Taking care of me

The beautiful landscape of Rancho La Puerta

"Taking Care of yourself is your right and your responsibility. If a mother values herself, her children value her. She teaches self-esteem by her example. Her peaceful demeanor communicates love to all who come in contact with her. Knowing when to nurture the self comes with daily mindfulness. Pay attention to your body's signals. Observing your feelings each day, eventually you will be able to take time for yourself before it becomes an angry demand. This enables you to give of yourself appropriately, without resentment."

~The Tao of Motherhood - Vimala McClure

I first heard the above during yoga about a month ago. My wonderful instructor shares these inspirational readings during Shivasna. The timing was perfect as I was getting ready to leave for vacation, without my husband and children. I needed the reassurance that it was OK to take the time for me. The first sentence is my favorite as I was about to exercise my rights as a responsible mother.

I hate that it has taken me so long to share my experience at "The Ranch" with all of you. I arrived home to two very sweet little boys dressed in PJ's and holding "welcome home mama" signs. From that moment on was a whirlwind of playing hostess to Peter's parents and then celebrating my birthday with yet another getaway (I know..poor me!) with just Peter last Friday night. But alas, here I am and here we go!

My mom and I met at the San Diego airport on Friday April 11. We found our way to our hotel and then went out for "The Last Supper". The next day would begin a week of vegetarian fare so we opted for steak at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Sand Diego. Yum! The hotel we stayed at was a bit of a mess but we knew it was only for one night. Saturday morning we woke early to eat breakfast and then get ourselves back to the airport to meet the bus that would take us to our week in heaven, otherwise known as Rancho La Puerta.

Without giving you the complete play by play, I will tell you that at this little slice of heaven I spent one of the greatest weeks of my life. "The Ranch" was started by a Professor and his young wife 60 years ago. It has become a mecca for the health conscious and fitness enthusiasts. The Professor is long gone but his lovely bride still owns and make weekly visits to The Ranch where she speaks of the past, present and future of her dream. We missed her the week we were there because she is currently in the process of writing her Memoirs and spends a lot of time away at special writing retreats.

The Ranch is nestled in the mountains of Northern Mexico and is a short 90 minute drive south of San Diego.

The above picture shows Mount Kuchama. Legend has it that a Shaman with great healing powers lived on this mountain hundreds of years ago. The mountain has amazing spiritual powers that would have even the non believers believing. Let me put it to you this way, something moved me to get out of a very comfortable bed every morning at 6:00 am (except for 2 days) for a 3 mile hike. I would then follow that early morning hike with at least 3 and sometimes 4 hours of exercise classes. If that was not the work of some higher force then I don't know what is. All kidding aside, this place makes you feel good. You quickly become someone who wants to exercise and eat healthy; to BE healthy. The food was amazing! The diet is mostly vegetarian with the exception of fish which we were served on a few occasions. The vegetables (and there are plenty of them, so many in fact that a bottle of Beano is considered a condiment in the dining hall) come from an unbelievable organic garden that is part of the Ranch. Here is a picture of me and Fernando, the head gardener, in the garden.

We picked these strawberries for a dish we prepared as part of a cooking class we took at the Cocina de Canta, which is the Cooking School that is part of the Ranch.

When I arrived home everyone asked me "How was the spa? Are you so relaxed?". I was relaxed but it was not for reasons people assumed. When I told my friends that I was going to a fitness spa I think they heard "spa" and figured I would be lounging poolside with a cold adult beverage, being fanned by a cabana boy while getting a massage. While there were plenty of spoils to my week away it was the constant exercise and healthy diet that actually left me feeling energized and relaxed. It was the time spent with my mom, just the two of us that will leave an impression far more lasting than any massage.

I cried when I left my kids to go on this trip and I cried again when I had to leave my mom and the ranch behind. My week there was unlike anything I could ever properly describe and my experience was one that I hope everyone has the opportunity to have someday. You leave there refreshed, revived and with a whole new appreciation for who you are and who you want to be. I thank my mom so much for giving me the chance to find my "inner exercise demon" and realize that not only is it there but I actually kind of like it. I thank my mom for knowing that I am at a place in my life where not only would I appreciate the time away but I would grow from it and come home a better and happier mom, wife, person.