rancho la puerta blog

Cheating the holiday weight gain or head

Last January, I visited Rancho la Puerta Spa for a wonderful retreat to regroup after the holidays.  Although it was a memorable wonderful experience, and I would return in a heart beat next year, I would rather return for the RETREAT and skip the regroup.  There are so many activities, hikes and gourmet delights that make it the ultimate in spa healthy vacations.  Book your trip now as your holiday present to yourself and enjoy these quick tips:

Eat the Healthy Way at Rancho La Puerta

 

I recently returned from my week-long experience at Rancho La Puerta.  What an amazing time I had!  First I’ll focus on the incredible food at the ranch.   Organic, natural, vegetarian and wonderfully tasty!   I hadn’t eaten as a vegetarian before and was a bit nervous, but there was no need to be.  The flavors just burst in your mouth, and each dish was more tasty than the next.  Click here for more images.

During the week, our group of bloggers went to the La Cocina que Canta, Rancho La Puerta’s Cooking School and Culinary Center.   It also is the location of their organic garden.   Salvador, the head gardener, took us out to the garden to pick our vegetables for the dinner we were about to make.  We all had a lesson in their gardening ways, learning about how the vegetables are grown and harvested.   It really brought me back to my childhood days of growing up on the farm!  

We had so much fun cooking together – some of us even broke into dance!   Robin Asbell was the guest chef that day.   I think she was wondering about all of us at first – we like to talk, have a little too much fun and we like to take photos!   But when it was time to get down to business, we listened and she guided us to create some very tasty dishes.   YUM!

On another day, our blogging group went into Tecate to see the group of women that began the clean up along the river bank in Tecate in order to create an organic garden.   Fundacion La Puerta assists in funding the Southern Rain Women’s Committee, which cleaned up the area and maintain the garden.  Many from the neighborhood join in on the garden and share in the fruits of their labors.  Cute little Sondra pulled some fresh carrots from the garden to share with us.  The women and children were so excited to visit with us and the feeling was mutual.  They hope to raise enough money to buy a pickup truck for hauling their goods.    

At the ranch many of us had our breakfast poolside.   Wouldn’t it be lovely to start out every day like that?!  Between classes, treatments and/or lectures we had lunches that included a salad, soup and other daily specialties.   No one need to worry about being dressed up for lunch because as soon as you ate, you were headed off to another event that you didn’t want to miss.   Many dinners were the same way, some might be in their workout clothes, others freshly showered and still others off to run to a relaxing spa treatment.  All the meals were incredibly tasty and fabulously presented.

The healthy eating has allowed me to kick my once a day cola habit that I have been trying to kick for years!   The food at Rancho La Puerta is one of the many things I won’t soon forget, and I don’t have to with the Cooking with the Seasons at Rancho La Puerta cookbook! 

I hope you enjoy the images of the EAT experience

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake with Almonds - Adapted from Rancho La Puerta's Cooking With the Seasons

Carol adapted the delicious chocolate cake from the Rancho La Puerta cookbook and made it gluten free -- just for our readers she's sharing the recipe.
The lovely Carol Fenster taught a gluten free cooking class at Rancho La Puerta the last time I was there ... You've got to try her delicious
Chocolate Cake with Almonds (from Cooking with the Seasons cookbook).  My sister Jeannie made it for my niece's birthday and got rave reviews.
 
This decadent chocolate cake is adapted from Rancho La Puerta’s marvelous cookbook. Chocolate chips by Tropical Source and Enjoy Life have no gluten or dairy and are available in health food stores. Don’t forget the xanthan gum; the cake will fall apart without it.

Serves 16 small pieces
1/2    cup milk of choice
1    cup gluten-free chocolate chips, divided
1/2    cup lightly toasted almond slices
3    large eggs, at room temperature
1/3    cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4    cup olive oil
1    teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2    cup brown rice flour or buckwheat flour (see note below)
1/2    cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch or alkalinized)
1/2    teaspoon baking soda
1/2    teaspoon xanthan gum
1/4    teaspoon sea salt
1/4    cu

p powdered sugar (for garnish)
Fresh fruit sauce or berries (perhaps chocolate-covered strawberries) plus mint, for garnish

[1] Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

[2] In s small saucepan, gently heat the milk over medium-low heat until warm, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in ½ cup of the chocolate chips. Stir until the chips are melted. Set aside to cool.

