Throughout our regular fitness and activities program for the month of August, Rancho La Puerta is proud to announce that it will host “A Breath of the Himalayan Tradition”—a yoga ashram with Swami Veda Bharati and his highly acclaimed international faculty. All Ranch guests will have access to many of Swami Veda’s daily lectures, as well as some of his faculty’s yoga classes.

Imagine being in our beautiful setting and sharing the pathways through nature with other guests from around the world: a glimpse of saffron robed scholars walking beneath the oaks…the long, vibrating tone of brass singing bowls… the daily lectures by the man who “is probably the most important teacher of the Yoga Sutras today. His interpretations of the text are the most detailed and comprehensive and the truest to the real and deeper tradition of Raja Yoga…”  (Dr. David Frawley, author, “Yoga and the Sacred Fire” etc. For more on Swami Veda’s worldwide reputation, please visit www.swamiveda.org.

Spiritual study and ancient traditions have long been a part of the Rancho La Puerta experience, dating back to the first three decades (1940-1960s) when Professor Edmond Szekely lectured daily on mind, body and spirit balance, Cosmology, and spiritual non-denominational paths. Other luminaries joined Professor Szekely over the years, including yoga pioneer Indra Devi and author Aldous Huxley, whose novel “Islands” was inspired in good part by the life of co-founder Deborah Szekely and her childhood in Tahiti.

The students of Swami Veda will be part of a separate program from regular Ranch guests, but the two groups (you, the Ranch guest, and the all-day Ashram participants) will merge daily at some lectures and classes. Ranch guests have the option of attending Swami Veda’s lectures and some of the yoga classes taught by his outstanding faculty, including our well-known long-time Ranch guest yoga instructors Michele Hebert and Dr. Mehrad Nezari.

The atmosphere will be magical—one would have to travel to India to experience something similar, and to have the opportunity to hear Swami Veda’s sensitive and comprehensive explanations of yogic concepts, which are rooted in his extensive traditional training as a Sanskrit scholar . Yet at the same time, the classic Rancho La Puerta experience continues…a full schedule of hikes, fitness classes, swimming, relaxation, great organic vegetarian meals, cooking classes at La Cocina Que Canta and much more.

Please join us…at our regular prices—there will be no extra charges for the several “Himalayan Tradition” lectures and classes each day that are specifically open to all guests—if you choose to partake. More details on these classes will be available soon. But hurry, we expect space to be limited because of the unusual nature of this world-class yoga event!

"Finding inner peace can be daunting for many of us. Spirituality “on the run” or taken in “bits and pieces” is popular today and quite lovely and reinforcing, but to really look, see and understand the other side takes time and guidance from someone who can lead the way. In the first three decades of Rancho La Puerta, my husband Professor Edmond Szekely gave daily lectures that enthralled our guests. Many came from around the world to hear him. Our first-ever Ashram Month brings back this tradition. Swami Veda has established a long history of lifting the curtain so we can peek and find…and understand…all that which has been hidden but is waiting for each of us."
     — Deborah Szekely, co-founder, Rancho La Puerta

Saturday Spa Treatments

The Ranch now offers massages and beauty salon services on Saturdays. Book a soothing massage (Relaxation, Therapeutic, Energy Balance, Sports or Back & Neck) to enjoy before your departure or after your arrival.

A Souvenir from a Fabulous Stay

Internationally renowned photographer Daniel Aubry recently crafted a visual souvenir (at left) of his stay at Rancho La Puerta and presented it to our co-founder, Deborah Szekely. Aubry is a leader in the rapidly expanding field of Spa Photography. He is a frequent contributor to such magazines as American Spa, Spa, and Spa Finder. His roster of spa clients includes Mandarin Oriental, The Borgatta, the Cornelia DayResort, Nemacolin, Sasanqua Spa, Mohonk Mountain House, Noelle Day Spa, Red Door Salon, Hotel Victor Spa, and One Spa at Shutters on the Beach. “Spas are essentially sanctuaries. “ Aubry observes, “They’re not just physical spaces but temples to the body and soul. That is the spiritual dimension which I try to capture in my photographs.”

To see more of Daniel Aubry’s photography, please go to: www.aubryphoto.com

Click the image above for an enlarged view Daniel's visual souvenir.

Inner Idea

Deborah Szekely is the first recipient of the Inner IDEA Inspiration Award. The award was established to recognize companies and individuals who have created an emotionally engaging and inspirational customer experience in the wellness field. Inner IDEA is the professional resource for Pilates, yoga, meditation, mind-body, life coaching, health and wellness through its educational material and annual mind-body conference.

