Dear Ranch Alumni, As Thanksgiving approaches, we find ourselves reflecting on the many reasons we are grateful this season. The Ranch is more than a destination; it is a community built on meaningful human connections, shared growth and moments of joy. We are thankful for each of you—our Alumni and new guests—who bring life and purpose to all of us at The Ranch Malibu and The Ranch Hudson Valley. In Hudson Valley, we’re thankful for crisp autumn hikes, serene lake views, and vibrant fall colors. Guests find warmth in our bright and playful solarium with a heated pool, cold and hot plunges, and infrared sauna, while Chef Michael’s seasonal recipes highlight the best of local ingredients and surprise one’s tastebuds. In Malibu, we appreciate ocean-view beach lunches, refreshing dips in the pool after morning hikes, and a flourishing abundant garden. Chef Meredith brings each harvest to life with nourishing meals that are inspired by the season and delight the senses. As we reflect on what makes this time of year meaningful, we’re thankful for you, the moments we share together, and the positive life transformation that happens in The Ranch community. We hope you find time for connection, reflection, and joy this season. In Health, Sue, Alex, and your Ranch Team
This Winter, The Ranch Hudson Valley is excited to introduce its Winter Wellness Programming, featuring the perfect blend of outdoor adventures and indoor activities. Guests can enjoy hiking, spin and fireside fitness, heated pool workouts, mindfulness practices, culinary immersions, and, with fresh snowfall, snowshoeing and sledding —all thoughtfully curated to enhance both physical and mental well-being throughout the Winter season. Rediscover the joy of play while enjoying this restorative and results-filled escape. Our 3- and 4-night Winter Wellness Programs begin December 1st and run through March 30th.
In case you missed it, your next Ranch visit is now eligible for FSA/HSA reimbursement! If you are looking for a memorable and rewarding way to use your funds before they expire at the end of the year, consider joining us in Malibu or Hudson Valley. If you can't get away right now, we encourage you to contribute a little extra to your 2025 account, so that you may put it towards your next retreat at The Ranch. Our Guest Relations team would be happy to assist if you are interested in learning more about how this works.
The Ranch Hudson Valley's Chef Michael Narciso will be featured on Late Night with Seth Meyers for a Thanksgiving cooking segment! Tune in on November 28th at 12:35 am to see Chef Michael in action and get some last-minute, plant-based inspiration for your Thanksgiving menu.
We are thrilled to share that both The Ranch Malibu and The Ranch Hudson Valley have been nominated in Travel + Leisure's annual World's Best Awards! We would be incredibly grateful if you cast a vote for us in these prestigious awards.You can find both properties by selecting United States -> California and/or New York -> Destination Spas and following the prompts!
Carlos Diaz, Senior Program Guide at The Ranch Hudson Valley, brings a wealth of experience in mindfulness and meditation. Having honed his skills at The Ranch Malibu, Carlos joined our Hudson Valley team when we opened in the Spring. His deep connection to nature and compassionate approach allow him to make meaningful connections with guests, fostering transformative experiences through mindfulness and meditation.Read on for an insightful interview where Carlos shares his journey, daily routines, and wisdom.
How did your journey in mindfulness and meditation begin?
My journey in mindfulness and meditation began early in my life when I was 23 years old. I was going through the most challenging and stressful chapter of my life. At the moment, I was in a state of despair, fear, and confusion. Little did I know, this was the perfect recipe for transformation. I had an epiphany and the following message was delivered to my mind: “It’s time for you to learn how to love yourself.” And thus my journey in mindfulness and meditation began.
What do you enjoy most about your role at The Ranch Hudson Valley?
What I enjoy the most about my role at The Ranch is the opportunity to meet incredible humans all of the time, from my coworkers that I love so much, to our guests. This is my favorite part of my job. There is not a better place to open your heart and to have healing conversations than out there in nature. Our human soul is in its element walking in the forest.