[3] Lightly butter an 8x8-inch round or square nonstick pan and line the bottom with parchment paper. Sprinkle the almonds and the remaining ½ cup chocolate chips evenly over the parchment.

[4] In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, brown sugar, oil, and vanilla together with an electric mixer on low speed until well combined.  Beat in the melted chocolate until smooth. Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, xanthan gum, and salt and beat into the eggs on low speed until thoroughly combined. Spread the batter evenly in the pan.

[5] Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the cake from the oven, run a knife around the outside edge, and invert the cake onto a plate. Remove the parchment paper and invert onto the serving plate to cool completely (nut-side down).

[6] To serve, dust with powdered sugar, cut into 16 slices, and serve, garnished with your choice of sorbet, fresh berries, or a pureed fruit sauce and a sprig of mint.

NOTE: You can purchase buckwheat flour, but to make your own light-flavored buckwheat flour, grind 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons Bob’s Red Mill Creamy Buckwheat Cereal or The Birkett Mills Buckwheat Cereal (Pocono) Cereal in a small coffee or spice grinder until very fine, like flour. This makes about 1/2 cup flour, the right amount for this recipe.

Rancho La Puerta - A Beautiful Place to Exercise

 

Time at Rancho La Puerta offers so many options to exercise. Exercising your body and your mind is part of the philosophy of Deborah Szekely, founder of the Ranch. At 88 years of age she does Pilates three to four times a week! She even said to us

“I’m 88 and I’m not old yet. I’ll eventually get there, but I’m not there yet.”

What an inspiration she is in so many ways. 

On the second day at Rancho La Puerta Deborah spoke to the visitors about her life long philosophies. Exercise, living chemical free, volunteering and finding your purpose in life. They were powerful words that were eye openers to many of us. Rancho La Puerta offers countless options to expand your mind and body with options like hiking, Pilates, circuit training, yoga, meditation, dance, fit ball, jewelry making, Feldenkrais, art, photography and if you can believe it – even more options that this! Above is just a small portion of the exercises of the body and mind that I participated in during my week long stay. I hope the images and beauty inspires you as much as it did me!

Re-Discovering Yourself at Rancho La Puerta

Get out and Dig, it’s Fun!
Jeannie Hanson

e: hansonja@aol.com

Body Therapy From Head to Toe, Unbelievable Health Benefits

It’s been almost two months since my all inclusive experience at Rancho La Puerta; a health resort and spa in Mexico and I’m still talking about it. Yes, with the temperatures dropping in the Midwest, I’m dreaming about paradise, warm weather, sunny skies and the body therapies that I was blessed to have indulged in.

For years I’ve been enjoying various massages and facials and even researched body therapy topics and the health benefits for my studies. And oh, are there benefits!

I love to research anything that will improve my health and others' and have done studies on the various health and prevention methods. Body Therapy is an ever increasing topic in the health industry. Spas are being birthed and are multiplying by the thousands; from high end retreats costing hundreds to franchises that offer affordable memberships.

Just before my trip to Rancho La Puerta, I finished a college course which dedicated  whole a whole unit to Body Therapies. I kept in mind some of the studies and research on the topic as well as the knowledge gained in that unit and became very helpful when deciding which spa treatment to choose while at Rancho La Puerta.

Massages lowers stress hormones and boosts Immunity according to some studies of just getting a Swedish massage. White blood cells increase to fight disease and lower stress from Cortisol levels. These are two areas that seem to be prevalent in many lives today. Facials helps to improve cells and circulation, slows the aging process, and smooth the skin.

After a day of  early morning sunrise hikes and walking several miles around a 3,000 acre resort, participating in various activities whether it was yoga or a work out, ending the day with one of these body therapies or a facial was absolute heaven:

1. Nature’s Most Pure Facial: 90 minutes of bliss. Yes, 90 minutes just on this part of my body. The reason it’s called Nature’s Most Pure Facial is because the ingredients used to to clarify, exfoliate, restore, and replenish and hydrate are from a rare blue lotus that is combined with all natural vitamins, minerals and amino acids. This Amala luxury spa line is organic and is so pure due to the fact that each essential oils was searched for by it’s origins (native land) in order to formulate this skincare line used by Rancho La Puerta's  Estheticians.

