your Life
How can you live from the center of who you have been born to be, not who you have been told to be? We’ll explore this question through images, humor, spiritual wisdom, and personal reflection — all as pathways to discovering how you might live your life with expanded authenticity, meaning and joy.

Loving Midlife and Beyond
While we live in a society which extols youth, we are also living in an era where people in the second half of life have more possibilities than ever before.  We will explore the losses and opportunities which surface as we age and consider strategies and practices for how to make this phase of our lives the most generative and satisfying yet.

Portals in Wonder and Awe
What are your portals into feeling a sense of wonder and awe?  What are the conditions that invite you to unclench and be present to your “one wild and precious life”? We will explore these concepts both playfully and reverentially, buttressed by research, music, images and individual reflection.

The Inner Pilgrimage to Beauty
It can be easy to confuse beauty with glamour.   But true beauty is about living from your sacred center.  With the complement of images and music, you will be invited to consider your longing, encounters, and thresholds to beauty; not mirror-image beauty, but the beauty of becoming who you are.

 

Jeannie DuBose is the author and illustrator of the award-winning Tending the Fire: The Story of a Marriage and The Mother Daughter Dance.  An experienced speaker, facilitator, and retreat leader, Jeannie works with organizations focused on health and spirituality, a variety of faith communities, and groups in the North Carolina prison system.   A Vanderbilt University graduate, she  holds an M.S. in Counseling Psychology from Georgia State University and a Certificate in Spiritual Formation from Columbia Theological Seminary. Jeannie and her husband raised their three children in Atlanta and currently make their home in Montreat, NC. To learn more about Jeannie’e work, go to www.jeanniedubose.org.

Illuminate Your Life

The Interior Journey: Listening to Your Life
How can you live from the center of who you have been born to be, not who you have been told to be? We’ll explore this question through images, humor, spiritual wisdom, and personal reflection — all as pathways to discovering how you might live your life with expanded authenticity, meaning and joy.

Loving Midlife and Beyond
While we live in a society which extols youth, we are also living in an era where people in the second half of life have more possibilities than ever before.  We will explore the losses and opportunities which surface as we age and consider strategies and practices for how to make this phase of our lives the most generative and satisfying yet.

Portals in Wonder and Awe
What are your portals into feeling a sense of wonder and awe?  What are the conditions that invite you to unclench and be present to your “one wild and precious life”? We will explore these concepts both playfully and reverentially, buttressed by research, music, images and individual reflection.

The Inner Pilgrimage to Beauty
It can be easy to confuse beauty with glamour.   But true beauty is about living from your sacred center.  With the complement of images and music, you will be invited to consider your longing, encounters, and thresholds to beauty; not mirror-image beauty, but the beauty of becoming who you are.

 

Jeannie DuBose is the author and illustrator of the award-winning Tending the Fire: The Story of a Marriage and The Mother Daughter Dance.  An experienced speaker, facilitator, and retreat leader, Jeannie works with organizations focused on health and spirituality, a variety of faith communities, and groups in the North Carolina prison system.   A Vanderbilt University graduate, she  holds an M.S. in Counseling Psychology from Georgia State University and a Certificate in Spiritual Formation from Columbia Theological Seminary. Jeannie and her husband raised their three children in Atlanta and currently make their home in Montreat, NC. To learn more about Jeannie’e work, go to www.jeanniedubose.org.

Finding Your Balance Between What You Want to Eat and What You Should Eat

Macronutrients, Blood Sugar, and Energy Levels: Navigating Health and Breaking Free from Sugar “Addiction”

Have you ever experienced “hangry” mood swings or felt sluggish after a meal? Or wondered why you crave chocolate, ice cream, or potato chips at night? We’ll delve into the science behind these moments. Join Jodie for a dynamic exploration of how your food choices impact your energy levels, mood, and relationship with sugar. Experience a revelation as you discover practical strategies for maintaining steady moods and feeling confident in your dietary decisions. Break free from what feels like sugar addiction. Jodie strikes the perfect balance between education and enjoyment, helping you feel your best and confident while living your healthiest life.