Can you describe a typical day for you at The Ranch?
A typical day at The Ranch for me looks like this:
6:30am to 7:30am - Arrival time, greeting my coworkers, reviewing our positions for the hike, waiting for the guests to finish their breakfast and then we start moving! We are doing foot care, filling up backpacks with water, and getting everyone excited and ready to go hiking!
8am to 12pm - We are having an amazing time hiking in nature. As guides, we are constantly communicating with each other, checking in with our lovely guests, making sure everyone is feeling good, and of course I love witnessing the majestic views, peace and calmness that nature offers!
1pm to 6pm - We are back in the property from our hike. It is time to eat a delicious and healthy plant-based meal. After that, us guides manage the rest of activities for the day. We are making announcements every hour for our guests to participate in fitness, yoga, massages and other additional services. Afternoon hours are all about assisting our guests and making sure that they are having the best time possible!
7pm - We make the last announcement of the day which is dinner time! At The Ranch, we have a tradition to start dinner with a moment of silent gratitude. And this concludes a typical day at our beautiful Ranch.
How would you define mindfulness, and why is it important in today’s fast-paced world?
Mindfulness is the ability to bring the totality of our attention to the present moment, and to do it in a loving, kind, and respectful manner - no matter what our present moment contains. Mindfulness is the antidote against a fast-paced world. To be mindful allows us to slow down and observe our present moment without reacting to it. By being mindful, we learn how to create distance in order to gain a better perspective on life. This perspective gives us the opportunity to understand our current circumstances and then make conscious decisions that will bring about greater results to our lives.
What are some common misconceptions about meditation that you often encounter?
The most common misconception about meditation is that people think that they can’t meditate because they can’t stop the activity of their mind. The mind is there for a reason. We simply need to learn how to not engage with the mind, but the mind will be there and it is perfectly fine.
For someone new to mindfulness, what is the best way to get started?
The best way to get started is to begin to observe our life without judging it, and without reacting to it. We practice watching our internal world (thoughts and emotions), and our external world (immediate environment) without commenting, simply being aware of everything. Observation without judgement is the first step to notice what adjustments we need to make in our lives.
Can you share a simple meditation exercise that people can try at home?
First, let’s understand that meditation is a date with your Soul.
You have to create your own sacred space. Light up a candle or two, or incense, or maybe both. Dim the lights and allow yourself to relax. The atmosphere is key.
Find a comfortable seated position, say goodbye to the outside world and all your human responsibilities, and then close your eyes for the next 7 minutes (set up a timer).
During the next 7 minutes we are going to create the perfect internal environment by focusing on 3 different areas: breath, body, mind.
Breath. During the entire meditation your main focus is here, your breath. All you are going to do is to watch your inhales and exhales and expand them in slow motion.
Body. Relax your body and don’t move. You are going to make an effort to not move your body at all. Stillness is very important to transcend or to let go of the outside/physical world.
Mind. Let the mind be the mind. Get out of the way. Your work is to not engage with any mental activity. Don’t react, don’t comment, don’t fight, don’t entertain the mind. Simply watch and accept the mind. Your mind is beautiful, and if you learn how to befriend it, your mind will show you everything that you need to see in order to fulfill your purpose in life.
By supervising these 3 areas, we create the right atmosphere within ourselves to allow healing to take place.
PATIENCE, KINDNESS, AND CONSISTENCY ARE KEY.
What is your favorite book or resource on mindfulness?
Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
An Invitation To Freedom by Mooji
What do you like to do in your free time when you’re not teaching or practicing mindfulness?
Mindfulness is not a practice, mindfulness is a way of living. I am mindful whether I’m teaching or not. In my free time, when I’m not working, I love to spend time in nature with my beautiful life partner, or with my best friend, or by myself. I love to read, eat, relax and have a good time. Living is precious to me.
Is there a particular mindfulness quote or mantra that you find particularly inspiring?
