Fall 2020 Newsletter

Thank you for supporting us in Conde Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards! It is a huge honor and wonderful way to celebrate our 10-year anniversary.

The Ranch Private offers a unique opportunity to customize your Ranch experience while at a distance from the other guests on property.  Limited to just two groups of up to four guests (traveling together), your stay is individually tailored.  Whether you have specific concerns or desires to limit participation or you want even more of a challenge you will leave with results!

All aspects of The Ranch Private, including meals, take place in spaces dedicated just for you/your group. Our team can even schedule your day around any work commitments so that you can get away and get healthy but still make any important calls or hold meetings virtually as needed! Learn more at https://theranchmalibu.com/health-fitness-programs/the-ranch-private/.

The delightful combination of rose and marigold is harvested directly from our 2-acre organic garden and the newest scent to join our signature Plant Bar collection!

This hydrating body cleanser offers a refreshing, paraben-free lather that softly cleanses the skin while pumice powder provides gentle exfoliation and hydration.  The glycerin-based formula of our Plant Bars acts as a humectant, pulling moisture from the air to hydrate the skin.

In this new scent, delicate marigold petals provide a beautiful touch that both soothe and smooth skin.  Egyptian Rose Geranium essential oil helps balance congested and mature skin, has natural antioxidants and strengthens and tones tissues.

Each set comes with three 6.5 oz bars, two of which include the guest-favorite pumice feature, which helps to boost circulation.  Learn more at https://theranchmalibu.com/product/rose-marigold-plant-bar/.

We are thrilled to debut our new store at Thrive Market!  Now you can easily shop our chef’s must-have ingredients, all in one place through Thrive Market! 

This online membership-based market makes healthy living easy and accessible for everyone.  Members receive guaranteed savings with exclusive prices on the highest quality, healthy and sustainable products.

Current members can access our store through thrivemarket.com/theranchmalibu.  New to Thrive? Join using the link above and receive a complimentary gift from Thrive when you sign up for a yearly membership.

Catching up with Senior Program Guide Michael Becker!

- What are you grateful for?
In no particular order my wife, my dog, family, friends, job, existence and even being born, raised and living in the States most of my life - despite all of the difficulties we’re facing at the moment.

- When did you join The Ranch and what has been your most rewarding moment?
I joined the Ranch in January 2018 with my most rewarding moment being last May when Angela, the Director of 4.0, offered me a full-time position. That means Lisa and Angela, with all of their experience, believe that I have and can be trusted to reliably make decisions that have our guests’ best interests in mind. That’s an honor I feel obligated to live up to and don’t take for granted. I also feel very fortunate to have observed and worked with all of the Ranch staff and to have them as models for how to work as a team and how to compose myself professionally while creating a relaxing and friendly atmosphere that lends itself to guests and staff, enjoying and benefitting from our Ranch experience.

- Funniest thing a guest has said to you?
One of our many alumni knows that I’m frequently asked how old I am, so on his last visit at dinner, he thought it would be funny to cut people short by telling everyone I was in amazing shape for a 70-year old!

- Most asked question from Ranch guests?
Are you a vegan and do you drink coffee? Although I’m not a vegan, I have been a vegetarian for 40 years. This year I have cut my coffee consumption down to one cup most days.

- Any new habits or hobbies you’ve adopted this year?
The lockdown stopped me from going to Starbucks and indulging in my daily dose of caffeine and sugar and I’ve maintained that practice. So now I’m down to one cup, sans pastry, at home every morning.  I’m trying to play the Native American flute, pick up Spanish and study for an Endurance Coach training certificate but those haven’t become routine yet.

- Must-do daily wellness practice and why?
 If I don’t get outside and move in some way, shape or form every day I’ll feel grumpy and lethargic. Our minds, bodies and spirit flourish with daily movement.

- What are you reading, watching and/or listening to right now?
 I’m just finishing Upstream by Dan Heath. It’s about solving problems by preventing them from happening in the first place. We’re watching Afterlife. Ricky Gervais’ dramedy about coming out of depression after his character’s wife dies of cancer. I’m listening to Diana Krall, Peggy Lee, 60s rock and electro-swing music hoping to develop a few more playlists in case I need to do some more spin classes down the road.

- Favorite place to hike or take a walk?
I’ve hiked the Wonderland Trail in Washington 3 times with a friend I’ve known since 7th grade who lives near Seattle. Last time it was a perfect three-day challenge for both of us, so we’re both very satisfied to wander other places for a while. Locally, I live right off Topanga State Park and I do the Musch Trail almost every week. It’s one of the few trails that’s so interesting to me that I don’t feel the uphill is as much of a grind as it ought to be.

- Personal mantra or favorite quote?
“Only those that risk going too far discover how far they can go?” by T.S. Elliot. That’s a quote that I can painfully/pleasurably relate to as I’ve discovered that’s about 65 miles of jogging/ hiking in a day and about 165 miles on the bike.

1. If you are practicing the supported version, set a bolster or firm, long pillow on the floor against the wall.
2. Begin the pose by sitting with your left side against the wall. Your lower back should rest against the bolster if you’re using one.
3. Gently turn your body to the left and bring your legs up onto the wall. If you are using a bolster, shift your lower back onto the bolster before bringing your legs up the wall. Use your hands for balance as you shift your weight.
4. Lower your back to the floor and lie down. Rest your shoulders and head on the floor.
5. Shift your weight from side-to-side and scoot your buttocks close to the wall. Let your arms rest open at your sides, palms facing up. If you’re using a bolster, your lower back should now be fully supported by it.