Balancing What You Want and Should Eat: Dieting Versus Intuitive Eating
Explore how shortcuts and crash dieting can ruin your relationship with food. Learn where to begin with a few behavioral tweaks that will help sustain long-term results. Discover another way to eat that is sustainable and intuitive.

Let’s Talk Smoothies: And Other Natural Foods and How They Enhance Our Gut and Overall Health…Q/A
Bring your questions and thoughts, or simply join in the conversation as Jodie shares insights into understanding what a healthy gut microbiome means for you.
Did someone say bloat? Discover the benefits of incorporating more plants into your diet and learn practical tips for finding balance and promoting health with a plant-centric approach.

 

Jodie BlockJodie Goodman Block, MS, RDN, CDN, is the Golden Door Spa’s evidence-based Dietitian/Nutritionist with answers you can trust to optimize your health and promote longevity. She is the founder of The Health Institute of Nutrition — a private practice, an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and on staff at Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute in La Jolla, California. Jodie is recognized for her work in Women’s Health and Sustainable Weight Loss Nutrition. She has served as a weekly guest expert at various Wall Street Corporations and NYC Health Clubs and as a college adjunct professor. She has been featured on television and radio broadcasts including CBS News and Fox 5 Good Day New York.

Indigenous Wisdom Walk

Since ancient times, native Kumeyaay peoples have lived in and around the lands where Rancho La Puerta is located today. Local Kumeyaay Norma Meza grew up in the footsteps of her ancestors, learning from childhood how to interact with plants, animals and the unique spirit of the land. Join Norma and naturalist Mike Wilken for a fascinating walk to the Kumeyaay homesite, as she shares her deep knowledge of traditional native lifeways and the nature of our local region. The very special walk is interactive, questions are welcome.

This is an easy 1.5  mile walk with stops along the way to talk about traditional uses of native plants and ways of understanding the land. Sage or other herbs may be burned as part of a special blessing ritual. Norma speaks Kumeyaay and Spanish; Mike Wilken will interpret, translating to English for her along the way.

 

Norma Meza is from the traditional Kumeyaay lands of Ja’aa, also known as Alamo (Cottonwood) Creek in Baja California. She is a widely recognized cultural authority of the Mescuichs clan, having taught special workshops on Kumeyaay Ethnobotany, language and traditional culture.

Art in Its Moment

Art in Its Moment, Part 1
Using art, literature, and music as its vehicle, the first chapter of ART IN ITS MOMENT (AIIM) is a fun romp through five eras of history: The Classical, The Romantic, The Modern, Mid-20th Century, and the 21st Century. Weaving together literature, art and music, AIIM brings alive the different textures of each historical period to suggest how the art created in each epoch grows from the experience of being alive at that moment.

Art in Its Moment, Part 2
The second chapter of AIIM will focus on a 21st century composition—THE UNIMAGINED: PREPARATIONS FOR THE UNKNOWN– a composition which was inspired by walking the labyrinth at Rancho. Levick will relate how the labyrinth inspired him, and more specifically, how inspiration was translated into music. You will be encouraged to share how the music made you feel, what you liked and didn’t like, how you would describe in words what you just heard, etc.

 

Hugh LevickHugh Levick’s music has been described by LA Times critic, Mark Swed, as ‘outstanding’ and by critic Rodney Punt as “channeling Bach’s mental energies and Hindemith’s angularities.”  In 2013 Signature Records, the dynamic and eclectic label sponsored by Radio France Musique, released the Diotima String Quartet recording of Levick’s three string quartets. In June 2018 Signature Records/Radio France released Levick’s second CD, which once again features the Diotima. A third Signature CD of Levick’s music, featuring the Diotima and the French ensemble, TM+, is planned for 2023. In 2011 Levick created HEAR NOW, a festival of new music by contemporary LA composers. In its thirteenth season HEAR NOW 2024 will take place between April 24-28 in Los Angeles. Hugh Levick has performed in Los Angeles, Paris, NYC, Switzerland, Germany, and Spain, among other places.