2. Hot River Stone Massage: A 90 minute massage relieving the tense muscles from hiking or working out. The stones were heated and placed on my body and used to massage tense areas of the muscles. The was the first ever hot river stone massage I received and it won’t be the last. As a matter of fact, it was probably my favorite massage to date.

3. Reflexology: Can you imagine having 50 minutes of your feet massaged? I always wondered how someone can massage another human’s feet for 5 minutes let alone 50 minutes. I’ve learned some interesting things about Reflexology during my health journey and studies; hence, I wanted to experience this treatment. Pressure was applied to specific points on my feet which then affects the corresponding body parts. The pressure point are related to a body organ and by applying pressure, it stimulates that body part. This technique definitely puts one to sleep, but it also is known to prevent illness and disease.

4. Life Flow: My body got replenished while this treatment used dry brushing, detoxifying body scrub, followed by a light body massage that’s soothing. The Life flow detoxes the entire body and uses essentials oils that smooth and hydrates the skin.

5. Aromatherapy Wrap: Last but not least, oh the aromas of Lavender is soothing to the soul and senses. If you’re a mother, you may remember wrapping your baby snugly tightly in a little blanket. The Aromatherapy Wrap reminding me of such. This aromatherapy session included essential oils of the season to wrap your body tightly. My favorite just happens to be the Lavender that was used in the aromatherapy wrap.

Body therapies help pull toxins from the body. For 50 or 90 minutes, while listening to soothing spa music, and entering into dreamland, I was having toxins removed from my body. I was left feeling relaxed, refreshed, and rejuvenated after each visit at the Rancho La Puerta’s Spa. Now that’s the ultimate health benefit of having body therapies from head to toe.

If you’re interested in healing benefits of massages and body therapies, you can read more here or do your own research.

Disclaimer: All health information on this website is not intended to diagnose or treat any illnesses. Please consult with your own physician regarding concerns about your health condition.

Disclosure: I was honored to be a guest at Rancho La Puerta and enjoyed many of the activities and services provided mentioned above.

So see it on my site: http://goo.gl/1UYOd

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Live Healthier & Happier,
Duong Sheahan

e: dtsheahan@msn.com

t: 847-754-0578

Social Media:
Twitter | Facebook | Live Healthier & Happier |Digital Girlfriends

Taste of Rancho La Puerta

Usually when I go on vacation, half way through I’m already plotting my detox upon returning home. Detoxing from all the food that I’ve consumed due to the limited healthy options at the restaurants or resorts we dine at.
However, during my week long stay at Rancho La Puerta, it dawned on me half way through the week that I would not need to detox when I got home. Why? Because every meal was prepared fresh and all the fruit and vegetables are hand picked daily from their six acre organic farm. I can’t express how incredible it is to be able to eat healthy while on vacation.
Each entrée was boasting with unique aromas, colors, texture and of course delectable to my taste buds. I’m one of those people who will try anything new; well, maybe not “anything.” I’m NO Anthony Bourbain (No Reservations host, Travel Channel- interesting show if you like unique foods) but I sure didn’t let anything pass me by at Rancho La Puerta.
One of our adventures among the many on the ranch was a day trip to Cocina que Canta, Rancho La Puerta’s Cooking School and Culinary Center where cooking classes are given daily to guests on the ranch. We spent the day touring the organic farm, picking fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden, and prepared a delicious healthy meal with Guest Chef Robin Asbell.
What a fun, collaborative hands on cooking session with the Cocina que Canta’s Cooking School staff members. It was a feast that our group was proud to prepare, present and EAT.

Here’s a Taste of Rancho La Puerta:

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Live Healthier & Happier,
Duong Sheahan

e: dtsheahan@msn.com

t: 847-754-0578

Social Media:
Twitter | Facebook | Live Healthier & Happier |Digital Girlfriends

So You Think I Can Dance? (Salsa With Manuel Velazquez)

There’s something about Latin dance that has always captured my attention. It’s vivacious & sexy–that’s all. I have been wanting take Salsa lessons for years;  as a matter of fact, I took one lesson at a nearby dance studio and kept stepping on my instructor’s toes (nearly the whole lesson)…how embarrassing!
Now I know why I opted for cheerleading in high school versus pom-pom!

While at Rancho La Puerta, browsing through the hour by hour activities, I noticed Latin Dance as an option. After all, dancing is definitely a fitness activity, in case you haven’t seen the Dancing With the Stars contestants.