“I am not my body, I am not my mind. I am THAT which gives life to my body and mind.”
“I cannot be more spiritual than I already am. I am Spirit inside a human body.”
What are you grateful for?
I am so grateful for my journey. I’m grateful for all that life has taught me and continues to teach me. I am grateful for the ups and downs. I wouldn’t be who I am without the challenges I have faced. Thank you beautiful Life.
Head of Programming, Gina McAlpin leads our Hudson Valley team with more than a decade of experience in the health and fitness industry and nearly a year of training at The Ranch Malibu. Most recently she completed a Masters in Integrative Nutrition, allowing her to share both fitness and nutritional expertise as she supports guests in their health journeys with an empathetic and personalized touch.Join Gina in a 30-minute full body workout designed for a strong start to the day!
For this workout, we’ll focus on foundational strength training movements for the upper and lower body while adding in short bursts of (optional) cardiovascular work.
Block #1: Perform three rounds of the following four exercises for 1 minute each. Take a 30-second rest between rounds.
Rest for 30 seconds. Repeat 2 more times.
Block #2: 6-Minute EMOM (Every Minute on The Minute)
For this block, we’ll combine the exercises from block #1 into an interval style of training. At the top of each minute, you’ll perform the prescribed exercises for a certain number of reps and then rest for the remainder of the minute.
Minute #1: In 60 seconds, perform 8 reps of each weighted exercise (8 Rows, 8 Curls, 8 Presses). When complete, rest OR hold a plank for the remainder of the minute.
Minute #2: In 60 seconds, perform 10 pushups OR 10 burpees for an added cardio challenge!
Minute #3: Same as Minute #1
Minute #4: Same as Minute #2
Minute #5: Same as Minute #1
Minute #6: Pushups OR Burpees for 1 full minute! Count your reps and try to improve the next time you do this workout
Block #3: Perform three rounds of the following 3 exercises for 1 minute each, immediately followed by 30 seconds of squat jumps (or air squats to modify). Take a 30-second rest between rounds.
Block #4: 9-Minute EMOM (Every Minute on The Minute)
For this block, we’ll combine the exercises from block #3 into a 3-minute EMOM performed 3 times. Take a 30-second recovery between each round.
Minute #1: In 60 seconds, perform 6 Deadlifts, 6 Squats, and 6 Lunges. Rest for the remainder of the minute.
Minute #2: In 60 seconds, perform 30 TOTAL squat jumps. If modifying the jump, perform 45 seconds of air squats. Rest for the remainder of the minute.
Minute #3: Hold a 60-second wall sit
Rest for 30 seconds. Repeat two more times!
In Malibu, the nights have grown longer and the days are cooler. The Garden had one of its most abundant fruit seasons ever with juicy apricots, plums, peaches, passionfruit, and figs all producing an incredible amount of food. We are stockpiled on jams and jellies now! Many of our Regenerative Organic techniques enhanced the productivity of the Garden with "no-tilling" and "companion planting." And, because we have never used any chemicals, the fruits and vegetables we grow here at The Ranch are, without a doubt- the cleanest and healthiest around.
As the cooler weather approaches, we have begun planting more lettuces, beets, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, onions and peas. We regenerate the soil for these crops by adding our Ranch compost to the top of the beds. All of the kitchen's scraps and garden weeds are recycled back into the soil to fertilize the next rotation. We also use the fallen oak leaves from around the property to mulch and protect the top layer of soil, saving water in the process.
Our new herd of 5 brush goats have learned their job and are demonstrating their usefulness. They now have a taste for poison oak and can safely eat and clear it from the landscape along with the other weeds, grasses, and brush. We supplement their diet with little bits of hay near the end of a rotation to encourage them to complete the work of pruning all the trees and bushes 6 feet off the ground. We also have two new additions to The Ranch team: Lily and Rosey, Turkish Kangal livestock guardian puppies. They will grow to protect the new herd of brush-clearing goats.
