A Note from Sue & Alex

 

Happy Summer Ranch Alumni,

In the beginning of our lives, Summer often meant a break, family vacations, summer camp and freedom from the daily routine for just a few short months every year. As we get older, Summer can seemingly blur into the rest of the year as our schedules become more rigid and filled with commitments.

As we enter the home stretch of Summer, we encourage you to let go of your responsibilities, even if it’s just for a few hours each week, and practice being in the moment. Remember those things that bring a childlike joy and laughter into your life and PLAY!

It turns out that playing is pretty remarkable. Here are just a few benefits:

Improves resilience
Sparks creativity
Enhances problem-solving abilities
Increases emotional well-being
Relieves stress
Supercharges learning
Improves relationships and connections with others
Keeps relationships fresh and exciting
Heals emotional wounds

In need of a little inspiration?
Take a dip in the ocean
Do an outdoor yoga or fitness class
Go for a bike ride
Watch the sun rise or set
Dance in the rain
Count the stars
Catch fireflies
Gather some friends for a game of softball, capture the flag or water polo
Go to an outdoor concert
Go camping
Play catch

Whatever brings back a youthful enthusiasm for you, just get out there and PLAY!!!!!

In health,
~ Sue & Alex

Elevate your Ranch experience in the Colorado Rockies this Fall with our signature structured program exclusively offered from 9/3 – 10/27. Amidst this intimate 5-night, 6-day (Sunday – Friday) weekly experience, up to 25 guests will explore the Rocky and White River Mountains each morning while staying in the heart of the Vail Valley at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch. Afternoons are spent in fitness and yoga classes with our team, and guests will also receive a daily massage, plant-based meals and access to the hotel’s 21,000-square-foot spa complete with steam rooms, saunas and hot & cold plunge pools.

We have officially switched over to our Summer schedule which means we are on the trails earlier and there is a bit more free time to rest, relax or enjoy our elective offerings to boost recovery and enhance results. Cryotherapy and cold plunge are especially popular right now!

Additionally, guests can choose between a 2-hour or 4-hour morning hike! For all your loved ones that have been intimidated by 4 hours of hiking, this is their opportunity to experience Travel+Leisure’s #1 Destination Spa in the U.S. for two years in and row and see why you love our structured program so much!

 

BOOK NOW!

 

In just over a year in Italy, we are delighted for The Ranch Italy to be named Travel+Leisure’s #1 International Destination Spa! Our program at the world-renowned Palazzo Fiuggi is settling in to its second summer season and we have added additional cultural activities to the daily schedule to take advantage of our sublime location. Upon arrival, guests now take a short walk through the old town of Fiuggi and there is also the opportunity to visit an ancient monastery following one of the hikes. Weeklong guests have the additional perk of a cooking experience at a local restaurant. The result is a complete health and wellness experience along with a cultural immersion!

 

BOOK NOW!

 

Hailed as “life-changing” by our guests, Niki Marrè, one of our esteemed program guides at The Ranch Malibu, offers Energy Healing sessions that are not to be missed! Here Niki shares her experience with this holistic, healing modality and why it needs to be added it to your next stay in Malibu.

– What is Energy Healing?
Energy Healing is an ancient therapeutic modality that holistically balances the mind and body, while revitalizing the spirit. It is the act of utilizing life-force frequency to inspire invigoration and replenishment where it is needed most. Creating the space for a person to receive pure energy while in a state of deep relaxation, activates the environment that the body requires to harmonize itself.

Research into this modality reveals that it is proven to be a restorative remedy for the emotional body and nervous system, as well as a powerful stress-relieving application. This is why energy healing is now offered at many of the top-rated hospitals in the world.

– When did you start practicing?
I began practicing energy healing techniques when I was around 7 without any formal training. I realized at a very young age that I was a highly-sensitive empath, and developed my own methods of “energetic hygiene” that I would do in private in order to maintain a sense of well-being.

After years of playing with my energetic sensitivities and highly intuitive nature, I felt safe to share some of my gifts publicly after my yoga teacher training in 2010. I continued my studies, working with kundalini and the chakra system, and have since been certified as a reiki master teacher, hypnotherapist, and EFT / therapeutic imagery practitioner. I have continued my education in several lineages of shamanism, sound healing, and vibrational therapy techniques.

Forever a student, I will always be learning more about the mystery of the human experience for the purpose of uplifting the communities I have the honor of connecting with.

– What do you like most about it?
Energy healing has given me a profound sense of empowerment in this world. Being a highly-sensitive and emotive person is now something I see as a strength, rather than a weakness; and I’ve been able to use those qualities to amplify my intuitive reflections in sessions. Becoming able to alchemize energy has supplied me with a tool that can bring my entire being into tranquility and clarity no matter the scenario. Helping others harness their own personal power and unique gifts is one of my favorite “side effects” of sharing this alternative medicine with my clients and students.

– Who is a good candidate for energy healing?
Anyone can be a great candidate for energy therapy, no matter if the goals for the session are mental, emotional, physical, or spiritual. All can benefit!

– What are the effects one can expect?
Energy healing statistically provides all with a profound state of relaxation and restoration. With that, many walk away with an enhanced state of harmony with the world, clarity, and an activation in creativity, inspiration, and vitality. It’s important to note that all sessions are completely unique, and so results vary from person to person.