After talking to several of the other guests raving about Manuel Velazquez, I wasn’t going to miss his dance class.  By the way, if you visit the Ranch, you’ll not only find Manuel in the dance studio, but teaching Pilates and leading a group of hikers up at Mount Kuchamaa. Let’s just say, Manuel is multi-talented and extremely fit!

So…you think I can dance? At least this time, I didn’t I step on any toes!

Now, I have to figure out how to get my husband out and CHA-CHA with me!

Here I go…

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Live Healthier & Happier,
Duong Sheahan

e: dtsheahan@msn.com

t: 847-754-0578

Social Media:
Twitter | Facebook | Live Healthier & Happier |Digital Girlfriends

A Haven for Health, Hope & Harmony (Rancho La Puerta)

I recently spent a week at a modern day Garden of Eden, dubbed first by a reporter covering the so called a “occult” (in the early 1940’s) and later by guests of Rancho La Puerta, including myself.



This 3000 acre oasis with sunny skies approximately 304 days a year, primarily nature preserved, sits just beneath the majestic Kuchumaa Mountains, and was awarded as the world’s best destination spa in 2010 by Leisure + Travel Magazine. Rancho La Puerta is a hidden treasure and truly a haven for health, hope and harmony.
With a mission to make healthy people “healthier”, for the past 70 years this retreat is the perfect playground for fitness enthusiasts who seek to get away, de-stress, yet remain within the boundaries of healthy living and an eco-friendly environment.



During my week of R & R at Rancho La Puerta in Mexico, several days began with invigorating sun rise hikes followed by a wholesome breakfast pool-side, taking in morning rays, and visiting with fellow Bloggers and new friends exchanging our Rancho La Puerta experiences.
I decided to take on new activities that peeked my interest, yet keep a balanced schedule to ensure time to relax and rejuvenate. I can’t begin to express what a week at a health resort and spa can do for the spirit, soul, and body.



The endorphins released throughout that week at the ranch, I believe are still lingering today.
I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve graduated from the Wii Fit Plus-Yoga with a digital trainer to 75 minutes with a real life Yoga Master, Nathan Briner (Holistic Health Practitioner) who taught a Stretch, Release, and Rebuild class that challenged every fiber of my being.
I also had the great pleasure of taking Pilates for the first time with Tannis Kobrinsky. Mind you, Tannis is 56 years young and it was hard not to have a little “she envy.” Her Pilates class was phenomenal.

There was more to do at this resort than there is hours in the day and I had to periodically remind myself that I was there to relax and enjoy. By the second day, my organized schedule that I filled out on day one went out the window and I opted to go with the flow as my dear husband would encourage. And I’m so glad I did!
The rest of the week included a session in Hula-Hoop, Latin dance (you can see my Salsa debut -just don’t laugh too much), learning a new work-out routine with weight trainer, Kevin Ward, a trip to Las Pierdras Environment Education Center and visited a community organic garden that Rancho La Puerta supports by teaching the families to grow their own pesticide-free produce and selling it to the locals.



I especially enjoyed strolling through the many paths, often getting lost and  in the process discovering something beautiful and new, eating fresh figs from a tree or picking grapes from vines and just soaking in the beauty of my surroundings.



We had a blast in a hands on cooking class at La Cocina que Canta Cooking School on the ranch’s organic farm with guest chef Robin Asbell.

Usually after going on vacation, I’m ready to go home and detox, but not this time. At Rancho La Puerta, all meals served are healthy, low fat, and mainly vegetarian. The fruit and vegetables are picked fresh daily from the organic gardens on the property. How incredible is that? It makes me appreciate my mother’s garden and the local farmers at home so much more.


There’s nothing like ending the day with specialty spa treatments or body therapies, cozying up to the fireplace and enjoying the warm ambiance of our Mexican style villa. And with a spectacular mountain view, I’d love to live there during our cold winters in Chicago. Hmm.


I’m so inspired by Deborah Szekely (now 88 years old) and her belated husband Edmond for being the pioneers in the health movement when it wasn’t popular. Today, Rancho La Puerta is celebrating 70 years; from their humble beginnings simply teaching people how to care for their own well-being. It’s become a sanctuary for the healthy to get healthier and a hope for those who wish to begin a lifestyle of health and wellness.


I’m so blessed to have had an opportunity to experience this hidden treasure. I’m even more empowered and inspired than ever to continue my journey to live in health.