Essential Travel Documents

Due to heightened US/Mexico Border security, U.S. citizens are now required to have one of two document options with them upon their return to the U.S.: (1) your passport OR (2) a certified copy of your birth certificate AND a government-issued picture ID, such as a driver's license. This applies whether you enter the U.S. by private car, taxi or the Ranch's motor coach service from the San Diego airport. Citizens of countries other than the U.S. must have a passport and should (prior to their departure) consult a Mexican consulate in their country to determine if any additional travel and visa requirements must be met.

Cooking School Now Open!

Rancho La Puerta’s new hands-on cooking school experience is set in the midst of our organic farm. Learn the secrets of light, healthy cuisine from Rancho La Puerta’s own Creative Chef Jesús González, as well as a very special guest instructor every month. For guest chef schedule, see our Specialty Weeks.

We're proud!

April 30, 2008: Good news from Baja Traveler readers; Rancho La Puerta has once again been voted #1 in the “Spa” category. Baja Traveler is the premier magazine devoted to travel and real estate in Baja California, Mexico.

Once again, readers of Travel + Leisure magazine voted Rancho La Puerta one of the "Top 15 Destination Spas" in the world. The Ranch was also voted one of the "Top 5 Destination Spas for VALUE."

We’re in good company! Rancho La Puerta was one of only four nominations for Condé Nast Johansens’ 2007 Awards For Excellence in the “Most Excellent Spa Hotel” category covering all of Mexico & Central America. Other nominees were One & Only Palmilla (Mexico), Esperanza (Mexico), and Grand Velas Spa Resort (Mexico). (The winner this year was Grand Velas.) Rancho La Puerta is also a Condé Nast Johansens' “recommended Resort & Spa, 2007.”

Once again, Rancho La Puerta has been awarded the Spa Finder Readers' Choice Award for Favorite Spa of Mexico, and has been voted in the top ten in the following categories: Best Cooking Classes, Best Fitness Program, Best for Going Solo, Best Hiking, Best Yoga, and Best for Mind-Body-Spirit.

TravelTalkRADIO visited the Ranch  and interviewed co-founder Deborah Szekely as well as staff members Phyllis Pilgrim, Yvonne Nienstadt, Barry Shingle and Joe Sweeney. To listen to the show -- which was broadcast live -- please click here.

New Hours

Our reservations staff now is able to serve you seven days a week. Call us Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., or weekends 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Pacific Time. From the U.S. phone toll-free 1(800) 443-7565; worldwide, (858) 764-5500. Or book your reservations online, anytime.

Three-Day Extended Hiking Program

For a group of committed, advanced hikers. Each guided hike ranges from 5 to 11 miles. Day pack with food and water provided. Offered the first full week of each month (November through March). (Progressive, 3-8 hours a day).

2008 / 2009 Extended Hiking Program

2008 Week of…
January 5
February 2
March 1
November 1
December 6

2009 Week of…
January 3
February 7
March 7

In-Room Massage Now in Every Room

We now offer in-room massages to all guests, not just those staying in Villas suites. Learn more.

More Spice from Pepper!

One of the Ranch's most popular presenters, Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D, will be here during the week of June 21, 2008. Dr. Schwartz has received much media recognition recently: an NBC Special, "The Science of Love;" Oprah Radio and the Today Show, talking about her new book “Prime: Adventures and Advice About Love and Sex in the Sensual Years” (Harper Collins). People magazine profiled her (July, 2007) and she's also in the August '07 Redbook.

Demetreous returns the week of August 16, 2008. Every class is a party!

Demetreous Hill combines easy-to-learn "dance boy" moves into his hilarious, entertaining and motivating dance/exercise classes. And, yes, in addition to Salsa, Samba and Cha Cha, he will teach his popular, not-to-be-missed striptease routines.

World-renowned husband-and-wife yoga instructors Ganga White and Tracey Rich join us to present White Lotus Flow during the week of November 1, 2008. Ganga, named one of the “architects of American yoga” and a “pioneer of yoga” by Yoga Journal, has trained thousands of yoga instructors who have gone on to start successful yoga centers around the world.

The couple, who have a residential retreat center in Santa Barbara, created the best selling videos, "Aerobic Yoga, the Flow Series," "Total Yoga," and the "Total Yoga Series, Earth, Water, and Fire."

The Ranch's new Sleep Well Program is a two-day program (two 45-minute sessions) that invites guests to evaluate their sleep patterns and suggests strategies and lifestyle changes. The goal is to return to a natural and deep night’s sleep -- one that is undisturbed and restful -- and wake up bright and energetic every morning, feeling refreshed and rested.

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