A Health Retreat - The Ranch Malibu
Erin Wilson
Wow is this such a crazy time for all of us! Most important, I hope you, your families & loved ones are safe & healthy. It is so important more than ever that we try to stay positive, support one another and get really creative on how to stay entertained at home! And let’s please share those ideas!
Lunch in the Garden
For most of us, our lives have kind of shutdown and it is taking some getting used to. With this extra time, I am trying to think of things I have wanted to do and never find the time for. I realized it has been 11 months since the last time I published a blog post. As we all daydream about traveling again, I want to tell you about a recent trip I took that I felt was incredibly beneficial to my health, both mentally and physically.
I work full-time in Real Estate and own & run A Salty Soul, so like most of us, I never stop. And often I put my health on the back burner. I was feeling run down and exhausted and I knew I had to do something about it. I had been following The Ranch Malibu on Instagram for a few years and one dreary, winter morning I reached out to see what availability they had and booked myself on their week long retreat.
I hold a special place in my heart for California and whenever I go, I feel at home. I enjoyed a week soaking in the west coast before checking in for my 7-day stay at the Ranch. They picked a group of us up in Santa Monica one Sunday mid-day and I was nervous to see what the rest of the group would be like, would they be friendly? After loading up, we drove through Malibu and up a mountain road to get to our destination. More people joined later in the day and ultimately, we had such an amazing and interestingly diverse group of fifteen people. People came from all over: The Philippines, Indonesia, The Cayman Islands, California, Chicago, Vail, Texas, NYC, Canada and of course Nantucket.
The Ranch is meant to be a detox and a reboot - there is no caffeine, alcohol, sugar and you eat a plant-based diet. Water and tea are served at all meals. I was most nervous about caffeine withdrawal, so I switched to decaf about 3-4 weeks prior to arrival and surprisingly I was okay without it. I will admit, I went right back to coffee upon return, it’s my morning ritual that I love!
The schedule each day basically went like this:
5:30am: wake up to Tibetan chimes
6am: stretch class
6:45/7am: foot wrapping, gear prepping & breakfast
7:30am: depart for hike in the vans
8am: start 4 hour hike
1pm: lunch (beach or at the Ranch)
One massage per day in the afternoon
3pm – 5pm: two workout classes
5pm: Yoga
7pm: Dinner
For that week, we were a community. We ate our meals in a beautiful dining room, we set out on challenging hikes together and we laughed (and bitched!) a lot. I loved hearing everyone’s stories and what an accomplished and welcoming group.
Each day we hiked for four hours and it was challenging, especially for those of us that live in very flat places! But it felt so good to be outside in the fresh air, in nature and taking in all of the beauty and reflecting on a lot. This trip made me realize how much I love hiking. The guides are amazing and have the system down so everything is seamless. We had walky talky’s should anyone get lost (did not happen!) and they make it really comfortable whatever level you are, no one really knows where they stand in the pack which is how it should be.
The staff was really great, accommodating and very knowledgeable. The owners are a dynamic, entrepreneurial couple (Sue & Alex) who live nearby on the property. They each came to hike with us one day during the week and were really passionate about what they do and were so easy-going and fun to be with.
The food was incredible and the progression through the week was fascinating. At the very first meal I think all 15 of us were not certain it was enough food to get us by, everything totaled up to 1400 calories per day. But as the week went on, and we were incredibly active, the food was plenty and packed with so many nutrients. It does make you realize our portion sizes are likely more than what our bodies need. It sure helps having a talented chef on hand, so while I don’t think I can fully maintain this at home I want to try to mix in more plant-based meals and implement some of things I learned. The Ranch just launched a new cook book which I highly recommend, you can check it out HERE.
The Ranch also offers a 4-day program which I am sure is great but if you can do the 7-days, I would recommend it. A week really helps you get into and change your body and outlook. If you decide to go, a few tips I have:
· Packing: I was so stressed on what I would need. Have layers as temps range morning to evening but for the hikes and working out, you can bring a few outfits/pieces you can intermix. The amazing staff does your laundry EVERY day, Monday through Friday. The next day your clean clothes are folded and appear on your bed.
· Shoes: I wore trail running shoes which worked great for me vs hiking boots. Just be sure to break them in VERY well before you go.
· Bring flip flops or comfy shoes to get into after the hike! It is like getting out of ski boots after a day on the mountain, dreamy!
The gardens and farm on the property.
I left this trip feeling incredibly re-energized and excited. When I got home, it started to feel like things were really starting to fall apart in the world. As we are all at home these days, I am reflecting on the amazing experience I had and the wonderful group of people I got to spend the week with. I was lucky to go on this adventure and I hope to go again one day. I think the biggest take away which is really applicable right now is that our health is so important. Eating quite as healthy has not been as easy these days, I will admit, but I am trying to get outside while we still can! Bottom line, take care of yourself especially right now!