Golden Hour Photo Walks

Are you interested in improving the quality of your portraits, landscapes, or family snapshots? Amateur or “aficionado,” digital or film, iPhone, “throw-away,” “point and shoot,” or pro camera, come join Melba Levick on two afternoon photo walks in the glorious Rancho La Puerta gardens for some tips on how to improve your photos.

 

Melba LevickPhotographer Melba Levick has published over 60 photography books on travel, design, architecture and gardens, in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Her work has been exhibited internationally and appears frequently in magazines worldwide.  Among her recent books are Ranches: Home on the Range in California, (2018, Rizzoli International, NYC), and The California Missions, 2019, which had its first signing at Rancho La Puerta! The Spanish Style House, from Andalusia to California, also Rizzoli, came out Spring 2021, along with Mission San Miguel Archangel from Nazraeli Press. Melba’s newest book is CASA SANTA FE, Design, Style, Arts and Tradition, published by Rizzoli in 2023.

An Evening with Linda Wertheimer

Linda WertheimerLinda Wertheimer began her career with NPR as the first director of news magazine All Things Considered, hosted by Robert Conley, from its debut on May 3, 1971. She was appointed political correspondent by 1974, and in 1976 became the first woman to anchor NPR’s coverage of a presidential nomination convention and of an election night.  She continued in her role as a political correspondent through 1989, at which point she became a host of All Things Considered, a role in which she would continue for thirteen years. With Wertheimer hosting, the program’s audience grew to record levels, from six million listeners in 1989 to nearly 10 million listeners by 2001, making it one of the top five shows in U.S. radio. In 2002, she left that role and became NPR’s first senior national correspondent.  As of 2008, Wertheimer has anchored ten presidential nomination conventions and twelve election nights. On February 6, 2024, she announced her retirement from NPR.

Diane Arkin | Mexican Art

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.

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.

Diane Arkin | Mexican Art

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.

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.

Artists in Love

Artists In Love
Romantic influences flourished among famous artist couples throughout the 20th century and played a fascinating role in furthering new modes of expression. Whether partnering briefly or for extended periods of time, these lovers exchanged ideas and imagery that triggered some of the most important avant-garde art of the modern era. Join us as we examine the connections between such artist pairs as Pablo Picasso and Fernande Olivier, Alfred Stieglitz and Georgia O’Keeffe, Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock, and Christo and Jeanne-Claude who drew inspiration from one another, and whose art took paths unimaginable without the impact of their companions.

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.

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.

Hands-On Cooking Classes and Harvesting Mindfulness: A Culinary Journey with Gyll Turteltaub and Reyna Venegas

Gyll will collaborate with La Cocina Que Canta’s Executive Chef Reyna and her team to create a special hands-on culinary experience. During the 3.5-hour experiences you will learn about the benefits and techniques of mindful eating and cooking. You will then mindfully harvest veggies from the garden, prepare and enjoy your own farm-to-table meal along with fellow chefs. Classes take place at La Cocina Que Canta, our culinary center on Tuesday and Wednesday, at 4pm. The Thursday class begins at 4:45pm and includes a wine paring!

Hands On Cooking Classes and Chefs Dinner Sign Up

 

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

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

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

 

Gyll TurteltaubGyll Turteltaub, Psy.D. is a clinical psychologist in San Anselmo, California.  Gyll is the Senior Director of People & Culture for The Permanente Federation.  The Permanente Federation LLC is the national leadership and consulting organization for the eight Permanente Medical Groups (PMGs).  Gyll is responsible for developing and providing strategic leadership for PMG People and Culture initiatives including equity, inclusion, and diversity, leadership development, engagement and training, and Physician Health and Wellness.  Additionally, Gyll maintains a private practice, providing psychotherapy for individuals and couples.  Her areas of specialty include compassion fatigue, burnout, improving mindful living, and treating anxiety and depression.  Gyll has presented workshops internationally on a variety of topics including mindful eating, resiliency, communication effectiveness, burnout, and emotional intelligence.             