– How can someone tap into their own abilities?
If someone wants to learn and/or experience energy healing, start with becoming sensitive to the world at a quantum level. Meditate daily for at least 10 minutes to increase your perception. It doesn’t need to be fancy! Awaken your senses by really touching, feeling, and listening to the world. Knowing that energy is everything, start trusting the intuitive nudges that you get about what aligns with you. Honor your energy as a form of sacred currency. Then, if you want to go deeper, find a lineage and teacher that really lights you up.

– How do I sign up?
Energy healing is offered as a one-on-one 50-minute session on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Guests can sign up for this elective modality in advance upon arrival.

With the temperatures hitting their peak, starting or maintaining a garden may seem like a losing battle. The Ranch Malibu’s Farm Manager Jordan Wesley has plenty of practice cultivating a bountiful harvest in any condition and here he shares his expertise to help inspire you to get growing.

1. How has this year’s weather in California affected the harvest and what we’re growing in Malibu?

This year’s wet Winter and cooler Spring conditions at The Ranch have resulted thus far in an abundance of leafy greens like lettuce, cabbage and arugula as well as great crops of carrots and parsnips. The extra moisture has unfortunately added a great deal of pest pressure from slugs and snails. Our Summer vegetables like tomatoes, melons and cucumbers were all planted 6-8 weeks later than our normal Summer planting. Normally we have to strategically place shade cloth throughout the garden to protect produce from sunburn. This year, however, we have been using hoop houses with clear plastic to increase the temperature of these same crops.

2. What advice do you have for the at-home gardeners who have minimal shade on their property?

My advice to home gardeners for this unusual year is to amend your soils with ‘neem seed meal’ and dried ‘kelp meal’. These organic, plant-based fertilizers will feed your plants while reducing the number of soil-borne pests like thrips and slugs. I always recommend building some sort of structure over your vegetable beds (wood frames or hoops) to allow for various growing aids like bird netting, shade cloth or clear plastic. I also suggest that home gardeners practice saving their own seeds to increase their family’s self-sufficiency.

3. Which plants would you recommend for those who want to start a garden in the middle of Summer?

Some of the best plants to start in the middle of Summer are pumpkins, zucchini, melons, corn, beans, and sunflowers. Eggplants and peppers also love the warm Summer nights. Check your local nursery for established organic plant starts, as germination can be challenging in extreme heat.

4. What are the benefits of having an at-home Summer garden?

The major benefits of cultivating a home vegetable garden are eating more delicious and nutrient-dense foods, limiting the carbon footprint of large stores and commercial farms, and directly connecting yourself with nature by working outdoors and observing the seasons and various creatures in your garden. Sharing homegrown produce is also a great way to befriend your neighbors and address food scarcity in your town.

From a hydrating Watermelon Limeade to a refreshing Kelp Noodle Pad Thai and a not-to-be missed Millet and Veggie Burger, Chef Meredith and the culinary team are sharing some of their favorite recipes of the season.

Watermelon Limeade

Ingredients:

• 4 cups watermelon, chopped
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
• 10 fresh mint leaves
• 2 cups coconut water
• Sparkling water, if desired

Directions:

In a blender, add the watermelon, lime juice, and mint. Cover and blend until smooth. Place a strainer over a large bowl and pour the juice over the strainer to remove the pulp. Stir in the coconut water. Transfer to a large pitcher filled with ice and enjoy. Top with sparkling water if desired.

 

Kelp Noodle Pad Thai
Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 1 package kelp noodles (12 oz.)
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• Your choice of veggies and herbs: julienned cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, cilantro, basil, mint

Dressing:

• 1/2 cup peanut, almond or sunflower seed butter
• 3 Tablespoons coconut aminos
• 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
• 1 clove garlic
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1-2 teaspoons maple syrup
• 1/2 cup water (plus more if needed)

Directions:

Remove kelp noodles from the package and place them in a large bowl of water with the lemon juice and baking soda. Set aside and allow to soak for 15-20 minutes.

Puree the dressing ingredients together in a blender until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Drain the kelp noodles very well, patting dry with a towel. In a large bowl toss the noodles with the dressing to coat well. Add in the rest of your chosen salad ingredients and again toss well.

 

Millet and Veggie Burgers
Makes 4-6

Ingredients:

• 1/4-1/2 cup quinoa flakes or oat flour
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 cup cooked garbanzo beans
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 cup millet
• Salt & pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Toast the millet in a dry pot over medium heat for about 2 minutes. Add 2 1/2 cups of water and a pinch of salt and bring to a boil.

Reduce to a simmer and cook until the water is absorbed about 20 minutes. Remove to a large mixing bowl and set aside to cool.

In the food processor, pulse the onion, carrot, zucchini and garlic together until chopped fine. Add in the garbanzo beans, spices and millet and process until combined, but still has some texture. Remove to a bowl, season with salt and pepper and add the quinoa flakes.

Using a 6 oz scoop, form the mixture into patties and place on a silpat-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate at least 20 minutes to set.

Bake the burgers for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. (Alternatively, you can sear these burgers in a pan with oil for 7-8 minutes on each side.)

Serve with lettuce leaves, tomato, avocado and ketchup.