I took on this wellness journey like it was my job. I planned and prepped.  I set my intention for joy. And all of my expectations were exceeded! Here are my notes to myself (or anyone else) for future journeys to Rancho La Puerta.

Don’t be afraid to get lost on the grounds. I can’t lie, initially I had a small concern that I might not find my villa again if I ever left (especially at night, in the dark!). But the fear was totally unwarranted. Pathways are well marked and the property supplies flashlights for evening adventurers. One of my companions had the grounds dialed in within a few hours of our arrival. I think I got my bearings midway through the first full day. And on the last day of my stay, as I wandered around and gave an unsanctioned tour to a newly arrived lost-looking guest, I discovered even more areas on the property that I had not found earlier.

Use your time there however YOU want. So many people asked me “what is Rancho La Puerta.” My answer, it’s whatever you want it to be. I did everything that I wanted to.  That meant trying new fitness classes, and skipping types of workouts that I already felt familiar with.  It also meant trying (and consequently disliking) meditation sessions, and opting instead to just spend time doing nothing at all. You can do as much or as little as you want.  You can rush from class to class, or you can sit by the pool ALL DAY LONG. Some people set very specific intentions – to lose weight, to finish a book, to mourn or recover. It can be everything or nothing. But there are no requirements, and no one is taking attendance, so you choose how you will spend your time.

Bring the Ranch home.  This can take on many forms – from mementos to habits, friendships, and intentions. If you choose a memento – pick something that you can easily cross the border and travel with. I chose a piece of art to place in my home. Bringing new & renewed habits home was easy for me – many of the Ranch instructors live in San Diego. I collected their business cards, and have already scheduled private classes with them. Making new friends and fostering friendship is simple – if you want, you will become familiar with and get to know people in classes, on trails, and at meals. I will make an effort to keep these people in my life. And finally, set an intention for what ranching at home looks like – any intention.  Mine is about an abundance of love, joy, and wellness.

Tips for enjoying the property:

  • Explore the 3000 acres of beautifully maintained native landscape. It’s easy with winding and curved walking pathways.
  • Seek out the thoughtfully placed villas, gazebos, gyms, & spas.
  • Appreciate the mindful architecture. The buildings have sliding windows and shades that invite the outside in.
  • Enjoy the decorative stained glass windows and doors that create art through color and light.
  • Let your eyes rest on the artful wood-lattice ceilings in so many spaces. You will only start to appreciate the view by spending some serious time laying on your back.

Tips for packing:

  • Pack a bandanna – for a cute and easy dirty hair cover-up.
  • Pack a long sleeve shirt – for the cool evenings and brisk mornings.
  • Pack things that are comfortable – this is not the place for pinching, binding, or restrictive clothing. And if you don’t have enough, don’t worry, there are laundry facilities.
  • Pack a few favorite snacks – there is plenty of food available, but if a specific treat gets you going in the morning before a hike, bring it!
  • Pack something for bug / spider bites – while I didn’t suffer any nibbling, my companions did. Something to treat the itch would go far to help with comfort.

Returning guest tips:

  • Get a week-long digital locker at the Women’s Health Center.
  • If you can splurge on spa treatments – schedule the Mountain Sage (Hot Stone) massage with Anita and the Ranch Remedy massage with Jacinto – double the splurge and indulge for 90 minutes!
  • If you can’t decide between the entrée’s at dinner, ask for a combo. Don’t want either entrée? They have potatoes (sweet & baked!) and yummy veggies. You can always ask for bread and olive oil too (if you must!).
  • Seek out the evening music and entertainment. OR, stay in your villa, and ask for the fixins to get the fireplace rolling.
  • Figure out a way to get yourself back to the Ranch. Maybe as a guest instructor, speaker or presenter. This is what I think about, every single day since my first visit.

Translation tips:

  • RLP or “the Ranch” – all affectionate shorthand for the one and only, Rancho La Puerta.
  • Juicy – as in stretch into that “juicy” spot, or as in a warm-up that gets your body “juicy.”
  • It’s not good, not bad, not right, not wrong – as in the watercolor you are painting, or as in the feldenkrais you are attempting – you may not know what it is, but you need to know that you are on a journey to figuring out that it just IS.
  • It’s the same but different – as in everything in life, a meal, a move, a thought, an experience, a view – from moment to moment things are similar, but yet each is different.

Since I have returned home, I have made selling Rancho la Puerta my new found side-job, somewhat to my husbands embarrassment.  But I don’t care.  It’s that great (at least in my opinion).  And I’ve already booked a reservation for a future return trip. I can’t wait to go back, to enjoy one of the many grassy patches, perfect for cloud gazing and resting, while listening to the orchestra of nature that is created when the wind blows through the mature tree leaves and the birds sing, slowing down everyday life just a little bit.