 

Reyna VenegasExecutive Chef Reyna Venegas’ classes are about fresh and delicious food that will energize, inspire, and nourish our Tween guests!!  She fuses the culinary and cultural heritages of her own Northern Baja roots with the nutritious “spa cuisine” pioneered 80 years ago by Rancho La Puerta co-founder Deborah Szekely. At La Cocina Que Canta, “The Kitchen That Sings,” Chef Reyna teaches healthy eating as a celebration of life in farm-to-table cooking classes.

As a lifelong learner, Chef Reyna graduated from University of California, San Diego’s Integrative Nutrition program, which focuses on how food promotes wellness. She is also a graduate of the Culinary Art School in Tijuana, and holds a Pastry Degree from the Lycée Technique et Hôtelier de Monte-Carlo and Fondation Turquois.

She and her husband Chef Marcelo Hisaki own Restaurante Amores, a hidden culinary jewel in the heart of Baja and currently collaborates as manager of Team Mexico on their way to the Bocuse d’Or Americas 2024.

                

Hands-On Cooking Classes and Harvesting Mindfulness: A Culinary Journey with Gyll Turteltaub and Reyna Venegas

Gyll will collaborate with La Cocina Que Canta’s Executive Chef Reyna and her team to create a special hands-on culinary experience. During the 3.5-hour experiences you will learn about the benefits and techniques of mindful eating and cooking. You will then mindfully harvest veggies from the garden, prepare and enjoy your own farm-to-table meal along with fellow chefs. Classes take place at La Cocina Que Canta, our culinary center on Tuesday and Wednesday, at 4pm. The Thursday class begins at 4:45pm and includes a wine paring!

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

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

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

 

Gyll TurteltaubGyll Turteltaub, Psy.D. is a clinical psychologist in San Anselmo, California.  Gyll is the Senior Director of People & Culture for The Permanente Federation.  The Permanente Federation LLC is the national leadership and consulting organization for the eight Permanente Medical Groups (PMGs).  Gyll is responsible for developing and providing strategic leadership for PMG People and Culture initiatives including equity, inclusion, and diversity, leadership development, engagement and training, and Physician Health and Wellness.  Additionally, Gyll maintains a private practice, providing psychotherapy for individuals and couples.  Her areas of specialty include compassion fatigue, burnout, improving mindful living, and treating anxiety and depression.  Gyll has presented workshops internationally on a variety of topics including mindful eating, resiliency, communication effectiveness, burnout, and emotional intelligence.             

 

Reyna VenegasExecutive Chef Reyna Venegas’ classes are about fresh and delicious food that will energize, inspire, and nourish our Tween guests!!  She fuses the culinary and cultural heritages of her own Northern Baja roots with the nutritious “spa cuisine” pioneered 80 years ago by Rancho La Puerta co-founder Deborah Szekely. At La Cocina Que Canta, “The Kitchen That Sings,” Chef Reyna teaches healthy eating as a celebration of life in farm-to-table cooking classes.

As a lifelong learner, Chef Reyna graduated from University of California, San Diego’s Integrative Nutrition program, which focuses on how food promotes wellness. She is also a graduate of the Culinary Art School in Tijuana, and holds a Pastry Degree from the Lycée Technique et Hôtelier de Monte-Carlo and Fondation Turquois.

She and her husband Chef Marcelo Hisaki own Restaurante Amores, a hidden culinary jewel in the heart of Baja and currently collaborates as manager of Team Mexico on their way to the Bocuse d’Or Americas 2024.

                

8th Annual Chamber Music Festival

Our 8th Annual Chamber Music Festival features some of the world’s finest musicians who will inspire you with extraordinary performances set in the relaxed atmosphere of The Ranch. In addition to daily concerts, you can enjoy talks by the musicians, watch rehearsals, and perhaps even encounter “random acts of music” in unexpected places throughout your day.

Featured artists: The King’s Singers, pianist Jon Kimura Parker, violist Aloysia Friedmann, violin/guitar duo ArcoStrum, cellist Amelia Zitoun, violinist Monique Mead, and poet A. Van Jordan.

