Big Changes at Highland Ranch!

Highland Ranch is excited to welcome an exciting new managment team onto the scene. Joanna Gaines, the granddaughter of owner George Gaines and niece of previous manager Jim Gaines, represents the third generation to take the reins of the family business and she is busy learning the management ropes. Rob Hogencamp, whom most of our guests know as our friendly and talented head chef, is moving up in the world to take up a co-managment position with Joanna. We are very excited and pleased with our new managerial duo.

Jim and Susie are moving back to the bay in the coming months and to their previous carreers in education and the legal world. Although we are sad to see them go, we bid them a warm farewell and a truck load of good luck.

Sign Up For One of Our Fabulous Yoga Retreats

Yoga asana is an engaging and ancient movement practice that makes you feel good in body, mind and spirit. We have three yoga retreats coming up this spring, each with a unique approach to suit all interests and levels of yogis. Please feel free to check out the following summaries of the clinics, and click the titles to find links for more information about them, including rates, on our website.

 

"Find the Repose in the Pose”

Senior Iyengar Yoga Teacher Janet MacLeod

March 19-22, 2009

Highland Ranch is again proud and delighted to welcome back Janet MacLeod (jmacleodyoga.com) for a extended weekend yoga retreat in March 2009. Janet brings her excellent instruction, her warmth and good humor to both delight and enlighten her students.  Janet will work with the concept of steadiness and receptivity allowing participants to experience a meditative state in the postures. The serene atmosphere at Highland Ranch offers an ideal setting for this internal approach to the Yoga Asanas.

The yoga retreat will consist of Janet’s daily asana and pranayama classes (12 total class hours). Participants limited to 20, so this will be an intimate retreat. Free time to relax and explore, delicious and nourishing vegetarian meals, and comfortable cabins with fireplaces and baths round out your stay.

Arrival is on Thursday, 3/19, 1 - 3 PM, Opening Yoga Class is 3 - 5 PM Departure on Sunday, 3/22, after lunch (1:30 PM)

Highland Ranch Yoga and Riding Weekend Clinic

Riding instructor Ed Dabney and Iyengar yoga instructor Susie Cohen

April 2-5, 2009

Ed Dabney (eddabney.com ), who has been to Highland Ranch several times in the past to put on some successful and enjoyable horsemanship clinics, had his very first "yoga for riders" class (in his jeans!) with Susie during one of his Highland Ranch clinics. He recognized quickly the benefits of yoga for riders of all levels. That same weekend, he asked Susie to present some "barnside yoga" poses to the clinic participants and has been including yoga poses in his clinics since then. We are especially delighted then that Ed has agreed to bring his skills as a teacher, clinician and horseman, his southern charm and good humor and his growing interest in yoga to work with Susie for this April's "Yoga and Riding Weekend Clinic ". We may even be able to talk him into sharing some of his cowboy poetry and fireside stories with us!

The Clinic is beautifully designed and balanced to be enriching and complete and also to allow some time for participants to enjoy the beauty and peace of Highland Ranch. Daily yoga classes will focus on alignment, strength, suppleness and breath that invite the body’s responsiveness and well being. Participants will then take this enlivened experience into the saddle for exercises and trail riding fostering a more conscious, open connection with our equine friends.

The Clinic is open to all levels of riders and yogis. The number of participants is kept small to allow the instructors to address each participant's particular level of experience and expertise.

Arrival is on Thursday 4/2 at 1 - 3 PM, Opening Yoga Class is 3 - 5 PM Departure on Sunday, 4/5 after lunch (1:30 PM)

 

Yoga and Ayurveda for Everyday

Robert Brook and Tiffany Turley

April 30th - May 3rd, 2009

Highland Ranch is pleased once again to host Robert Brook and Tiffany Turley (http://www.robertbrook.net/index.php) for "Yoga and Ayurveda for Everyday" an extended weekend retreat in April/May 2009.

Robert Brook has been teaching yoga since 1995. He owned and operated AYS: The Ashtanga Yoga School of San Francisco for more than 3 years. He now studies with Senior Iyengar teacher Ramanand Patel, and he teaches Iyengar based classes in the Bay Area. Robert is certified to practice Orthopedic Massage by renowned bodywork innovator, Tom Hendrickson, D.C., and he is a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist, employing India's 5000 year old healing tradition to help students and clients enjoy greater health and longevity. Robert's dedication to the practice of yoga and his interest in yoga's therapeutic benefits are reflected in his teaching.

Robert Brook and Tiffany Turley have a combined total of 25 years experience in the field of Yoga and the Healing Arts. They are both dedicated students of Senior Iyengar Yoga teacher, Ramanand Patel and are both graduates of The California College of Ayurveda and The Institute of Orthopedic Massage.

Arrival is on Thursday 4/30 at 1 - 3 PM, Opening Yoga Class is 3 - 5 PM Departure on Sunday, 5/3 after lunch (1:30 PM)