As Winter approaches, we are able to reflect on the victories and losses from the season. Not everything we grow comes to fruition, but we plant again, a little wiser, and give love to those seeds that emerge.
We are delighted to share that The Ranch Malibu has been nominated in Conde Nast Traveler's Annual Readers' Choice Awards and we would be grateful if you could support our team with a vote. You can find us at the link below, simply type in The Ranch Malibu.
As the seasons shift, we are embracing the comforting flavors of Fall and are excited to share a few favorite recipes from Chef Meredith at The Ranch Malibu. Perfect for nourishing your body and soul as we transition into our Autumn menu, here we are featuring a decadent Pumpkin Cheesecake, nourishing Butternut Squash and Chickpea Patties, and a delicious Beet Hummus with Roasted Vegetables.
Recipes
Ingredients
Makes 16-20 mini cheesecakes
For the Crust
For the Cheesecake Layer
Directions
To Make the Crust:
1. Place the crust ingredients in the blender or food processor and pulse until a sticky dough forms.
2. Press about 1-1 1/2 Tablespoons of the crust into the bottoms of a silicone mini muffin pan and place in the refrigerator while preparing the filling.
To Make the Cheesecake Layer:
1. Place all of the cheesecake ingredients, except the water, in a blender and puree on high until thick and creamy. Add water if needed to blend and to get the mixture completely smooth.
2. Spoon the cheesecake mixture over the crusts in the pan and spread it evenly. Tap the pan a few times on the counter to remove any air bubbles.
3. Freeze the dessert for at least 2 hours. Once frozen, pop out of the molds and serve.
Makes 12 patties
For the Patties
For the Cashew Raita Sauce
To Make the Patties:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet with either parchment paper or a Silpat.
2. Place the diced squash on the baking tray and toss with the oil, salt and pepper. Roast for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown and soft. Remove and let cool slightly.
3. In the bowl of a food processor, add the rest of the ingredients (except the almond flour) and the cooled butternut squash. Pulse several times to combine the mix until it comes together, but is still a bit chunky. If the mixture is too wet to hold together, add 1/4 cup of either almond or oat flour and pulse again to combine. If needed, add another 1/4 cup of flour. Remove to a bowl, cover and place in the refrigerator 20-30 minutes until cool.
4. Divide the mixture into 12 equal patties. Lightly dust them with cornmeal on both sides.
5. Heat 2 Tbsp oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. In batches, add the patties and cook 4-5 minutes each side until golden.
Serve with the Cashew Raita Sauce.
To Make the Cashew Raita Sauce:
1. Drain the cashews and place in a blender with 3/4-1 cup of water. Puree on high until completely smooth and creamy, adding more water if needed to blend the cashews. Pour into a bowl and add the rest of the ingredients, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
For the Hummus
For the Lentils
For the Veggies
For the Lemon Dressing
To Make the Hummus:
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Wrap the beet in tin foil and on a baking sheet, roasting for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until soft.
3. Allow the beets to cool and then peel/rub the skin away.
4. Remove the skins of the garlic cloves and to the bowl of a food processor, add the garlic, chickpeas, tahini, spices and lemon juice. Puree the mixture until smooth, scraping down the sides as necessary.
5. Add 1/4 cup water to start and puree until smooth. Add the roasted beet and more water if needed until smooth and creamy. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
To Make the Lentils:
1. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add the lentils, pinch of salt and pepper and simmer 25-30 minutes until tender.
2. Drain any excess water and set lentils aside.
To Make the Veggies:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Line a baking sheet with a silpat or parchment paper. Toss the vegetables with the oil, salt and pepper, spread out on the sheet pan and roast 20-25 minutes until lightly browned.
To Make the Lemon Dressing:
1. While the vegetables roast, make the dressing by whisking all the ingredients together in a bowl.
Spread the hummus on the bottom of the plate, topping with the lentils and roasted vegetables. Drizzle with the lemon dressing.
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