Artists Bios, Playlist & Events

Immersion Swim Program with Dr. Steven Katz

Offered two times a day Sunday – Thursday, 11 am & 3pm, Activity Pool
Dive into a five-day progressive swim class that will have you swimming smarter, better, and faster. Designed for swimmers of all levels, Total Immersion taught by swim coach and Chiropractor, Dr. Steven Katz.

Coach Steve will begin by analyzing your stroke and then will apply small incremental corrections for skill improvement. Over the course of 5 days, you will discover an ease, confidence, and enjoyment in swimming that you never could have imagined. Spaces are limited so please be sure to register as early as possible.  Offered twice a day so max 12 people. (Sign up in lounge).

 

Steven KatzDr. Steve Katz has been a lifelong athlete (including professional baseball) and yoga/chiropractic practitioner. His passion for mindful swimming was ignited after experiencing a Total Immersion workshop in 2015. He experienced such immediate improvement in the ease, efficiency, and pleasure of swimming freestyle that he dedicated himself to certifying as a Total Immersion coach and achieved coach certification in 2021. He believes swimming is ideal for safe and mindful fitness at any age.

Empower Your Mind: A Journey Through Stress, Resilience, and EQ for Total Well-Being

A Mindful Approach to Stress
In today’s ever-evolving world, stress is an inevitable part of life. However, stress doesn’t have to be a nemesis; it can also be a powerful ally that propels us forward. This workshop explores how stress, when approached mindfully, can transform into a force for positive change. Delve into the four dimensions of personal energy—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual—and discover how understanding these can turn stress into a motivator rather than a burden. We’ll delve into research from positive psychology and uncover natural antidotes to stress, alongside strategies for nurturing joy and meaning in your daily life. Leave with practical tools to turn stress into a source of empowerment and growth.

Natural Pathways to Well-Being
The quest for happiness is a deeply personal journey, and finding a sustained sense of well-being can be challenging. In this engaging workshop, we’ll review research and explore effective strategies for cultivating meaning and purpose in your life. Discover how practices like gratitude, kindness, and connection can elevate your emotional health and overall well-being. We’ll also focus on practical techniques for navigating life’s transitions with a growth mindset, leaving you with a renewed sense of empowerment and tools to approach life’s challenges with resilience and joy.

The Art of Resilience: Thriving Through Life’s Challenges
Resilience is more than just a buzzword; it’s a vital skill that helps us recover from adversity and navigate life’s toughest moments. As we reflect on recent global and personal challenges, this workshop will provide you with actionable insights into enhancing your own resilience. I’ll guide you through the five key characteristics that define resilient individuals and offer practical strategies to bolster your ability to adapt and thrive. Assess your current resilience levels and discover evidence-based techniques for turning obstacles into opportunities for growth and renewal. Equip yourself with the tools to bounce back stronger and embrace life’s challenges with grace and strength.

Emotional Intelligence Unveiled: Empower Your Interactions and Personal Development
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is crucial for building meaningful relationships and achieving personal success. But what exactly is EQ, and how can it impact your interactions with others? This workshop will demystify the components of emotional intelligence and guide you through an EQ assessment to identify your strengths and areas for improvement. Discover how enhancing your EQ can lead to more fulfilling relationships, improved communication, and greater personal growth. With practical strategies for developing your emotional skills, you’ll leave equipped to elevate your interpersonal connections and navigate your emotions with greater confidence and clarity.

 

Gyll TurteltaubGyll Turteltaub, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist based in San Anselmo, California. She serves as the Senior Director of People & Culture for The Permanente Federation at Kaiser Permanente, the national leadership and consulting organization for the Permanente Medical Groups (PMGs). In this role, Gyll provides strategic leadership for initiatives in equity, inclusion, diversity, leadership development, engagement and training, and Physician Health and Wellness.  In addition to her work with Kaiser Permanente, Gyll maintains a private practice where she offers psychotherapy for individuals and couples. Her specialties include compassion fatigue, burnout, mindful living, work/life balance, and treating anxiety and depression. Gyll is also an experienced speaker, having presented workshops internationally on topics such as mindfulness, resilience, communication effectiveness, burnout, and emotional intelligence.