Check out my photo slide highlighting our week:

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Live Healthier & Happier,
Duong Sheahan

e: dtsheahan@msn.com

t: 847-754-0578

Social Media:
Twitter | Facebook | Live Healthier & Happier |Digital Girlfriends

The Spa and Pray Portion of My Time at Rancho La Puerta

Prior to my trip to Rancho La Puerta, I had not heard of it.   I discovered while there a few of us were “newbies” to the Ranch but so many had been there numerous times.   10 seemed to be a common number of times people returned and while there one woman was celebrating her 35th time back!   To me that just proves how wonderful of a place it is.  

After doing a little online research of the ranch, I did my post Eat Pray Exercise Spa.  I was nervous about the Eat – I love vegetables and fruit, but I do tend to like my meat as well – hey, I grew up on a farm!   But, the food was wonderful as you saw in my post about the food.   And, since leaving the Ranch I’ve still been able to kick my cola habit (2+ weeks now!) and I rarely eat meat, and I do eat more fresh fruit and vegetables than before.

The exercise options are endless at Rancho La Puerta – so many choices from beginners yoga to advanced to various cardio classes and so many other options that you are never left without anything to do.   They also have guest speakers and teachers for classes too, so every week it might be a little bit different.  

Then there was the Pray and Spa portion of my time there.   One of the things I learned at the Ranch was taking care of yourself is so important.   You really have the time and learn how to look inward and become a better person in many ways.   I know you’ve heard the phrase “It changed my life” – I swear Oprah says that every week!   But for me, it truly was life changing.   The meditation, and at night the sky was so clear with the full moon you felt like you could reach out and touch the stars.   The moon glowing on the magical Mt. Kuchumaa at night was amazing!

And then there’s the spa treatments.   Ahhhh.    The rooms in the Women’s Health Center and the Villas Health Center (and I presume the Men’s Health Center too) are so calming an relaxing and peaceful.   Your worries truly melt away and your body feels renewed as you experience the massages, body scrubs, facials and so many other treatments.   You can choose from a wonderful selection to suit your wants and needs.   They are so accomodating to your schedule that week and are experts at their craft.  

My first treatment was the Inner Force body scrub.   I’ve never had a body scrub before and didn’t know what to expect.  A dry brush scrub was followed up by a sea salt, organic clay and a rose and pomegranate body wash.  Once the scrub is done your body is moisturized with natural essential oils and wrapped up in a heavy blanket to let the moisture soak in.    My skin felt divine!

The next day I had a Nature’s Most Pure Facial.   It was 90 minutes of heaven.   Having a professional facial is one of my most luxurious indulgences that I partake in.   I highly recommend that for your skin you try and get a few a year – especially at the change of season.   A facial is so relaxing for me that every thought or worry just leaves my mind and the benefit on top of being relaxed is getting wonderful skin. 

My third treatment was a Relaxation Massage.   A classic Swedish style massage was what my body needed after all the exercising I was doing.   It helped with the tightness of my muscles and the soreness of my knee.   (An old high school knee injury was flaring up because I was not used to standing on the tile floors for long periods of time.   I learned to wear good supportive shoes while on the tile after the 2nd day).

I had scheduled a different body treatment originally as my fourth treatment.  But, after speaking with Roma, who does the marketing and PR for the Ranch, she explained to me the Five Elements body treatment.   It was created exclusively for Ranch visitors with the skin care line that they use.  They use Amala products for the face and Primavera for the body treatments.  The goal of Five Elements is to balance and restore the Qi energy of the body and mind.   They use an aromatherapy blend to connect and balance the body and mind with the five natural elements.    I chose the Water treatment.  It’s a lymphatic body treatment that uses long undulating body movements to facilitate drainage.    You can choose between water, wood, fire, earth and metal. 

And for my fifth and final treatment, I really debated between a Hot Stone Massage or a Seaweed Wrap or a few others.   I ended my week with another facial.   Normally I wouldn’t consider another facial, but since I had my first one 5 days earlier, I decided there was enough time between the two.   Elva did my amazing Remineralizing Facial.   Using the natural ingredients of Amala products, it leaves your skin brighter, firmer, smoother and more youthful.   I can attest to how wonderful it made my skin as well as other guests at the Ranch.  I received so many compliments on my skin that week!   I spoke with Elva before I had my 2nd facial to let her know I had one earlier in the week, so she could make any adjustments that might be needed.