Just arrived in Mexico yesterday afternoon, and Rancho La Puerta is a stunning as I remembered. It always feel like I am coming home the second I walk onto the path. Was very cold last night and woke up to a wintery rainy day. Perfect for Yoga, (after lounging around all morning while the other guests were working-out) writing class, massage, steam and then a “DETOX” lecture from Frank Lipman. Did I mention the stunning organic food?
Archive for the ‘Rancho la Puerta’ Category
Spa Blog: Amala, anew product line at Rancho la Puerta
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010About a month ago, Rancho la Puerta launched a new face and body treatment line, Amala. It is an all organic (with fair trade practices from a global farm network, etc…) and made in Germany. The owner’s mission statement is: ” When it comes to skincare, you shouldn’t have to sacrifice results for responsibility.” Which really does say it all, and is a perfect partner for Rancho la Puerta, as their views of the sacredness of the earth, product/service delivered and history, really do mirror each other, and are important cornerstones to their business.
It is a stunning product line, using: jasmine, cocoa bean, sandalwood and rose ~ all of which are my dry skin’s favorites. However, for me as the consumer, I find it a very expensive product line. It is difficult to justify a $230+ eye cream! For that amount of money, I can buy a ticket to South America and pick my own cocoa beans and squish them onto my puffy eyes myself. Now, having said that… I do get it, meaning; good pure organic products cost a lot of money, and there is the value. The great news is that, as a guest at Rancho la Puerta, a 90minute facial is only $120! So that is what I did today!
The 90 minutes actually flew by, as hot jasmine scented towels pressed on tomy face, steam filled with rose essence filled the air and my pores, 2 full masks, head massage, neck/shoulder massage, scrubs, extractions, rubbing, massaging and spritzing, 90 minutes later… oh my face feels like a new born organic baby! The treatment must have used $100 in product alone. My therapist, Josefina, was wonderful… firm hands, didn’t talk too much, great pressure point facial massage, and even pulled my hair!
This facial, and new Amala product line is a wonderful addition to Rancho La Puerta, if you can’t buy the eye cream… get a facial!
More later…
Susan Gwaltney, Essential Spa Consulting
Spa Blog: Ahh… Rancho la Puerta!
Monday, June 21st, 2010For over twenty years, I have been; a guest, a teacher and an administrator at Rancho La Puerta, but the one thing that has stayed consistent for me in last two decades, is that I am always a STUDENT!
I am here in Mexico at the “Ranch” (nick-name), for the week attending a friend and collegues’ wedding party. It has been almost two years since I have been back~ which for me is a long long time. I have lived and worked here for years, months and weeks at a time, so it has become a home as well as my university, the place where I migrate to for regrouping, grounding and many a good laugh.
So the question is: what have I really learned, or is the question, what have I studied?
My first and obvious reflection is that during my time at the Ranch, I became a certified Yoga teacher (1997). The practice and lifetime study of Yoga has opened many a door to learning, teaching, go back and study more, teach, go inward and practice, read, study, meditate, sit still, be active, and teach again, breathe … and allow the equal harmony of the “student to teacher” relationship reflect in all aspects of my life, no matter how horrible the teacher and how poor the student, how clever the student and honorable the teacher~
I have not studied today, (except a few negative thoughts, and then I fell asleep on the lounge chair!) but I have learned a few simple basics to spa life: … bring a fleece jacket even in June to high dessert mountains as you will freeze your bottom off, sign up early for spa treatments as there is a special offer for guests and all treatment are booked, be prepared to say your name/where you are from/what you do for a living at least 125 times with grace and true interest, and never ever never have prunes with flax seed, a dollop of yogurt and papaya on an empty stomach with black coffee…. it just is not nice for those around you!
More from Rancho… I’m here all week.
Susan Gwaltney, Spa Constultant, Essential Spa Consulting