A Path for Personalized Wellness

Lifestyle Approaches to Reduce Chronic Medical Conditions
The Mediterranean diet can lower the risk of chronic diseases. We’ll explore tips about not only nutrition but also about lifestyle approaches.  Discover how the Mediterranean lifestyle improves health and how you can include this into your daily habits.

Hot Topics in Wellness: Wellbeing, Joy and Weight Loss Drugs
How we take care of ourselves has a significant influence on our health. We’ll have a holistic discussion about the various dimensions of wellbeing, pros and cons of weight loss drugs as well as the often-overlooked elements of fun and joy. Learn how you can incorporate unique strategies for wellness into your everyday life.

What’s Spirituality Got to Do with It?
Did you know that people with a higher sense of spirituality live longer? Spirituality in wellness embraces a sense of purpose as well as a connection to self and others. This is important at all stages of life. Find out about the research behind the significance of spirituality in wellness and discover ways you can augment your own sense of spirituality.

Pillow Talk: A Sleep Conversation
You may know that sleep impacts wellness. Do you know why sleep is important? It’s not just the amount of sleep but it’s the quality of sleep too. What can you do to get better sleep? We’ll take a deep dive into sleep for everyone and also for specific groups like women. Come hear about strategies for improving sleep.

 

Nicola Finley, MD, is a clinician and an innovative educator in integrative medicine with over 20 years of experience working with clients of a luxury wellness resort environment, as well as underserved communities in Arizona. She is an international speaker known for her evidence-based, engaging seminars. Dr. Finley is a board-certified internal medicine physician, fellowship trained in integrative medicine, and an adjunct faculty member at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona. Currently, she runs a boutique consulting business which focuses on a holistic view of wellness – mind, body and spirit.

A Path for Personalized Wellness

Lifestyle Approaches to Reduce Chronic Medical Conditions
The Mediterranean diet can lower the risk of chronic diseases. We’ll explore tips about not only nutrition but also about lifestyle approaches.  Discover how the Mediterranean lifestyle improves health and how you can include this into your daily habits.

Hot Topics in Wellness: Wellbeing, Joy and Weight Loss Drugs
How we take care of ourselves has a significant influence on our health. We’ll have a holistic discussion about the various dimensions of wellbeing, pros and cons of weight loss drugs as well as the often-overlooked elements of fun and joy. Learn how you can incorporate unique strategies for wellness into your everyday life.

What’s Spirituality Got to Do with It?
Did you know that people with a higher sense of spirituality live longer? Spirituality in wellness embraces a sense of purpose as well as a connection to self and others. This is important at all stages of life. Find out about the research behind the significance of spirituality in wellness and discover ways you can augment your own sense of spirituality.

Pillow Talk: A Sleep Conversation
You may know that sleep impacts wellness. Do you know why sleep is important? It’s not just the amount of sleep but it’s the quality of sleep too. What can you do to get better sleep? We’ll take a deep dive into sleep for everyone and also for specific groups like women. Come hear about strategies for improving sleep.

 

Nicola Finley, MD, is a clinician and an innovative educator in integrative medicine with over 20 years of experience working with clients of a luxury wellness resort environment, as well as underserved communities in Arizona. She is an international speaker known for her evidence-based, engaging seminars. Dr. Finley is a board-certified internal medicine physician, fellowship trained in integrative medicine, and an adjunct faculty member at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona. Currently, she runs a boutique consulting business which focuses on a holistic view of wellness – mind, body and spirit.

Awaken The Artist Within, a Creativity Immersion

Jumpstart your creativity and boost your confidence, intuitive decision making, and skills in writing, painting, drawing, and design. Strengthen your creative practices and explore the connection between the mind and body. An immersion in art-making and creativity experiences within the time-honored structure of Rancho La Puerta’s wellness programs.

Erin Lee Gafill – Awaken The Artist Within, a laboratory for artistic exploration

Art Classes with Resident Artist Jennifer Brandt

Drawing
An introduction to basic perceptual tools for representational drawing—how our eyes and brain shape the reality we believe we see.