A calming breath exercise may help in conjunction with this pose. Inhale deeply for four counts, and then exhale for eight counts. When we consciously elongate our exhalations, we slow our heart rate, which in turn calms our nervous system. Repeat this five times and then breathe naturally. You will feel the calming effects.

To get out of this, slowly push yourself away from the wall and slide your legs down to the right or left side. Use your hands to help press yourself back up into a seated position.

FOR YOUR SAFETY: This should be avoided by women who are menstruating and should consult with a Yoga teacher prior to doing this pose. Also, do not practice this pose if you have glaucoma or other eye problems, or a serious back or neck injury. Always work within your own range of limits and abilities. If you have any medical concerns, talk with your doctor before practicing yoga.

Wide-Knee Child’s Pose (Balasana)
Child’s pose activates the nervous system’s relaxation response. It is thought that it will help you unwind and release all the worries and stressors of the day. This pose can even be done in the comfort of your own bed.

Here is how:
Grab your pillows for this one. Begin by resting your chest and belly on one or two stacked pillows with knees wide apart and big toes touching. Rest an ear on your pillow, close your eyes, and intentionally relax your jaw and belly. Your arms can rest on the sides of the pillow or underneath. Focus on your breath, the expansion of your lungs and belly. As you exhale, set the intention of letting go and relaxing.

FOR YOUR SAFETY: If you have injured knees or extremely tight hips please be mindful with this one as it can sometimes be too intense for the knees. You can modify this by placing another pillow (hopefully you have enough) between your hips and your calves. It will support your hips, lessening the pressure placed on your knee joint. Again, please be mindful and work within your range of mobility. If you have any medical concerns, talk with your doctor before practicing yoga.

Meditate 
Sit quietly for a few moments before bed. Nope, not on the phone, or in front of the TV. Sit somewhere in your home where you can sit comfortably and allow yourself to close your eyes and breathe deeply. Guided meditations can also be beneficial in helping to direct you to a state of relaxation. If the word “meditate” intimates you, just tell yourself that you’re sitting quietly with your amazing self, priming yourself, your mind, your body and your soul for a restful sleep.

Breath-work
Something that is free - but often-times overlooked – is simply focusing on your breath. Breathing helps reduce stress, alleviate anxiety and increase a sense of calm. When we are in a stressed state, our breath remains shallow. Take a moment and place your hands on your belly. Sit, or lay down comfortably, body relaxed. Close your eyes and take three slow deep breaths, breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. Feel your belly rise as you breathe using your diaphragm. This is called diaphragmatic breathing and can help lower the harmful effects of the stress hormone “cortisol” and lower the heart rate. This is a great method to help calm your mind and body before bed, thus preparing you for sleep.

In conclusion, we all know how good we feel when we are well-rested. But don’t create even more stress around the fact that you can’t sleep, because that it is not conducive to getting you to sleep. Remember to find joy in simply living, playing and moving a little more, breathe deeper and celebrate your life.  Don’t forget to smile, because you are not alone on this journey.

May you try something new and may you sleep well!

As we start shifting gears to focus on “cool” weather crops like beets, carrots, broccoli and greens, our squash, in particular, has been unstoppable!  The winter squash, including butternut, delicata, kabocha, and buttercup, are filling up the curing racks by the day.

The curing process allows the veggies to dry, which creates a hard shell or skin and prevents them from rotting in storage. You can still eat these vegetables as soon as you harvest them, but this way you can extend their shelf life and eat squash, onions and potatoes for months after you’ve finished harvesting! In fact, “winter squash” are just squash that are grown during the usual season (summer) but cured for storage to be eaten throughout the winter.

Bulb vegetables like garlic, onions and shallots also need to “cure” for a while before they can be stored for long periods of time or shipped and sold.  Our very own Jordan Novander built our beautiful rack (check out Jordan and his work in photos below) so that we can store and cure more vegetables, but this process is something you can easily do at home to extend the life of your produce!

Bulb vegetables, squash and potatoes are perfect candidates for curing - just a few things to keep in mind:

• Ensure the skin is dry before putting them away!
• Don’t wash your onions/garlic/potatoes before curing; if necessary, you can gently brush the dirt off
• Don’t store any damaged vegetables, use them fresh instead!
• A rack of any kind (even a wooden bench) will work, as long as it is in a well-ventilated location away from direct sunlight. You can build your own or check out https://www.gardeners.com/buy/harvest-storage-rack/38-221.html.
• Wooden crates or baskets are also good tools for storage, especially once the vegetables are cured. We get our baskets and crates from http://www.texasbasket.com/
• Make sure your vegetables get good air circulation through the entire curing/drying process; too much moisture and they might rot instead of cure!

And a few veggie specific tips:

• Winter Squash and Pumpkins - the skin needs to be hard! Leave them in a well-ventilated area (or on a rack in our case), until the skin is completely hard. You can even leave them outside in the garden if the weather is dry.

• Onions, garlic, and shallots - hang small bunches in a dark, well-ventilated place for a few weeks until the tops (greens) are completely dry. At that point, you can either cut the tops off or keep them on for storage. You can also do this with your herbs!

• Potatoes - put them in a paper bag in a dark space for about 2 weeks before putting them away for storage.

If cured correctly, and kept in a cool, dry environment, your veggies can last in storage for months!  The key is using them as you need them, and using or tossing out anything that seems like it is changing while in storage (changing color, getting softer, getting moldy, etc.).