Watercolor
Demonstration of abstract and figurative watercolor techniques, followed by plenty of time to experiment and practice.

Landscape Sketching
Drawing, continued: putting the tools together to draw the world.

Collage Card Making
Scissors, glue sticks, painted watercolor paper: collage is a relaxing, friendly medium, no expertise required.

Painting Day
Open studio — still life or landscape, weather dependent — paint with our resident artist, or watch a painting in process.

Ancestor Altars
Create a small sacred space to honor those who came before you, whether connected by blood or spirit.

Mandala
Meditation with ink and paper — a deceptively simple, deeply calming practice of mindful doodling.

 

Jennifer BrandtJennifer Brandt paints, exhibits and teaches in Baja California, Mexico, as Resident Artist of Rancho La Puerta. jenbrandt.com

Hand-Stitching and Group Quilting

The act of Group Quilting opens the door to designing in community. Over the course of our week together you will have a chance to connect with friends and residents from the Ranch through hand-stitching on a communal quilt.

When we work with each other, using a simple hand stitching method to design and piece together a massive textile, the world falls away and the stakes are lowered. Keeping our hands moving towards a shared goal allows us to play and connect with each other in a traditional medium that is given new life.

At the end of this project we will have new friends, new skills and a colorful cloth that we can all be proud of.

 

quiltEmily Birmingham is an artist living 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.

 

Rhythmic Sounds

The Beatles: Listen and Talk
In 1963 the Beatles were a promising band just beginning to make a name for themselves.

By 1970 they had changed the face of popular music forever. Their metamorphosis is a story of musical genius and the uneasy dreams of an entire generation. Sixty years after “Please Please Me,” they still please us. Let’s listen together and talk about why.

Rhythmic Sounds
The rhythms of nature. The beating of your heart, the rise and fall of the surf, the promise of a child drawing her first breath. The world is full of meaningful, beautiful…and rhythmic…sounds. Join Steven Schick—percussionist, conductor and author—as he explores the world of percussion rhythms and mindful listening.  Don’t worry! This is still your vacation. The performance will be gentle, evocative and will draw you into a world of pulses, sonic textures and musical gestures.  If you think you’ve heard everything there is to hear on a concert stage, then come take a listen to the percussionist that Alex Ross of “the New Yorker” called, “one of our supreme living virtuosos, not just of percussion, but of any instrument.” It will music for both the ears and the heart.

 

Percussionist, conductor, and author Steven Schick, hailed by Alex Ross in the New Yorker as, “one of our supreme living virtuosos, not just of percussion but of any instrument,” has championed contemporary percussion music by commissioning or premiering more than one hundred-fifty new works. Steven Schick is artistic director of the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus and the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players. As a conductor, he has appeared with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony, Ensemble Modern, the International Contemporary Ensemble, and the Asko/Schönberg Ensemble. He is the curator of, and was most recently conductor and percussion soloist in, “It’s About Time,” a festival of the San Diego Symphony held in January of 2018. Schick’s publications include a book, The Percussionist’s Art: Same Bed, Different Dreams, and many articles. He has released numerous recordings including the 2010 “Percussion Works of Iannis Xenakis,” and its companion, “The Complete Early Percussion Works of Karlheinz Stockhausen” in 2014.  He received the “Diapason d’Or” as conductor (Xenakis Ensemble Music with ICE) and the Deutscheschallplattenkritikpreis, as percussionist (Stockhausen), each for the best new music release of 2015.  He was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 2014.  Steven Schick is Distinguished Professor of Music and holds the Reed Family Presidential Chair at the University of California, San Diego. He was music director of the 2015 Ojai Festival, and in 2017, the co-artistic director, with Claire Chase, of the Summer Music Program at the Banff Centre. In 2018 Schick became the Artistic Director of the Breckenridge Music Festival.

I Can’t Draw, and You Can Too!

I have a secret to share.

If you’ve been telling yourself that you can’t draw since you were seven it’s not true.

Join me, and I will show you that you can draw! You can draw beautifully. Maybe not like Rembrandt or Picasso, but you draw exactly like you and that is a wonderful thing.

Your eye and your line can bring you tremendous satisfaction, if you just get out of your own way and stop telling yourself you can’t.

We’ll experiment with ideas of observed sketch in line and watercolor that will give you access to satisfaction in the drawing process. Once you’ve learned to be more kind to yourself about your results, you’ll find that your natural abilities will develop. You’ll learn to coordinate what you see with what you put on the page. You will find that your powers of keen observation will enhance your art practice, no matter how representational or abstract you want to be.

While this workshop will include techniques to enhance your ability to see and draw, the focus is on discovering your innate strengths, and developing your level of satisfaction in the process.

A line is a dot that goes for a walk  – …or so said Paul Klee…looking at simple compositions in still life, let’s observe the proportion and intersection of the various objects, and how they sit in a three dimensional world. Now let’s craft a line that follows the shapes to create an image of what we see.

Introducing point of view – when the Renaissance reintroduced perspective to the art world, the viewer was invited to experience the artist’s point of view. From Michelangelo to Warhol, from the Pieta to Marilyn Monroe we’ve been entranced by this idea. Now let’s develop our own point of view and see how it in turn affects our images.

Portrait Roulette – there is nothing more daunting, nor more satisfying than drawing a person through observation. Play Portrait Roulette and you’ll  have an opportunity to observe the complexities of human expression and see how to simplify these complexities into a coherent likeness. We’ll explore what is important and what is not. Instead of an academic exercise in proportion and form, we’ll use observation to see where our hand can lead us.

The Color Green  – green is the most common color in the natural world (thank god for chlorophyll). But trying to capture the nuances of a green world it is easy to get bogged down in a boring mix of blue and yellow. Let’s practice a method of observed, relational color, and see what we can express with a very limited palette of paints. Together we’ll discover that while Blue and Yellow make Green, bringing Red into the mix opens up a world of possibilities.

This series is designed for every person who has a desire to draw, but has found traditional teaching techniques to be intimidating, confusing, or boring. Let’s have fun together, and discover that I can’t draw, and you can too!

 

Tom BirminghamTom Birmingham is an artist, photographer, and teacher who has lived and worked in Big Sur, California for over 30 years. He has recently located to a home near the Long Island Sound in Connecticut. As a founding director of the Big Sur Arts Initiative, Tom has provided instruction and enrichment in the creative arts in a variety of mediums. For ten years he taught art in the summer children’s theater program, StageKids. He has taught photography and drawing at Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico, and for years he and his wife, Erin Lee Gafill taught painting and sketch on their annual retreats to Italy.

Tom was the director of the Big Sur JazzFest, founding member of Big Sur’s Hidden Garden’s Tour, and currently manages Studio One – Big Sur.

More recently, Tom is the founder of 26Letter Press, a small publishing company dedicated to printed materials celebrating and inspiring creative expression.

In the summer of 2020, Tom designed the museum exhibition and accompanying book, Color Duets – Kaffe Fassett | Erin Lee Gafill, which was the headlining show for five months at the Monterey Museum of Art.

Awaken The Artist Within

Jumpstart your creativity and break through creative barriers.

During this multi-day art immersion, you’ll explore a variety of mediums and techniques to find entry into creative expression.

Together we will play with color, line, proportion, texture, value, and contrast, while practicing time-honored ways into connection with energy sources that will empower your own personal voice.

Bold color block painting, torn paper collage, timed writing exercises, the Magic Dot, and other surprising methods will engage your curiosity and workaround your creativity “killers”: self-doubt and excessive self-judgment.

Whether you are a seasoned professional in the arts, or you’ve never picked up a paintbrush, these playful sessions will awaken your inner artist and help you to make peace with your inner critic.

For those who already have a creative practice, use this as a jumpstart of inspiration. If you’ve never found a way into the creative arts, but you’ve always wanted to try, this is a great place to start.

 

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 flower child. She is 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 a founding member of the Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters Association (MBPAPA). 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 2021 Spring/Summer show for the Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey, California, followed the next summer by a solo exhibit, California Atmosphere 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. eringafill.com